Cebu Flowerpecker
CR

Cebu Flowerpecker

Dicaeum quadricolor

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

The Cebu flowerpecker is a small passerine bird. It is endemic to Cebu Island in the Philippines. Feared to have become extinct early in the 20th century, it was rediscovered in 1992 in a small patch of limestone forest in the Central Cebu Protected Landscape.

It has since been found at three other sites, namely the Nug-as forest of Alcoy, Mount Lantoy of Argao and the forests of Dalaguete. While sightings until the 2000s were frequent, this species became rarer and rarer and some now believe that this species is now extinct.

The Cebu Flowerpecker faces imminent extinction due to catastrophic deforestation on Cebu Island, Philippines, where less than 0.1% of original forest cover remains. Habitat conversion for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure has eliminated virtually all suitable nesting and foraging areas. The species' extreme habitat specialization and tiny remaining population make it exceptionally vulnerable to any further disturbance or natural disasters.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Cebu Flowerpecker inhabits the few remaining fragments of lowland and montane forest on Cebu Island, particularly areas with native flowering trees and shrubs. It requires intact forest canopy for nesting and depends on specific native plant species for nectar and small fruits.

Forest· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSite/area managementHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Threatened in Philippines

Acropora hemprichiiEN

Acropora hemprichii

Declining
EN

Montipora calcarea

Declining
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Montipora taiwanensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Cebu Flowerpecker classified as Critically Endangered?
Cebu Flowerpecker is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Cebu Flowerpecker faces imminent extinction due to catastrophic deforestation on Cebu Island, Philippines, where less than 0.1% of original forest cover remains. Habitat conversion for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure has eliminated virtually all suitable nesting and foraging areas. The species' extreme habitat specialization and tiny remaining population make it exceptionally vulnerable to any further disturbance or natural disasters.
Where does Cebu Flowerpecker live?
Cebu Flowerpecker occurs in Philippines. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Cebu Flowerpecker?
The main threats to Cebu Flowerpecker are 1.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 2.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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