Somewhere in the cloud-forests of Mindanao lives a mysterious, ancient sparrow. It is a small cinnamon-colored bird that can only be found here: the Cinnamon Ibon!

One of its mysteries was unveiled only recently. When it was first described back in 1903, it was thought to be related to small birds called “white-eyes”. But in 2010 scientists found that it was related to a sparrow more familiar to Filipinos: the Maya or Eurasian Tree Sparrow! ¹

This discovery brought about more mysteries. We already know that the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (now known as Maya, even though the original Maya was a different species) came to the Philippines only recently, in 1867 ². This was possibly due to ships coming from other countries during Spanish colonization. However the Cinnamon Ibon is endemic to Mindanao and scientists have yet to figure out how its ancestors arrived here, millions of years ago! ¹

Even its scientific name is a hint to the mysteries behind the Cinnabon Ibon. Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus comes from the words cinnamon, for its color, and kryptos which is Greek for secret or hidden ^{3, 4}.

Unlike its sparrow relatives in the Philippines and in other countries, the Cinnamon Ibon is the only sparrow that lives in the canopy of cloud-forests ². This is another mystery that has kept scientists wondering about how it got here in the first place.

The Cinnabon Ibon has a neighbor that is just as unique and loves cloud-forests too: the Mindanao hairy-tailed rat! This is unlike other rats you might know, because it can only be found on certain islands in the country, including Mindanao where it lives high on Mt. Kitanglad ⁵. Both these species are unique and special to our country!

Why are these species important?

• They live in forest where people not only enjoy the outdoors by trekking or hiking, but where people also are dependent on forest resources (i.e bamboo, firewood, medicine). These species are a sign of how healthy the forest is. If the forest is not healthy enough for it, the forest is not healthy enough to sustain human health, and happiness.
• These forests are ecosystems, or places where life and the physical environment together form connected relationships and sustain each other ⁶. The forest ecosystem is important because they deliver water to us, and they absorb carbon dioxide and help control our climate. ⁷
• All the “ecosystem services” we have mentioned above, including the forest being a nice place to visit and get fresh air, are all FREE! No company or organization charges people for these services. But it is your government and the people who live nearby who must ensure these forests are around today, and for future generations.

How you can help

• Reach out to local DENR offices in Mindanao and ask how you can volunteer or assist in existing programs, or even surveys of these areas. One possible office to start could be the Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office or PENRO of Bukidnon.
• Read studies and examples of successful conservation efforts that empower local communities. Use your resources to connect with local organizations in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and other provinces in Mindanao with forested mountains. Help find support, funding, training, and more to start or continue local conservation efforts.
• If you are not from Mindanao or are too far to visit, research into national forest laws that you can support, like the Forest Resources Bill.
• Donate or volunteer with environmental NGOs like the Haribon Foundation, which works in Mt. Hilong-hilong in Eastern Mindanao where the Cinnamon Ibon can also be found.
• Continue educating yourself and others on the importance of local biodiversity and ecosystems for people, and the planet.

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Sources

1. J. Fjeldsa et al., 2010. The Cinnamon Ibon Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus is a forest canopy sparrow. Ibis, The International Journal of Avian Science.
2. J. Denis Summers-Smith, 1998. “Studies of West Palearctic birds.” British Birds Ltd.
3. Richmond CW. Generic Names Applied to Birds During the Years 1901 to 1905, Inclusive, with Further Additions to Waterhouse’s Index Generum Avium. US National Museum. Page 615.
4. E. Jaeger, 1944. “A Sourcebook Of Biological Nanes And Terms Vol. vi, No. 7.” Charles C. Thomas.
5. D. Balete, et al., 2009. “A new species of Batomys (Mammalia: Muridae) from eastern Mindanao Island, Philippines”. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 121.
6. Khan Academy. “What is an ecosystem?” (Last accessed May 7, 2019).
7. Sciencing.com. “The Importance of the Forest Ecosystem“. (Last accessed May 7, 2019).