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close| Location | Philippines, Region IVa |
| Central coordinates | 119o 55.00' East 11o 50.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2 |
| Area | 10,000 ha |
| Altitude | 70 - 467m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area were recently recorded on Culion, including the threatened Philippine Cockatoo, Blue-headed Racquet-tail and Palawan Hornbill. The reports of Palawan Peacock-pheasant there are surprising and require confirmation.
Site description Culion (45,600 ha) is the second largest of the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil. These are found both along the ridges and on flat areas.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippine Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Critically Endangered |
| Blue-headed Racquet-tail Prioniturus platenae | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Palawan Hornbill Anthracoceros marchei | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | - | |
| Forest | - |
Other biodiversity Mammals recorded in this IBA include bearded pig Sus barabatus and the endangered endemic Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis. The waters off Culion are known to support a population of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus. The rare Palawan-endemic Philippine discoglossid frog Barbourula busuangensis is found in this IBA. Mammals recorded in this IBA include bearded pig Sus barabatus and the endangered endemic Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis. The waters off Culion are known to support a population of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus. The rare Palawan-endemic Philippine discoglossid frog Barbourula busuangensis is found in this IBA.
Management considerations The forests on Culion are not believed to be under serious threat of encroachment, apart from occasional cutting apparently for local use.
Protection status Culion is a reserved area (leper colony) under the Department of Health and the provincial government.
References Alcala and Brown (1998); Castañeda (1993).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Culion Island. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
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