The Philippine creepersorrhabdornises are small passerine birds and form the genus Rhabdornis. They are endemic to the Philippines. They do not migrate, other than to make local movements.
| Philippine creepers | |
|---|---|
| |
| Stripe-headed rhabdornis (Rhabdornis mystacalis) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Suborder: | Passeri |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Rhabdornis Reichenbach, 1853 |
| Type species | |
| Meliphaga mysticalis Temminck, 1825 | |
| Species | |
|
Rhabdornis grandis | |
The genus Rhabdornis was introduced in 1853 by German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach to accommodate the stripe-headed rhabdornis.[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek rhabdos meaning "stripe" with ornis meaning "bird."[2]
The relationship of the Philippine creepers to other bird species was formerly uncertain and the genus Rhabdornis was placed in its own family Rhabdornithinae.[3][4] Molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed that the Philippine creepers are aberrant members of the starling family Sturnidae.[5][6][7]
The genus contains four species:[8]
The Philippine creepers are similar in appearance to treecreepers (Certhiidae). They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they can use to extricate insects from bark, but they have brush-like tongues, which enable them to also feed on nectar.
