Richard C. McGregor (1871–1936) was a prominent American ornithologist who dedicated nearly 35 years to studying the avifauna of the Philippines, serving for decades with the Bureau of Science (formerly the Bureau of Government Laboratories) from its inception in 1902. He was a pivotal figure in systematizing Philippine ornithology, having previously published the comprehensive scientific work, A Manual of Philippine Birds, in 1909. "Philippine Birds: Their Haunts and Habits" (1931) represents McGregor's effort, co-authored with educator Elizabeth J. Marshall, to create a more accessible and illustrated natural history textbook for students in the Philippine Islands during the American colonial administration. The book's foreword emphasizes its aim to highlight the great economic and aesthetic value of birds, encouraging further inquiry and comparison of facts, a clear indication of its role in promoting natural science education and conservation awareness among the local populace. The inclusion of a Filipino illustrator, Macario Ligaya, further grounds the work in the local educational and artistic context of the time. The book's publication in Manila by The John C. Winston Company cemented its status as a key local resource for the study of the nation's endemic species, building upon the foundational scientific research conducted by McGregor through the Bureau of Science.
Philippine birds : their haunts and habits