The term maya refers to a folk taxonomy often used in the Philippines to refer to a variety of small, commonly observed passerine birds, including a number of sparrows, finches and munias.
This group includes Lonchura atricapilla, specifically referred to by the common name "mayang pula" ("red maya"),[1] which was recognized as the national bird of the Philippines until 1995, when then-President Fidel V. Ramos formally transferred that honorific to the Philippine eagle.[2]
It also includes the Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus, introduced from Europe and locally referred to as "mayang simbahan" - an invasive species so predominant in urban areas that many urban Filipinos mistakenly think it is the only species referred to as "maya."[1]
Some of the species counted under the category of "maya" include:
However, due to the forces of globalization and urbanization, Filipinos are becoming increasingly less familiar with the identity of even species around them. As a result, these categories of maya are becoming less and less well known, and the use of the catch-all name "maya" has result in species being confused for one another, despite readily observable morphological differences.[1]
In urban areas in particular, where the Eurasian tree sparrow has become predominant as an invasive species, "maya" is often mistakenly thought to be the name of this single species - even if it was not even originally native to the Philippines.[1]
The Philippine oriole (Oriolus steerii) is also sometimes generically referred to as "maya", and is sometimes even confused for Lonchura atricapilla or Passer montanus due to the imprecise naming.