27 SEPTEMBER – 8 OCTOBER 2022
By Andrew Walker
Overview
Our tour of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo started in Kota Kinabalu on the 27th of September 2022, visited the Croker Ranges National Park, Kinabalu National Park, Poring Hot Springs, Sepliok Rainforest Discovery Center (Sepilok RDC), Kinabatangan River, and the Danum Valley, where we stayed in the glorious Borneo Rainforest Lodge. The tour ended at Lahad Datu on the evening of the 8th of October 2022.
We saw many spectacular Bornean endemics on the tour, such as Crimson-headed Partridge.
We recorded 271 species (nine heard only) and enjoyed a long list of Bornean endemic birds during the tour (almost 50 species on current taxonomy). Some of the endemic highlights seen included Crimson-headed Partridge, Red-breasted Partridge, Bornean Bristlehead, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Whitehead’s Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill, Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, Everett’s Thrush, Fruithunter, Black-crowned Pitta, Bornean Green Magpie, Bornean Forktail, White-fronted Falconet, Bornean Barbet, Mountain Barbet, Golden-naped Barbet, Pale-faced Bulbul, Bornean Bulbul, Bornean Stubtail, Bornean Wren-Babbler, Mountain Wren-Babbler, Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Bornean Blue Flycatcher, and Mountain Black-eye.
There were many non-endemic highlights too, like Storm’s Stork, Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Diard’s Trogon, Red-naped Trogon, Hooded Pitta, and White-bellied Woodpecker, along with several interesting subspecies that could result in future splits, such as Chestnut-necklaced (Sabah) Partridge and (Bornean) Crested Fireback. We also found lots of other spectacular kingfishers, hornbills, and woodpeckers, as well as cryptic babblers and bulbuls. Plenty of non-avian highlights were found, such as Bornean Orangutan, Bornean Gibbon, and Proboscis Monkey. The trip lists for birds and everything else identified follows the report.
We saw all eight species of the hornbills found in Borneo on the tour but seeing the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Helmeted Hornbill so well was the definite highlight.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 27th September 2022. Arrival and birding in Kota Kinabalu
After a welcome lunch we set out for some relaxed birding around Kota Kinabalu with some of the highlights including Wandering Whistling Duck, Long-tailed Parakeet, Blue-naped Parrot, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Wood Sandpiper, Nankeen Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Pied Triller, and Chestnut Munia. It was early to bed in preparation for the following morning.
Day 2, 28th September 2022. Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu National Park via Croker Range National Park (Tambunan Rafflesia Nature Reserve Center and Gunung Alab areas)
We had a very early start today to get up to Gunung Alab in the Crocker Range National Park for first light. We arrived and got into position near a security light that had attracted lots of moths into it. As the day dawned, we were rewarded for our early start with close views of Bornean Treepie, Hair-crested (Bornean Spangled) Drongo, Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, White-throated Fantail, Indigo Flycatcher, Mountain Black-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, Mountain (Bornean) Leaf Warbler, and Sunda Bush Warbler all coming in for breakfast.
After a while we changed sites and in no time at all we were enjoying point blank views of stunning birds like Crimson-headed Partridge (Bloodhead) – see the trip report cover image, Red-breasted Partridge, Orange-headed Thrush, Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, Sunda Laughingthrush, and Snowy-browed Flycatcher. A fantastic start to the day, topped off with close views of a Bornean Swiftlet breeding colony nearby while we enjoyed some refreshments.
The Bornean endemic, Red-breasted Partridge gave some excellent views.
Driving down through the mountain range we stopped so some folks could look at a flowering rafflesia, and we found some excellent species here too, including Bornean Barbet, Mountain Barbet, Black-sided Flowerpecker, Chestnut-crested Yuhina, Black-capped White-eye, Cinereous (Green-winged) Bulbul, and Bornean Bulbul. We then took a drive of a couple of hours to our base in Kundasang near Mount Kinabalu, where we enjoyed lunch and checked into our hotel (with amazing mountain views) for the next three nights.
In the late afternoon we looked through a section of forest in Kinabalu National Park. The birding was hard going compared to the easy morning birding, regardless we saw some really fantastic birds, with the absolute highlight being a pair of Everett’s Thrushes feeding along the roadside drainage ditch. These birds offered prolonged views of this scarce and usually very secretive species. Further highlights included Bornean Green Magpie and Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher (Bornean Shade-dweller). We also heard Whitehead’s Trogon but couldn’t get into a position to view it, unfortunately. This all ended a really enjoyable first full day birding on the tour with loads of Bornean endemic birds seen and seen very well in most cases.
The scarce and (usually) difficult to see Everett’s Thrush showed remarkably well for us.
Day 3, 29th September 2022. Birding Kinabalu National Park
We headed back into Kinabalu National Park for a morning of birding. We drove into some nice-looking habitat and walked to a viewing platform, finding three Bornean Forktails (two adults and a juvenile), Bornean Whistling Thrush, Golden-naped Barbet, Bornean Whistler, Pale-faced Bulbul, Bornean Treepie, Yellow-breasted Warbler, Mountain (Kinabalu) Leaf Warbler, Chestnut-crested Yuhina, Blyth’s Shrike-babbler, Indigo Flycatcher, Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher (Bornean Shade-dweller), and Temminck’s Sunbird. However, the real stars of the show here were the pair of Fruithunters that were part of a mixed flock and showed excellently for all with prolonged close views, what a treat!
This male Fruithunter gave fantastic close views, as did the female shortly afterwards.
Walking further along the road network we had a Mountain Serpent Eagle hunting through the forest (an impressive sight), Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, Sunda Laughingthrush, Bare-headed Laughingthrush, Bornean Stubtail, Grey-throated Babbler, Grey-chinned (Grey-throated) Minivet, Ashy (Bornean) Drongo, Bornean Green Magpie, Penan Bulbul, Bornean Whistler, and Mountain Wren-Babbler.
A rain affected afternoon resulted in a change of plans but did result in sightings of Pygmy White-eye (Pygmy Heleia/Ibon), Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Pale Blue (Hartet’s) Flycatcher, and Oriental (Black) Magpie-Robin in the garden.
Day 4, 30th September 2022. Birding Kinabalu National Park
We had our final day birding within Kinabalu National Park. The day started off overcast, drizzly, and quite cool and didn’t look too promising. Indeed, birds were hard to come across early, with Bornean Whistling Thrush seen along the road and a few very small mixed-species flocks containing Yellow-breasted Warbler, Mountain (Kinabalu) Leaf Warbler, Bornean Whistler, Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Mountain Wren-Babbler, and Grey-throated Babbler.
A change of location yielded another group of birds, including Golden-naped Barbet, Blyth’s Shrike-babbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Sunda Bush Warbler, Indigo Flycatcher, Pygmy Flycatcher, Lesser Cuckooshrike, Temminck’s Sunbird, Dark Hawk-Cuckoo, and the star of the morning, Whitehead’s Broadbill visiting a fruiting tree.
After lunch we continued our search for more endemics, some of the group saw a distant Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, and after a lot of walking up and down a section of hill everyone had point-blank views of a pair of one of the star birds of the trip, Whitehead’s Trogon.
Whitehead’s Broadbill showed well to the group (photo by tour participant Joanne Rickett).
Whitehead’s Trogon was one of the most spectacular birds of the tour.
We picked up a few other birds during the day that were either new, or gave better views than previous days, such as Black-sided Flowerpecker, Ashy (Bornean) Drongo, Grey Wagtail, Maroon Woodpecker, White-bellied Erpornis, Black-capped White-eye, and right at the end of the day, Brown Wood Owl.
Day 5, 1st October 2022. Birding Poring Hot Springs and travel to Sepliok
We left the Mount Kinabalu area dropping down in elevation and had a few hours birding the lower elevations of Poring Hot Springs. Here we found White-crowned Shama, White-fronted Falconet, Bornean Black-capped Babbler, Sunda Scimitar Babbler, Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Banded Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Crimson Sunbird, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Plain Sunbird, Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Black-headed Bulbul, Charlotte’s Bulbul, Verditer Flycatcher, Little Spiderhunter, Bornean Spiderhunter, and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker. It was a very pleasant walk.
Good sightings of the attractive Black-and-yellow Broadbill are always appreciated.
We had a long drive to make so got on the road for a couple of hours before grabbing lunch in a roadside café with good noodles. Afterwards we continued our journey east towards Sepilok. As we drove through countless miles of palm oil plantations we stopped occasionally for a few interesting roadside birds, including Black-winged Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Long-tailed Shrike, Striated Grassbird, and Black Hornbill.
Once we arrived in hot and humid Sepilok, we checked into our rooms and had a quick recce of the nearby area, finding Hooded Pitta, White-crowned Shama, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Grey-hooded Babbler, Black Hornbill, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, and Olive-winged Bulbul.
Day 6, 2nd October 2022. Birding Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center
We spent the whole day birding around the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center (known simply as “RDC”). We hit the very impressive canopy walkway at dawn and made our way to a couple of the towers, the whole walk and our time on the towers giving us some incredible views of the forest from an unusual perspective. From the towers we got excellent views of several species, including White-crowned Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Brown Barbet, White-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Maroon Woodpecker, Black-and-red Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Thick-billed Spiderhunter, Lesser Green Leafbird, and Raffles’s Malkoha. We also enjoyed views of Prevost’s Squirrel, Pale Giant Squirrel, and one of the biggest highlights of the morning, a Red Giant Flying Squirrel, which some of the group got to witness in a 50+ meter (165+ feet) flight, a seriously spectacular sight!
It was soon time for breakfast, and it was looking like rain was on the way, so we departed for our nearby accommodation and enjoyed watching some sunbirds while we ate. Afterwards, we headed back out into the trail system at the RDC. The weather was starting to deteriorate but we persisted a little longer, and it was a good job we did as it resulted in us seeing Short-tailed (Leaflitter) Babbler and the star of the mornings birding, the highly sought-after, Black-crowned Pitta, which put on a great performance for us. By now the rain had started to get too heavy and so we sought some shelter in the café for a while.
We had some great looks at the Bornean (and Sabah) endemic, Black-crowned Pitta during the tour.
Once the rain had reduced enough, we ventured out for some late morning birding. It was hot and very humid and activity low, though we did see Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Raffles’s Malkoha, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Purple-naped Spiderhunter, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Green Iora, Crested Goshawk, and Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, to name a few. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and Blue-eared Kingfishers were seen by some of the group.
We enjoyed lunch and some took a siesta while others tried photographing some birds in the lodge grounds (getting brilliant looks at Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot), and others made use of the swimming pool and spa. After our break we covered a trail and section of canopy walkway where we found plenty of birds to keep us entertained. Some of these included Rufous-collared Kingfisher, (Black-faced/Bornean) Banded Kingfisher, Diard’s Trogon, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Red-billed Malkoha, Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Silver-rumped Spinetail, Grey-rumped Treeswift, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, Banded Woodpecker, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Brown Barbet, White-crowned Shama, and a migrant (calling) Arctic Warbler. It had been another wonderful day of birding in Borneo.
This female Rufous-collared Kingfisher was one of several high-quality birds that came thick and fast during our afternoon birding in the RDC at Sepliok.
Day 7, 3rd October 2022. Birding Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Center and travel to Kinabatangan River with evening boat cruise
We again took a pre-breakfast walk along the canopy walkway and enjoyed good views of many species. While numbers appeared lower than the previous day, we did pick out some new species for the trip and improved on views of some others, including Brown Barbet, Violet Cuckoo, Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Common Hill Myna, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Hooded Pitta, Spectacled Bulbul, and Brown-streaked (Umber) Flycatcher. Some in the group saw a distant (wild) Bornean Orangutan and the pretty Red Leaf Monkey.
In the afternoon we drove across to Sukau where we boarded our boat to our accommodation along the Kinabatangan River. Unfortunately, we had a fair bit of rain during the afternoon, so our boat trip was somewhat delayed, and we only got out for less than an hour. During this time we did see Wrinkled Hornbill, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Oriental Darter, Black-crowned Night Heron, Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, and Bat Hawk. There were a few mammalian highlights too, with the odd-looking Proboscis Monkey being one of our key targets for the area seen well, other species seen included Silvery Lutung, Southern Pig-tailed Macaque, and Long-tailed Macaque.
Day 8, 4th October 2022. Birding Kinabatangan River
We made a couple of boat trips in the morning. The first one at dawn gave us a vocal Chestnut-necklaced (Sabah) Partridge which we saw along the riverbank, brief views of a pair of Storm’s Stork, along with White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Crested Goshawk, Wrinkled Hornbill, and a few other more widespread species like Oriental Dollarbird, Little Green Pigeon, and Blue-eared Kingfisher. We heard Bornean Ground Cuckoo but were unable to obtain views given the location it was in.
The Bornean endemic subspecies of Chestnut-necklaced Partridge is found only in Sabah and is considered a potential future split by some authorities and referred to as Sabah Partridge.
After breakfast we hit the waterways again and had walkaway views of a perched and rather showy Storm’s Stork, with other birds seen including Bat Hawk, Lesser Adjutant, Whiskered Tern, Wrinkled Hornbill, and more common birds. Just after we’d heard another Bornean Ground Cuckoo there was a clap of thunder and suddenly a torrential deluge hit us. We donned our waterproofs and made a hasty retreat in some appalling conditions with a stinging horizontal rain!
It was great to see the colorful Wrinkled Hornbill while birding along the Kinabatangan River.
We enjoyed this Storm’s Stork much more than the squally storm that followed!
We got back to our accommodation and tried to dry off, and while we waited for the rain to stop, we had lunch. The afternoon featured much of the same, dodging showers and listening to Bornean Ground Cuckoos!
Day 9, 5th October 2022. Morning birding Kinabatangan River and transfer to Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley
Our final boat trip on the Kinabatangan River was delayed due to some more heavy rain showers, but we were eventually able to make our way out on the water and we were glad we did! We went back to one of the spots where we heard four Bornean Ground Cuckoos the previous afternoon, but this time just one could be heard and it was, unfortunately, too distant. We did enjoy watching a Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Storm’s Stork, and a pair of Bold-striped Tit-Babblers while we waited. Again, there was no sign of the cuckoos, so we went to another site we’d heard them the previous day. After a while of sitting and waiting we were about to give up, we had a bus to catch to Lahad Datu. Just as our trusty boatman turned the engine on, we heard one calling, and it seemed close. We repositioned ourselves along the riverbank and after a while of scanning we picked one up, sitting a few feet off the ground in a tree – finally, we’d seen Bornean Ground Cuckoo! We were elated and with some careful maneuvering around the boat everyone was able to get into a position to see this wonderful and highly sought-after scarce endemic! We were behind schedule but there were no complaints!
Bornean Ground Cuckoo appeared very much at the last minute.
After a quick, late breakfast, we spent the rest of the day traveling to Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley. We arrived just as the sun set, with the sound of Rhinoceros Hornbills flying over this spectacular forest we would be exploring over the coming few days.
Day 10, 6th October 2022. Birding Danum Valley and Borneo Rainforest Lodge
We awoke to a beautiful morning with mist hanging in the valley in front of the lodge. We headed out early to try and get started on the birding in the area and found some great birds. Lots of bulbuls and babblers were vocalizing and we found a small fruiting tree that attracted several species. Some of the morning highlights included Red-naped Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Crested (Indomalayan) Honey Buzzard, Black Eagle, Blyth’s Hawk Eagle, White-fronted Falconet, Rufous Piculet, Lesser Cuckooshrike, White-bellied Erpornis, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Spectacled Bulbul, Hairy-backed Bulbul, Finsch’s Bulbul, Charlotte’s Bulbul, Horsfield’s Babbler, Brown Fulvetta, Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker, Bornean Spiderhunter, Purple-naped Sunbird, Greater Green Leafbird, and Lesser Green Leafbird. Several species tantalized us by remaining ‘heard only’ and included Great Argus, Blue-headed Pitta, and Giant Pitta!
Our morning birding was interrupted for one particular mammal that gave us our best look to date, (a wild) Bornean Orangutan. It was sitting feeding happily in a durian tree and we enjoyed watching this magnificent creature go about its daily routine.
One of the mammalian highlights of the whole tour was this Bornean Orangutan.
In the afternoon we ventured out under leaden skies into the forest before a storm hit. As expected, it was fairly quiet as the birds seemed to sense what was coming! Grey-hooded Babbler, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, and Spotted Fantail were seen and Sunda Blue Flycatcher, Blue-eared (Black-eared) Barbet, and (Bornean) Crested Fireback were heard.
Day 11, 7th October 2022 Birding Danum Valley and Borneo Rainforest Lodge
We again had morning and afternoon birding sessions in the Danum Valley from our base at the wonderful Borneo Rainforest Lodge. It was amazing to be staying right in this beautiful forest. The morning was very birdy, and we found several new species for the trip, and several more endemics too. We got some good lucks at the skulking Bornean Wren-Babbler, Striped Wren-Babbler, Bornean Blue Flycatcher, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Large Woodshrike, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, Chestnut-rumped Babbler, Black-bellied Malkoha, and several of the group heard a distant Bornean Bristlehead. Activity dropped as soon as the temperature crept up, so we also took a break during the middle of the day.
Bornean Wren-Babbler gave some very good views, but getting a photo was tough given its habits of moving along the ground through dense vegetation.
In the afternoon we again headed out birding and found a pair of White-chested (Bornean Swamp) Babblers near the river, with Black Eagle and Changeable Hawk-Eagle overhead. We made our way to a canopy walkway and while we were busily photographing a gorgeous Whiskered Treeswift, the distinctive shape of the Bornean Bristlehead appeared, flying over us. They were typically vocal as four birds landed in the tops of the tallest trees around. Everyone got up on the canopy walkway to enjoy slightly closer views of this species, which is a highly sought-after Bornean endemic, monotypic family. We were extremely happy to have finally seen this species, after having no sight or sound of them during our time at Sepilok earlier in the tour. The afternoon was pressing on, so we commenced our walk back to the lodge, stopping on the way back to enjoy good views of Dark-sided Flycatcher, Rufous Woodpecker, White-crowned Hornbill, and the other star of the afternoon, a mother and baby (wild) Bornean Orangutan preparing to go to bed.
We had spent a lot of time trying to locate this sought-after endemic, so despite them being high in the canopy we were very grateful to see a small group of Bornean Bristleheads. Not a great photo, but you can tell what it is!
We had a night drive in the early evening and got to see the rather unique sight of a male Black-crowned Pitta roosting! More expected was the Blyth’s Frogmouth. Barred Eagle-Owls were vocal but would not show this time. We also found Sambar, Lesser Oriental Chevrotain (Lesser Mouse Deer), Large Flying-fox, and Black Flying Squirrel.
Day 12, 8th October 2022. Morning birding Danum Valley and Borneo Rainforest Lodge before tour conclusion in Lahad Datu with onward journeys
We had a final morning birding session out from the Borneo Rainforest Lodge as we tried to seek out any final species. It was however rather hot very early and activity was disappointingly low. We did pick up a couple of Bornean Black Magpies moving through the canopy, and we enjoyed having a final look at the Bornean Orangutans, the mother and baby not having moved far from where we left them the previous evening. Some of the group also saw the elusive Northern (North Bornean) Grey Gibbon, a species we had been hearing calling away most mornings in the lowlands. A few other species put in an appearance, such as (Bornean) Crested Fireback, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Large Green Pigeon, Wreathed Hornbill, Rufous Piculet, Banded Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler (our best views of the tour), Striped Wren-Babbler, Common Hill Myna, and White-crowned Shama.
We had our final lunch and checklist session of the tour, the food and service at Borneo Rainforest Lodge was top notch and definitely well received. We then made our way to Lahad Datu where this Borneo birding tour ended – not before we saw Oriental Plover on the runway!
The Bornean endemic White-crowned Shama often remains hidden in the forest, but occasionally hops out into the sunlight.
This was a great and enjoyable tour with a fun group of people from around the world. We must also offer a huge debt of thanks to our wonderful local guide, Liew, and all of the other people (local guides and drivers – particularly David for the first half of the tour) who all helped make it a success.
Bird List – Following IOC (12.1)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable. The common name for Bornean endemics is shown in bold type, e.g., Whitehead’s Trogon.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| Wandering Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Red-breasted Partridge | Arborophila hyperythra |
| Crested Fireback – VU | Lophura ignita |
| Great Argus – VU (H) | Argusianus argus |
| Chestnut-necklaced Partridge – VU | Tropicoperdix charltonii |
| Crimson-headed Partridge | Haematortyx sanguiniceps |
| Red Junglefowl (H) | Gallus gallus |
| Frogmouths (Podargidae) | |
| Blyth’s Frogmouth | Batrachostomus affinis |
| Treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae) | |
| Grey-rumped Treeswift | Hemiprocne longipennis |
| Whiskered Treeswift | Hemiprocne comata |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Plume-toed Swiftlet | Collocalia affinis |
| Bornean Swiftlet | Collocalia dodgei |
| Silver-rumped Spinetail | Rhaphidura leucopygialis |
| White-throated Needletail | Hirundapus caudacutus |
| Brown-backed Needletail | Hirundapus giganteus |
| Pacific Swift | Apus pacificus |
| House Swift | Apus nipalensis |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Short-toed Coucal – VU | Centropus rectunguis |
| Greater Coucal | Centropus sinensis |
| Lesser Coucal | Centropus bengalensis |
| Bornean Ground Cuckoo | Carpococcyx radiceus |
| Raffles’s Malkoha | Rhinortha chlorophaea |
| Red-billed Malkoha | Zanclostomus javanicus |
| Chestnut-breasted Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus curvirostris |
| Chestnut-bellied Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus sumatranus |
| Black-bellied Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus diardi |
| Violet Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus |
| Dark Hawk-Cuckoo | Hierococcyx bocki |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) | Columba livia dom. |
| Spotted Dove | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Philippine Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia tenuirostris |
| Little Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia ruficeps |
| Common Emerald Dove | Chalcophaps indica |
| Zebra Dove | Geopelia striata |
| Little Green Pigeon | Treron olax |
| Pink-necked Green Pigeon | Treron vernans |
| Thick-billed Green Pigeon | Treron curvirostra |
| Large Green Pigeon – VU | Treron capellei |
| Green Imperial Pigeon | Ducula aenea |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| White-breasted Waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Oriental Plover | Charadrius veredus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida |
| White-winged Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus |
| Storks (Ciconiidae) | |
| Storm’s Stork – EN | Ciconia stormi |
| Lesser Adjutant – VU | Leptoptilos javanicus |
| Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae) | |
| Oriental Darter | Anhinga melanogaster |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Nankeen Night Heron | Nycticorax caledonicus |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Intermediate Egret | Ardea intermedia |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| Crested Honey Buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus |
| Crested Serpent Eagle | Spilornis cheela |
| Mountain Serpent Eagle – VU | Spilornis kinabaluensis |
| Bat Hawk | Macheiramphus alcinus |
| Changeable Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus cirrhatus |
| Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus alboniger |
| Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle – VU | Nisaetus nanus |
| Rufous-bellied Eagle | Lophotriorchis kienerii |
| Black Eagle | Ictinaetus malaiensis |
| Crested Goshawk | Accipiter trivirgatus |
| Chinese Sparrowhawk | Accipiter soloensis |
| Brahminy Kite | Haliastur indus |
| White-bellied Sea Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster |
| Grey-headed Fish Eagle | Haliaeetus ichthyaetus |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Barred Eagle-Owl (H) | Bubo sumatranus |
| Brown Wood Owl | Strix leptogrammica |
| Trogons (Trogonidae) | |
| Red-naped Trogon | Harpactes kasumba |
| Diard’s Trogon | Harpactes diardii |
| Whitehead’s Trogon | Harpactes whiteheadi |
| Scarlet-rumped Trogon | Harpactes duvaucelii |
| Hornbills (Bucerotidae) | |
| White-crowned Hornbill – EN | Berenicornis comatus |
| Rhinoceros Hornbill – VU | Buceros rhinoceros |
| Helmeted Hornbill – CR | Rhinoplax vigil |
| Oriental Pied Hornbill | Anthracoceros albirostris |
| Black Hornbill – VU | Anthracoceros malayanus |
| Bushy-crested Hornbill | Anorrhinus galeritus |
| Wreathed Hornbill – VU | Rhyticeros undulatus |
| Wrinkled Hornbill – EN | Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus |
| Rollers (Coraciidae) | |
| Oriental Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Rufous-collared Kingfisher | Actenoides concretus |
| Banded Kingfisher | Lacedo pulchella |
| Stork-billed Kingfisher | Pelargopsis capensis |
| Collared Kingfisher | Todiramphus chloris |
| Blue-eared Kingfisher | Alcedo meninting |
| Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher | Ceyx erithaca |
| Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | |
| Red-bearded Bee-eater | Nyctyornis amictus |
| Blue-throated Bee-eater | Merops viridis |
| Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae) | |
| Golden-whiskered Barbet | Psilopogon chrysopogon |
| Mountain Barbet | Psilopogon monticola |
| Golden-naped Barbet | Psilopogon pulcherrimus |
| Blue-eared Barbet | Psilopogon duvaucelii |
| Bornean Barbet | Psilopogon eximius |
| Brown Barbet | Caloramphus fuliginosus |
| Woodpeckers (Picidae) | |
| Rufous Piculet | Sasia abnormis |
| Grey-and-buff Woodpecker | Hemicircus concretus |
| Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus canicapillus |
| Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus moluccensis |
| White-bellied Woodpecker | Dryocopus javensis |
| Banded Woodpecker | Chrysophlegma miniaceum |
| Crimson-winged Woodpecker | Picus puniceus |
| Maroon Woodpecker | Blythipicus rubiginosus |
| Orange-backed Woodpecker | Reinwardtipicus validus |
| Rufous Woodpecker | Micropternus brachyurus |
| Buff-rumped Woodpecker | Meiglyptes tristis |
| Buff-necked Woodpecker | Meiglyptes tukki |
| Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) | |
| White-fronted Falconet | Microhierax latifrons |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) | |
| Blue-rumped Parrot | Psittinus cyanurus |
| Blue-naped Parrot | Tanygnathus lucionensis |
| Long-tailed Parakeet – VU | Psittacula longicauda |
| Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot | Loriculus galgulus |
| Typical Broadbills (Eurylaimidae) | |
| Long-tailed Broadbill (H) | Psarisomus dalhousiae |
| Black-and-red Broadbill | Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos |
| Banded Broadbill | Eurylaimus javanicus |
| Black-and-yellow Broadbill | Eurylaimus ochromalus |
| African & Green Broadbills (Calyptomenidae) | |
| Whitehead’s Broadbill | Calyptomena whiteheadi |
| Pittas (Pittidae) | |
| Giant Pitta (H) | Hydrornis caeruleus |
| Blue-headed Pitta – VU (H) | Hydrornis baudii |
| Black-crowned Pitta | Erythropitta ussheri |
| Hooded Pitta | Pitta sordida |
| Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae) | |
| Golden-bellied Gerygone | Gerygone sulphurea |
| Vangas & Allies (Vangidae) | |
| Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus hirundinaceus |
| Large Woodshrike | Tephrodornis virgatus |
| Rufous-winged Philentoma | Philentoma pyrhoptera |
| Bristlehead (Pityriasidae) | |
| Bornean Bristlehead | Pityriasis gymnocephala |
| Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae) | |
| White-breasted Woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus |
| Ioras (Aegithinidae) | |
| Common Iora | Aegithina tiphia |
| Green Iora | Aegithina viridissima |
| Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) | |
| Grey-chinned Minivet | Pericrocotus solaris |
| Pied Triller | Lalage nigra |
| Lesser Cuckooshrike | Lalage fimbriata |
| Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae) | |
| Bornean Whistler | Pachycephala hypoxantha |
| Shrikes (Laniidae) | |
| Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius schach |
| Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae) | |
| Blyth’s Shrike-babbler | Pteruthius aeralatus |
| White-bellied Erpornis | Erpornis zantholeuca |
| Figbirds, Orioles, Turnagra (Oriolidae) | |
| Dark-throated Oriole | Oriolus xanthonotus |
| Drongos (Dicruridae) | |
| Bronzed Drongo | Dicrurus aeneus |
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus paradiseus |
| Hair-crested Drongo | Dicrurus hottentottus |
| Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus |
| Fantails (Rhipiduridae) | |
| White-throated Fantail | Rhipidura albicollis |
| Malaysian Pied Fantail | Rhipidura javanica |
| Spotted Fantail | Rhipidura perlata |
| Monarchs (Monarchidae) | |
| Black-naped Monarch | Hypothymis azurea |
| Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone affinis |
| Crows, Jays (Corvidae) | |
| Bornean Black Magpie | Platysmurus aterrimus |
| Bornean Green Magpie | Cissa jefferyi |
| Bornean Treepie | Dendrocitta cinerascens |
| House Crow | Corvus splendens |
| Slender-billed Crow | Corvus enca |
| Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae) | |
| Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis |
| Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) | |
| Hairy-backed Bulbul | Tricholestes criniger |
| Yellow-bellied Bulbul | Alophoixus phaeocephalus |
| Grey-cheeked Bulbul | Alophoixus tephrogenys |
| Penan Bulbul | Alophoixus ruficrissus |
| Finsch’s Bulbul | Iole finschii |
| Charlotte’s Bulbul | Iole charlottae |
| Cinereous Bulbul | Hemixos cinereus |
| Black-headed Bulbul | Brachypodius melanocephalos |
| Spectacled Bulbul | Ixodia erythropthalmos |
| Bornean Bulbul | Rubigula montis |
| Cream-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus simplex |
| Olive-winged Bulbul | Pycnonotus plumosus |
| Asian Red-eyed Bulbul | Pycnonotus brunneus |
| Pale-faced Bulbul | Pycnonotus leucops |
| Yellow-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus goiavier |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| Pacific Swallow | Hirundo tahitica |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae) | |
| Mountain Tailorbird | Phyllergates cucullatus |
| Sunda Bush Warbler | Horornis vulcanius |
| Bornean Stubtail | Urosphena whiteheadi |
| Leaf Warblers & Allies (Phylloscopidae) | |
| Arctic Warbler | Phylloscopus borealis |
| Yellow-breasted Warbler | Phylloscopus montis |
| Mountain Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus trivirgatus |
| Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae) | |
| Striated Grassbird | Megalurus palustris |
| Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae) | |
| Yellow-bellied Prinia | Prinia flaviventris |
| Dark-necked Tailorbird | Orthotomus atrogularis |
| Rufous-tailed Tailorbird | Orthotomus sericeus |
| Ashy Tailorbird | Orthotomus ruficeps |
| White-eyes (Zosteropidae) | |
| Chestnut-crested Yuhina | Staphida everetti |
| Pygmy White-eye | Heleia squamifrons |
| Black-capped White-eye | Zosterops atricapilla |
| Mountain Blackeye | Zosterops emiliae |
| Hume’s White-eye | Zosterops auriventer |
| Babblers, Scimitar Babblers (Timaliidae) | |
| Bold-striped Tit-Babbler | Mixornis bornensis |
| Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler | Macronus ptilosus |
| Grey-hooded Babbler | Cyanoderma bicolor |
| Rufous-fronted Babbler | Cyanoderma rufifrons |
| Bare-headed Laughingthrush | Melanocichla calva |
| Sunda Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus bornensis |
| Chestnut-rumped Babbler (H) | Stachyris maculata |
| Grey-throated Babbler | Stachyris nigriceps |
| Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae) | |
| Black-throated Wren-Babbler (H) | Turdinus atrigularis |
| Sooty-capped Babbler | Malacopteron affine |
| Scaly-crowned Babbler | Malacopteron cinereum |
| Rufous-crowned Babbler | Malacopteron magnum |
| Moustached Babbler | Malacopteron magnirostre |
| Bornean Black-capped Babbler | Pellorneum capistratoides |
| Short-tailed Babbler | Pellorneum malaccense |
| White-chested Babbler | Pellorneum rostratum |
| Striped Wren-Babbler | Kenopia striata |
| Horsfield’s Babbler | Malacocincla sepiaria |
| Mountain Wren-Babbler | Gypsophila crassa |
| Bornean Wren-Babbler – VU | Ptilocichla leucogrammica |
| Alcippe Fulvettas (Alcippeidae) | |
| Brown Fulvetta | Alcippe brunneicauda |
| Laughingthrushes & Allies (Leiothrichidae) | |
| Sunda Laughingthrush | Garrulax palliatus |
| Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush | Pterorhinus treacheri |
| Fairy-bluebirds (Irenidae) | |
| Asian Fairy-bluebird | Irena puella |
| Nuthatches (Sittidae) | |
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | Sitta frontalis |
| Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae) | |
| Asian Glossy Starling | Aplonis panayensis |
| Common Hill Myna | Gracula religiosa |
| Javan Myna – VU | Acridotheres javanicus |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Fruithunter | Chlamydochaera jefferyi |
| Everett’s Thrush | Zoothera everetti |
| Orange-headed Thrush | Geokichla citrina |
| Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) | |
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | Copsychus saularis |
| White-crowned Shama | Copsychus stricklandii |
| Dark-sided Flycatcher | Muscicapa sibirica |
| Asian Brown Flycatcher | Muscicapa dauurica |
| Brown-streaked (Umber) Flycatcher | Muscicapa williamsoni umbrosa |
| Pale Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis unicolor |
| Sunda Blue Flycatcher – VU (H) | Cyornis caerulatus |
| Bornean Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis superbus |
| Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher | Cyornis olivaceus |
| Verditer Flycatcher | Eumyias thalassinus |
| Indigo Flycatcher | Eumyias indigo |
| White-browed Shortwing | Brachypteryx montana |
| Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher | Vauriella gularis |
| Bornean Forktail | Enicurus borneensis |
| Bornean Whistling Thrush | Myophonus borneensis |
| Pygmy Flycatcher | Ficedula hodgsoni |
| Little Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula westermanni |
| Snowy-browed Flycatcher | Ficedula hyperythra |
| Rufous-chested Flycatcher | Ficedula dumetoria |
| Leafbirds (Chloropseidae) | |
| Greater Green Leafbird – EN | Chloropsis sonnerati |
| Lesser Green Leafbird | Chloropsis cyanopogon |
| Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae) | |
| Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker | Prionochilus maculatus |
| Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker | Prionochilus xanthopygius |
| Yellow-vented Flowerpecker | Dicaeum chrysorrheum |
| Orange-bellied Flowerpecker | Dicaeum trigonostigma |
| Black-sided Flowerpecker | Dicaeum monticolum |
| Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) | |
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | Chalcoparia singalensis |
| Plain Sunbird | Anthreptes simplex |
| Brown-throated Sunbird | Anthreptes malacensis |
| Red-throated Sunbird | Anthreptes rhodolaemus |
| Copper-throated Sunbird | Leptocoma calcostetha |
| Olive-backed Sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis |
| Crimson Sunbird | Aethopyga siparaja |
| Temminck’s Sunbird | Aethopyga temminckii |
| Purple-naped Sunbird | Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum |
| Little Spiderhunter | Arachnothera longirostra |
| Thick-billed Spiderhunter | Arachnothera crassirostris |
| Long-billed Spiderhunter | Arachnothera robusta |
| Yellow-eared Spiderhunter | Arachnothera chrysogenys |
| Bornean Spiderhunter | Arachnothera everetti |
| Whitehead’s Spiderhunter | Arachnothera juliae |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata |
| Dusky Munia | Lonchura fuscans |
| Chestnut Munia | Lonchura atricapilla |
| Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) | |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea |
| Paddyfield Pipit | Anthus rufulus |
| Total seen | 262 |
| Total heard only | 9 |
| Total recorded | 271 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Squirrels (Sciuridae) | |
| Least Pygmy Squirrel | Exilisciurus exilis |
| Tufted (Whitehead’s) Pygmy Squirrel | Exilisciurus whiteheadi |
| Borneo Black-banded Squirrel | Callosciurus orestes |
| Plantain Squirrel | Callosciurus notatus |
| Bornean Mountain Ground Squirrel | Sundasciurus everetti |
| Jentink’s Squirrel | Sundasciurus jentinki |
| Low’s Squirrel | Sundasciurus lowii |
| Pale Giant Squirrel | Ratufa affinis |
| Prevost’s Squirrel | Callosciurus prevostii |
| Red Giant Flying Squirrel | Petaurista petaurista |
| Black Flying Squirrel | Aeromys tephromelas |
| Civets, Genets, and Oyans (Viverridae) | |
| Malay (Palm) Civet | Viverra tangalunga |
| (Bornean) Banded Civet | Hemigalus derbyanus boiei |
| Old World Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae) | |
| Large Flying-fox | Pteropus vampyrus |
| Old World Leaf-nosed Bats (Hipposideridae) | |
| Ridley’s Leaf-nosed Bat | Hipposideros ridleyi |
| Deer (Cervidae) | |
| (Bornean) Sambar | Rusa unicolor brookei |
| Chevrotains (Tragulidae) | |
| Lesser Oriental Chevrotain | Tragulus kanchii |
| Treeshrews (Tupaiidae) | |
| Common (Large) Treeshrew | Tupaia glis |
| Lesser Treeshrew | Tupia minor |
| Mountain Treeshrew | Tupia montana |
| Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae) | |
| Long-tailed Macaque | Macaca fascicularis |
| Southern Pig-tailed Macaque | Macaca nemestrina |
| Red Langur (Leaf Monkey) | Presbytis rubicunda |
| Silvery Lutung | Trachypithecus cristatus |
| Proboscis Monkey | Nasalis larvatus |
| Gibbons (Hylobatidae) | |
| Northern (North Bornean) Grey Gibbon | Hylobates funereus |
| Great Apes (Hominidae) | |
| (Northeast) Bornean Orangutan | Pongo pygmaeus morio |
| Total | 27 |
Reptile List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Typical Geckos (Gekkonidae) | |
| Common House Gecko | Hemidactylus frenatus |
| Flat-tailed House Gecko | Hemidactylus platyurus |
| Spotted House Gecko | Gekko monarchus |
| Dragons (Agamidae) | |
| Borneo Forest Dragon | Gonocephalus bornensis |
| Changeable (Oriental Garden) Lizard | Calotes versicolor |
| Great Flying Dragon | Draco maximus |
| Skinks (Scincidae) | |
| Borneo Skink | Dasia vittata |
| Rough Mabuya | Eutropis rudis |
| Lewis’s Mabuya | Eutropis lewisi |
| Sabah Slender Skink | Sphenomorphus sabanus |
| Monitor Lizards (Varanidae) | |
| Common Water Monitor | Varanus salvator |
| Crocodiles (Crocodylidae) | |
| Saltwater Crocodile | Crocodylus porosus |
| Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae) | |
| Red-sided Keelback Water Snake | Xenochrophis trianguligerus |
| Total | 13 |
Notable Other Taxa List
Not a conclusive list. We saw lots of interesting taxa during our tour, e.g. multiple species of millipede that can only be identified to genus level (see here) and so not included below. Similarly, lots of butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies and stick insects were seen and will take a long time to identify due to limited available literature. The list below includes some of the more readily identified species.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Orbweavers (Araneidae) | |
| Multi-colored Saint Andrew’s Cross Spider | Argiope versicolor |
| Ants (Formicidae) | |
| Giant Forest Ant | Dinomyrmex gigas borneensis |
| Lanternflies (Fulgoridae) | |
| Lanternfly sp. | Pyrops whiteheadi |
| Swallowtails and Parnassians (Papilionidae) | |
| Raja Brooke’s Birdwing | Trogonoptera brookiana |
| Malayan Birdwing | Troides amphrysus |
| Borneo Birdwing | Troides andromache |
| Green Dragontail Butterfly | Lamproptera meges |
| Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) | |
| Giant Tree Nymph | Idea lynceus |
| Clipper | Parthenos sylvia |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |
| Crimson Dropwing | Trithemis aurora |
| Indonesian Red-winged Dragonfly | Neurothemis terminata |
| Jawed Land Leeches (Haemadipsidae) | |
| Brown Leech | Haemadipsa zeylanica |
| Tiger Leech | Haemadipsa picta |
| Sesarmid Marsh Crabs (Sesarmidae) | |
| Vampire Crab sp. | Geosesarma danumense |
| Total | 14 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
