05 – 20 March 2024
By Andrew Walker
Bar-bellied Pitta gave some great views during the first birding session of our Vietnam birding tour, what a stunning bird!
Overview
This exciting Vietnam birding tour covered the southern and central part of the country and resulted in loads of great birds and some excellent photographic opportunities. The tour started in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) on the 5th of March 2024 and ended back there on the 20th of March 2024. We visited some of the top birding destinations in Vietnam, such as Cat Tien National Park, Da Lat, Deo Nui San pass, Mang Den, Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, and Son Tra Nature Reserve.
We recorded 297 bird species (12 heard only) during the tour, the trip list follows the report. The tour highlights included a long list of endemic and near-endemic birds. Some of the non-passerine highlights included Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl, Siamese Fireback, Slaty-legged Crake, Great Eared Nightjar, Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Ashy-headed Green Pigeon, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Silver-backed Needletail, Black-tailed Gull, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Banded Kingfisher, Red-vented Barbet, Indochinese Barbet, Necklaced Barbet, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Collared Falconet, and Red-breasted Parakeet.
A Green Peafowl was hiding within the vegetation, but the views were still quite good.
Some of the passerine highlights enjoyed on the tour included Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, Blue Pitta, Long-tailed Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Dusky Broadbill, Indochinese Green Magpie, Grey-crowned Crocias, Vietnamese Cutia, White-browed (Dalat) Shrike-babbler, Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler, Scaly-crowned (Indochinese) Babbler, Japanese Thrush, Collared Laughingthrush, Golden-winged Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Black-headed Parrotbill, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Green-backed (Langbian) Tit, Black-throated (Grey-crowned) Bushtit, Lesser (Langbian) Shortwing, Mrs. Gould’s (Annam) Sunbird, Black-throated (Langbian) Sunbird, Vietnamese Greenfinch, and Red (Dalat) Crossbill.
Collared Laughingthrush was a huge Vietnam endemic target that showed well during our tour.
Blue-rumped Pitta gave several excellent views during our Vietnam birding tour.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 5th March 2024. Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
The group arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, and we met our excellent local guide, Phuc, for a welcome dinner in the evening and discussed, with much excitement, the plans for the next few weeks of birding in Vietnam.
Day 2, 6th March 2024. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien National Park
We spent the morning and early afternoon birding at Ma Da Forest between Ho Chi Minh City and Cat Tien National Park. It was a great first birding session and the first bird we saw on getting out of the van was a male Banded Kingfisher – what a start! After getting into position in the bird blind (bird hide) we waited in anticipation as to what would come in. We didn’t need to wait too long, with Indochinese Blue Flycatcher coming straight in and they were soon followed by other birds like Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Laced Woodpecker, Dusky Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Abbott’s Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler, Racket-tailed Treepie, and Siberian Blue Robin. A range of tough to see (away from a blind) and gorgeous birds to start our tour off with.
Prolonged views of multiple Silver-breasted Broadbills were the order of the day with birds ever-present at both blinds, giving unparalleled views.
We moved to a different blind, where a different set of birds included Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Black-crested Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Scaly-crowned (Indochinese) Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, and more of what we’d already seen at the previous blind. After lunch we went back to the second blind site, and not long after were rewarded with views of our main target, a pair of gorgeous Indochinese Green Magpies. After enjoying these sightings, we completed our journey to Cat Tien National Park, where we checked into our accommodation within the national park for the next three nights. A Eurasian Hoopoe on the lawn greeted us as we walked to our rooms.
The rather striking Indochinese Green Magpie put on quite a show for us.
Day 3, 7th March 2024. Birding Cat Tien National Park
We spent an enjoyable day birding at Cat Tien National Park. Our morning birding session consisted of a walk along the road parallel to a river, from our accommodation. During our walk we passed through some woodland edge, with pockets of scrub and bamboo and we picked up a lot of great birds. Some of the top highlights from our morning walk included Banded Broadbill, Black-and-red Broadbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Red-breasted Parakeet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Banded Kingfisher, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Green-billed Malkoha, Violet Cuckoo, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Black-hooded Oriole, Great Iora, Swinhoe’s Minivet, White-rumped Shama, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Golden-crested Myna, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, and the localized Grey-faced Tit-Babbler. Several animals were seen too, with some excellent views of Red-cheeked (Yellow-cheeked) Gibbons, Cambodian Striped Squirrel, Pallas’s Squirrel, Vietnamese Blue Crested Lizard, Spotted Flying Dragon, and a briefly seen (by some) unidentified snake.
In the afternoon we visited another blind, this time about a 25-minute drive from our accommodation within the national park. It was a busy hide with some great birds and mammals in attendance. Two of the stars of the show were the pair of Bar-bellied Pittas that stayed around for quite a while (though often in the undergrowth trying to remain hidden), and our main target, Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant. A beautiful bird walked into view and showed well for some time. The supporting cast included Red Junglefowl, Siberian Blue Robin, White-rumped Shama, Grey-faced Tit-Babbler, and more. One of the surprises of the afternoon was the Slaty-legged Crake that spent some time visiting the blind, giving excellent views of this tough bird. Mammals at the blind included Pallas’s Squirrel, Northern Treeshrew, and Northern Smooth-tailed Treeshrew. As we drove back to our accommodation in the late afternoon, we found the gorgeous Black-shanked Douc Langur, Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, and Long-tailed Macaque. At dusk we took a walk near our accommodation where we found a pair of Great Eared Nightjars before we had our dinner. An excellent ending to a bird-filled day of birding at Cat Tien National Park.
The localized Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant was the main target during our afternoon birding at Cat Tien National Park, and we got some great views.
Day 4, 8th March 2024. Birding Cat Tien National Park
We enjoyed another morning birding at Cat Tien National Park. We headed over to the same area we’d spent the previous afternoon and soon started picking up some great birds, such as Ashy-headed Green Pigeon, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Greater Flameback, and Violet Cuckoo.
We again went into a blind, where we got excellent views of a pair of Bar-bellied Pittas, along with other species, including Slaty-legged Crake, Green-legged Partridge, Red Junglefowl (including a stunning male), Siberian Blue Robin, and a range of babblers and bulbuls.
This Slaty-legged Crake gave very good and prolonged views.
During the afternoon we drove a road back and forth looking through some more open habitat and it provided us with the opportunity for a few different birds. Our top target was Green Peafowl, and we got some good views of one of these in a field. During this drive we also found Siamese Fireback, Red Junglefowl, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Red Collared Dove, Lesser Coucal, Lineated Barbet, Black-headed Bulbul, Sooty-headed Bulbul, White-throated Kingfisher, Brown-backed Needletail, and Brown Shrike. As we headed back to our accommodation, we noted Sambar and Common Palm Civet.
Day 5, 9th March 2024. Cat Tien National Park to Da Lat
Prior to breakfast we had Brown Boobook, Asian Barred Owl, and Great Eared Nightjars calling and then we enjoyed a final morning birding in Cat Tien National Park, where we visited a different section of the park to where we had birded previously. It was a beautiful area of forest with some very impressive, huge trees. The birding was also good, and we again saw several woodpeckers, including White-browed Piculet, Greater Flameback, and Grey-headed (Black-naped) Woodpecker, along with other goodies such as Siamese Fireback, Golden-crested Myna, Oriental Dollarbird, Red-breasted Parakeet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, and Forest Wagtail. Shikra and Crested Goshawk were both seen overhead, the latter giving a display flight, as were Silver-backed Needletails, Asian Palm Swifts, and Germain’s Swiftlets. One of the most bizarre sightings of the day was several gatherings of flatid planthopper nymphs – a remarkable sight.
After leaving Cat Tien behind we drove across to Da Lat, our base for the next three nights.
We signed off from our birding at Cat Tien National Park with a great look at Siamese Fireback.
Day 6, 10th March 2024. Birding Da Lat Plateau
We enjoyed a wonderful day birding the Da Lat Plateau where numerous Vietnamese endemic birds and regionally endemic species and subspecies were found. Most of the birds recorded during the day gave superb views, many at very close range. We did some roadside birding and visited some blinds to allow us to look for some secretive birds.
Our first blind visit yielded one of the area’s top birds, the Endangered (BirdLife International) endemic Collared Laughingthrush. We had some very close views of this stunning species (see the photo in trip report summary above). The fine supporting cast was made up of Large Niltava, White-tailed Robin, Verditer Flycatcher, Little Pied Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, and White-browed Scimitar Babbler, all of which showed equally well. As we walked along a few sections of mountain roads, we found Vietnamese Cutia, White-browed (Dalat) Shrike-babbler, Black-headed Parrotbill, Green-backed (Langbian) Tit, Long-tailed (Annam) Minivet, and Kloss’s Leaf Warbler.
In the middle of the morning, we visited a second blind, and once again were in awe of the birds and the views we were getting. Highlights here included White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Grey-bellied Tesia, White-throated Fantail, Grey-throated Babbler, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler, Mountain Fulvetta, Black-headed (White-spectacled) Sibia, Dark-sided Thrush, Lesser (Langbian) Shortwing, and Mugimaki Flycatcher.
Over lunch and a bit of a rest, we found Red (Dalat) Crossbill, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Mrs. Gould’s (Annam) Sunbird, Indian Cuckoo, Flavescent Bulbul, and Grey Bush Chat. After the break we went back into a blind for the final birding session of the day, and it was a great one. Highlights were many and included the top trio of Rufous-throated Partridge, Rusty-naped Pitta, and Blue Pitta. As well as many of the birds already mentioned above!
We had some good looks at Vietnamese Cutia while birding at Da Lat.
A rather shy Rusty-naped Pitta eventually came out into an open area and showed well.
Day 7, 11th March 2024. Birding Da Lat Plateau
We spent the morning birding at a couple of sites in the vicinity of Da Lat city. The main target at our first site, a garden with remnant forest patches, was Grey-crowned Crocias, which we did see a few times, but it didn’t come close. While we were birding around the garden and looking for the crocias, we picked up Silver-eared Mesia, Blue-winged (Plain) Minla, Rufous-backed Sibia, Black-headed (White-spectacled) Sibia, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Indochinese Barbet, Hill Prinia, Green-backed (Langbian) Tit, Black-throated (Grey-crowned) Bushtit, Mrs. Gould’s (Annam) Sunbird, and Black-throated (Langbian) Sunbird.
We moved locations to another couple of forest patches, where we found Burmese Shrike, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, and Black Bulbul. Three Ospreys were flying over a nearby lake, which also contained Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, and Little Cormorant. Vegetation around the lakeshore held Yellow Bittern, Chinese Pond Heron, and Little Egret.
We took an afternoon walk on the edge of Da Lat city, where we had brief views of a pair of Long-tailed Broadbills as well as some very nice looks at Necklaced Barbet. We also saw Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Black-throated (Grey-crowned) Bushtit, and Black Bulbul. As dusk came, we changed locations and had House Swift and Plain-backed Sparrow just before it got dark, and immediately after found several Grey Nightjars, a gorgeous rufous morph Oriental Scops Owl, and a Large-tailed Nightjar.
Day 8, 12th March 2024. Da Lat Plateau to Di Linh (Birding at Deo Nui San Pass)
We left Da Lat after breakfast and drove to Di Linh. We arrived in the middle of the morning and went straight to a bird blind, where we saw more great birds. One of the most abundant species present at the blind was Orange-headed Thrush, with two subspecies (and a hybrid between those noted). A pair of Streaked (Annam) Wren-Babblers showed very nicely and they were joined by a male Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Grey-throated Babbler, and White-throated Rock Thrush. It all got a bit chaotic when a mixed-species flock passed through our viewing area. The flock contained Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Black-chinned Yuhina, Black-headed Parrotbill, Red-headed Trogon, Speckled Piculet, and White-bellied Erpornis. A vocal Alström’s Warbler was also hanging around but tended to remain in the undergrowth.
After a bite to eat we went straight into a different blind from our morning one, hoping for some more excitement, and wow, did we get that! On arrival at the blind, we were greeted by the sight of around a dozen Orange-headed Thrushes all out in the open (again both subspecies were present), with a female-type Siberian Thrush thrown in for good measure. As we got into place the birds started coming in and over the course of the next few hours’ we were treated to an excellent showing of Orange-headed Thrushes, several Siberian Thrushes (including several male birds), and rarest of all, at least two Japanese Thrushes, including one stunning male bird. Lots of other birds were present too, such as Blue-rumped Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Ashy (Brown-backed) Bulbul, Indian White-eye, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, and many of the birds seen at the previous blind earlier in the day.
Japanese Thrush is a rare migrant to southern Vietnam, so we were very pleased to find two birds while birding at Di Linh.
This molting male Siberian Thrush was coming into breeding plumage.
Leaving the blind, we walked a short stretch of road, where we saw Black Eagle, Grey-faced Buzzard, Bay Woodpecker, Red-vented Barbet, Scarlet Minivet, Black Bulbul, Dusky Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, and Asian House Martin. As we drove to our hotel for the night, a couple of stops gave us sightings of Annam Prinia, Black-winged Kite, Black-collared Starling, and Eurasian (White-faced) Jay.
Day 9, 13th March 2024. Di Linh (Birding at Deo Nui San pass)
We had a morning birding back in the forest at Deo Nui San pass getting repeated good views of some rather nice birds. A nesting pair of Long-tailed Broadbills remained quite shy, but we had some good scope views to prevent disturbing them. We visited another bird blind, where we enjoyed sightings of Orange-headed Thrushes, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Streaked (Annam) Wren-Babbler, and many birds seen previously. As we were preparing to leave the blind a pair of Indochinese Green Magpies also flew in above us.
A brief stop at an area of rice paddies provided a change of scenery and we saw Burmese Shrike, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Coppersmith Barbet, and Paddyfield Pipit. After lunch we drove back to Ho Chi Minh City for the night, in preparation for our flight the following day.
Red-billed Scimitar Babbler showed well during the Vietnam birding tour.
Day 10, 14th March 2024. Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku then travel to Mang Den
We took a morning flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku in central Vietnam. After our arrival we drove north to Mang Den where we checked into our hotel for the next two nights. An afternoon birding session gave us a few new birds, including brief views, for some, of Black-hooded Laughingthrush, a stunning pair of White-gorgeted Flycatchers, vocal Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Short-billed Minivet, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, and Black-throated (Grey-crowned) Bushtit.
Day 11, 15th March 2024. Birding at Mang Den
We spent the morning birding in the forest around Mang Den. It was hotter than usual, and activity was lower than expected, but we managed to find a few new birds for the trip such as Grey-headed Parrotbill, Golden Babbler, Clicking Shrike-babbler, Rufous-faced Warbler, Grey-chinned Minivet, Pale Blue Flycatcher, and Mountain Bulbul. Some of the group got brief views of a male Red-headed Trogon and a mobile flock of Black-hooded Laughingthrushes. Plenty of common and more widespread species were seen too, such as White-bellied Erpornis, Black Bulbul, and Mountain Fulvetta. Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Collared Babbler were both heard, but unfortunately not seen.
In the afternoon we took a walk around a different area of forest from our morning walk. We had a raucous party of Black-hooded Laughingthrushes that kept us entertained for a while as we tried to get good views of them, but they were very active and so views were close but fleeting. A pair of Red-headed Trogons gave brief views to some folks again, but they seemed very shy. An Indochinese Green Magpie came in with the noisy laughingthrushes but was typically furtive, despite being loud! Rufous-faced Warbler, Maroon Oriole, Bay Woodpecker, (Northern) Mountain Bulbul, Golden Babbler, Grey-chinned Minivet, and Black-throated Sunbird were all also seen.
This rather cute Rufous-faced Warbler gave some very close views while birding at Mang Den.
Day 12, 16th March 2024. Birding Mang Den and travel to Tu Mo Rong
We spent a final morning trying to find some new birds around Mang Den, and we did find a couple, such as very brief Orange-bellied (Greyish-crowned) Leafbird and (Annam) Sultan Tit, along with Puff-throated Bulbul. One of the best birds was a showy Streaked (Tonkin) Wren-Babbler that gave close and lengthy views, nice after seeing the “Annam” version earlier in the tour. We also had an extremely confiding Rufous-faced Warbler. We enjoyed further sightings of Grey-headed Parrotbill, Grey-faced Buzzard, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, and a few other species previously seen.
After lunch we drove to Tu Mo Rong, our basic accommodation (and the only option in this part of the country) for our remote birding tomorrow. We stopped at some rice paddies in the late afternoon, where we found several open-country species, including a few new trip birds like Oriental Turtle Dove, Dusky Warbler, and Scaly-breasted Munia, along with a gorgeous breeding-plumage Chinese Pond Heron.
Day 13, 17th March 2024. Birding Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve
We spent the full day birding at Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve with most of this time spent sitting in two blinds waiting for our key species to show. Our time in the blinds gave us excellent sightings of several great species, such as Black-crowned Barwing, Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Black-headed (Brownish-backed) Sibia, Rufous-capped Babbler, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Large Niltava, and Eyebrowed Thrush, along with a brief view of Red-tailed Laughingthrush and (eventually) an excellent look at the highly sought after Golden-winged Laughingthrush, which was definitely worth the nervous wait we had!
Later in the day we found a nice mixed flock containing Yellow-cheeked Tit, White-spectacled Warbler, Grey-cheeked Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Red-tailed Minla, Green-tailed Sunbird, and Red-headed Trogon. It was a very enjoyable day of birding.
The top target for the day was the near-endemic Golden-winged Laughingthrush. Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve offers the only realistic chance of seeing this bird anywhere in the world and we were delighted with the views we got.
Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve also offers one of the best opportunities to connect with the near-endemic Black-crowned Barwing and we enjoyed excellent views of a pair of birds.
Day 14, 18th March 2024. Tu Mo Rong to Da Nang and mammal watching on the Son Tra Peninsula
Essentially a long travel day as we made our way from remote Tu Mo Rong to the bustling city and bright lights of Da Nang. We left Tu Mo Rong after our early breakfast and made a few birding stops along the way to our destination. The first two stops were on high elevation forested roads, before we dropped down from the mountains. At our stops we found Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Black Eagle, Necklaced Barbet, White-throated Fantail, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Black Bulbul, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Mrs. Gould’s (Scarlet-breasted) Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, and Green-tailed Sunbird.
Dropping in elevation we noted Blue Rock Thrush, Striated Swallow, Long-tailed Shrike, and Crimson Sunbird along the road. Then, at a coffee stop at a river, we found Wire-tailed Swallow, Plaintive Cuckoo, Greater Coucal, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Plain Prinia, Ornate Sunbird, White Wagtail, and Paddyfield Pipit. Nearby rice paddies held Amur Stonechat, along with Chinese Pond Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Medium Egret, and Great Egret.
We arrived in Da Nang in the middle of the afternoon and once things had cooled down a little, we headed over to Son Tra Nature Reserve on the edge of the city. Here we searched for and found our main target – Red-shanked Douc Langur. We saw a family group of langurs, which allowed great views. We also saw several Rhesus Macaques that showed very well too, though they were not quite as spectacular!
The rare Red-shanked Douc Langur was a highlight of our time on the Son Tra Peninsula, and the main reason for our visit.
Day 15, 19th March 2024. Bird and mammal watching on Son Tra Peninsula, flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
We spent the final morning of the tour undertaking some pre-breakfast birding along the coast of the Son Tra Peninsula, where we added a few final trip birds. The best of the new birds was a Black-tailed Gull on the beach, which was getting hassled nonstop by a Pacific Reef Heron. Also, along the beach, we found White-breasted Waterhen, Common Sandpiper, Common Kingfisher, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Dusky Warbler, White-shouldered Starling, and excitingly, a hunting Peregrine Falcon, which may have actually caught the Common Sandpiper! While in the area we checked out some forest which held a family group of Red-shanked Douc Langurs, so we had a further look at this gorgeous monkey.
In the afternoon we boarded our flight back to Ho Chi Minh City for the final night and our final group dinner of the tour. We tried to pick the “bird of the trip”, but it wasn’t an easy task given the many high-quality birds we had seen over the previous two weeks. However, Golden-winged Laughingthrush won the award given its rarity value, interesting history, stunning good looks, and the effort we put in to seeing one (maintaining the faith one would come in even when it wasn’t looking very likely!), in such a beautiful forest.
Day 16, 20th March 2024. Departure day from Ho Chi Minh City
Everyone departed from Ho Chi Minh at their leisure as this highly successful Vietnam birding tour concluded.
Bird List – Following IOC (14.1)
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: EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Rufous-throated Partridge | Arborophila rufogularis |
| Siamese Fireback | Lophura diardi |
| Green Peafowl – EN | Pavo muticus |
| Green-legged Partridge | Tropicoperdix chloropus |
| Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant – VU | Polyplectron germaini |
| Red Junglefowl | Gallus gallus |
| Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) | |
| Great Eared Nightjar | Lyncornis macrotis |
| Grey Nightjar | Caprimulgus jotaka |
| Large-tailed Nightjar | Caprimulgus macrurus |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Germain’s Swiftlet | Aerodramus germani |
| Silver-backed Needletail | Hirundapus cochinchinensis |
| Brown-backed Needletail | Hirundapus giganteus |
| Asian Palm Swift | Cypsiurus balasiensis |
| Pacific Swift | Apus pacificus |
| House Swift | Apus nipalensis |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Greater Coucal | Centropus sinensis |
| Lesser Coucal | Centropus bengalensis |
| Green-billed Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus tristis |
| Asian Koel (H) | Eudynamys scolopaceus |
| Violet Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus |
| Banded Bay Cuckoo | Cacomantis sonneratii |
| Plaintive Cuckoo | Cacomantis merulinus |
| Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo | Surniculus lugubris |
| Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo | Hierococcyx nisicolor |
| Indian Cuckoo | Cuculus micropterus |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) | Columba livia [dom.] |
| Oriental Turtle Dove | Streptopelia orientalis |
| Red Collared Dove | Streptopelia tranquebarica |
| Spotted Dove | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Barred Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia unchall |
| Common Emerald Dove | Chalcophaps indica |
| Zebra Dove | Geopelia striata |
| Orange-breasted Green Pigeon | Treron bicinctus |
| Ashy-headed Green Pigeon | Treron phayrei |
| Thick-billed Green Pigeon | Treron curvirostra |
| Yellow-vented Green Pigeon (H) | Treron seimundi |
| Green Imperial Pigeon | Ducula aenea |
| Mountain Imperial Pigeon | Ducula badia |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| Slaty-legged Crake | Rallina eurizonoides |
| White-breasted Waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus |
| Grebes (Podicipedidae) | |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Black-tailed Gull | Larus crassirostris |
| Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | |
| Little Cormorant | Microcarbo niger |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Yellow Bittern | Ixobrychus sinensis |
| Pacific Reef Heron | Egretta sacra |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Chinese Pond Heron | Ardeola bacchus |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Ospreys (Pandionidae) | |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| Crested Honey Buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus |
| Crested Serpent Eagle | Spilornis cheela |
| Black Eagle | Ictinaetus malaiensis |
| Crested Goshawk | Accipiter trivirgatus |
| Shikra | Accipiter badius |
| Grey-faced Buzzard | Butastur indicus |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Brown Boobook (H) | Ninox scutulata |
| Collared Owlet (H) | Taenioptynx brodiei |
| Asian Barred Owlet | Glaucidium cuculoides |
| Oriental Scops Owl | Otus sunia |
| Collared Scops Owl (H) | Otus lettia |
| Trogons (Trogonidae) | |
| Orange-breasted Trogon | Harpactes oreskios |
| Red-headed Trogon | Harpactes erythrocephalus |
| Hoopoes (Upupidae) | |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops |
| Hornbills (Bucerotidae) | |
| Oriental Pied Hornbill | Anthracoceros albirostris |
| Rollers (Coraciidae) | |
| Indochinese Roller | Coracias affinis |
| Oriental Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Banded Kingfisher | Lacedo pulchella |
| White-throated Kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
| Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | |
| Blue-bearded Bee-eater | Nyctyornis athertoni |
| Chestnut-headed Bee-eater | Merops leschenaulti |
| Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae) | |
| Red-vented Barbet | Psilopogon lagrandieri |
| Lineated Barbet | Psilopogon lineatus |
| Green-eared Barbet | Psilopogon faiostrictus |
| Necklaced Barbet | Psilopogon auricularis |
| Indochinese Barbet | Psilopogon annamensis |
| Blue-eared Barbet | Psilopogon cyanotis |
| Coppersmith Barbet | Psilopogon haemacephalus |
| Woodpeckers (Picidae) | |
| Speckled Piculet | Picumnus innominatus |
| White-browed Piculet | Sasia ochracea |
| Heart-spotted Woodpecker | Hemicircus canente |
| Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus canicapillus |
| White-bellied Woodpecker | Dryocopus javensis |
| Greater Yellownape | Chrysophlegma flavinucha |
| Lesser Yellownape | Picus chlorolophus |
| Laced Woodpecker | Picus vittatus |
| Grey-headed Woodpecker | Picus canus |
| Common Flameback | Dinopium javanense |
| Greater Flameback | Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus |
| Pale-headed Woodpecker (H) | Gecinulus grantia |
| Bay Woodpecker | Blythipicus pyrrhotis |
| Black-and-buff Woodpecker | Meiglyptes jugularis |
| Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) | |
| Collared Falconet | Microhierax caerulescens |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) | |
| Red-breasted Parakeet | Psittacula alexandri |
| Vernal Hanging Parrot | Loriculus vernalis |
| Typical Broadbills (Eurylaimidae) | |
| Long-tailed Broadbill | Psarisomus dalhousiae |
| Dusky Broadbill | Corydon sumatranus |
| Silver-breasted Broadbill | Serilophus lunatus |
| Black-and-red Broadbill | Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos |
| Banded Broadbill | Eurylaimus javanicus |
| Pittas (Pittidae) | |
| Rusty-naped Pitta | Hydrornis oatesi |
| Blue-rumped Pitta | Hydrornis soror |
| Blue Pitta | Hydrornis cyaneus |
| Bar-bellied Pitta | Hydrornis elliotii |
| Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae) | |
| Golden-bellied Gerygone | Gerygone sulphurea |
| Vangas & Allies (Vangidae) | |
| Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus picatus |
| Large Woodshrike | Tephrodornis virgatus |
| Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae) | |
| Ashy Woodswallow | Artamus fuscus |
| Ioras (Aegithinidae) | |
| Common Iora | Aegithina tiphia |
| Great Iora | Aegithina lafresnayei |
| Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) | |
| Grey-chinned Minivet | Pericrocotus solaris |
| Short-billed Minivet | Pericrocotus brevirostris |
| Long-tailed Minivet | Pericrocotus ethologus |
| Scarlet Minivet | Pericrocotus speciosus |
| Swinhoe’s Minivet | Pericrocotus cantonensis |
| Large Cuckooshrike | Coracina macei |
| Black-winged Cuckooshrike | Lalage melaschistos |
| Indochinese Cuckooshrike | Lalage polioptera |
| Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae) | |
| White-browed Shrike-babbler | Pteruthius aeralatus |
| Clicking Shrike-babbler | Pteruthius intermedius |
| White-bellied Erpornis | Erpornis zantholeuca |
| Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios (Oriolidae) | |
| Maroon Oriole | Oriolus traillii |
| Black-hooded Oriole | Oriolus xanthornus |
| Black-naped Oriole | Oriolus chinensis |
| Drongos (Dicruridae) | |
| Bronzed Drongo | Dicrurus aeneus |
| Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus remifer |
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus paradiseus |
| Hair-crested Drongo | Dicrurus hottentottus |
| Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus |
| Black Drongo | Dicrurus macrocercus |
| Fantails (Rhipiduridae) | |
| White-throated Fantail | Rhipidura albicollis |
| Monarchs (Monarchidae) | |
| Black-naped Monarch | Hypothymis azurea |
| Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone affinis |
| Shrikes (Laniidae) | |
| Burmese Shrike | Lanius collurioides |
| Brown Shrike | Lanius cristatus |
| Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius schach |
| Crows, Jays (Corvidae) | |
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius |
| Indochinese Green Magpie | Cissa hypoleuca |
| Racket-tailed Treepie | Crypsirina temia |
| Ratchet-tailed Treepie (H) | Temnurus temnurus |
| Eastern Jungle Crow | Corvus levaillantii |
| Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae) | |
| Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis |
| Tits, Chickadees (Paridae) | |
| Sultan Tit | Melanochlora sultanea |
| Green-backed Tit | Parus monticolus |
| Yellow-cheeked Tit | Machlolophus spilonotus |
| Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) | |
| Ochraceous Bulbul | Alophoixus ochraceus |
| Puff-throated Bulbul | Alophoixus pallidus |
| Grey-eyed Bulbul | Iole propinqua |
| Ashy Bulbul | Hemixos flavala |
| Mountain Bulbul | Ixos mcclellandii |
| Black Bulbul | Hypsipetes leucocephalus |
| Black-headed Bulbul | Brachypodius melanocephalos |
| Black-crested Bulbul | Rubigula flaviventris |
| Streak-eared Bulbul | Pycnonotus conradi |
| Stripe-throated Bulbul | Pycnonotus finlaysoni |
| Flavescent Bulbul | Pycnonotus flavescens |
| Red-whiskered Bulbul | Pycnonotus jocosus |
| Yellow-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus goiavier |
| Sooty-headed Bulbul | Pycnonotus aurigaster |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia |
| Dusky Crag Martin | Ptyonoprogne concolor |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| Wire-tailed Swallow | Hirundo smithii |
| Asian House Martin | Delichon dasypus |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica |
| Striated Swallow | Cecropis striolata |
| Cupwings (Pnoepygidae) | |
| Pygmy Cupwing (H) | Pnoepyga pusilla |
| Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae) | |
| Yellow-bellied Warbler (H) | Abroscopus superciliaris |
| Rufous-faced Warbler | Abroscopus albogularis |
| Grey-bellied Tesia | Tesia cyaniventer |
| Bushtits (Aegithalidae) | |
| Black-throated Bushtit | Aegithalos concinnus |
| Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae) | |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus |
| Dusky Warbler | Phylloscopus fuscatus |
| White-spectacled Warbler | Phylloscopus intermedius |
| Grey-cheeked Warbler | Phylloscopus poliogenys |
| Alström’s Warbler | Phylloscopus soror |
| Two-barred Warbler | Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus |
| Pale-legged Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus tenellipes |
| Chestnut-crowned Warbler | Phylloscopus castaniceps |
| Blyth’s Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus reguloides |
| Kloss’s Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus ogilviegranti |
| Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae) | |
| Golden-headed Cisticola | Cisticola exilis |
| Annam Prinia | Prinia rocki |
| Hill Prinia | Prinia superciliaris |
| Rufescent Prinia | Prinia rufescens |
| Yellow-bellied Prinia (H) | Prinia flaviventris |
| Plain Prinia | Prinia inornata |
| Common Tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius |
| Dark-necked Tailorbird | Orthotomus atrogularis |
| Parrotbills & Allies (Paradoxornithidae) | |
| Grey-headed Parrotbill | Paradoxornis gularis |
| Black-headed Parrotbill – VU | Paradoxornis margaritae |
| White-eyes (Zosteropidae) | |
| Black-chinned Yuhina | Yuhina nigrimenta |
| Indian White-eye | Zosterops palpebrosus |
| Babblers, Scimitar Babblers (Timaliidae) | |
| Grey-faced Tit-Babbler | Mixornis kelleyi |
| Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | Mixornis gularis |
| Golden Babbler | Cyanoderma chrysaeum |
| Rufous-capped Babbler | Cyanoderma ruficeps |
| Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus phayrei |
| Red-billed Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps |
| White-browed Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus schisticeps |
| Grey-throated Babbler | Stachyris nigriceps |
| Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae) | |
| Scaly-crowned Babbler | Malacopteron cinereum |
| Collared Babbler (H) | Gampsorhynchus torquatus |
| Rufous-winged Fulvetta | Schoeniparus castaneceps |
| Black-crowned Fulvetta | Schoeniparus klossi |
| Rusty-capped Fulvetta | Schoeniparus dubius |
| Puff-throated Babbler | Pellorneum ruficeps |
| Buff-breasted Babbler | Pellorneum tickelli |
| Abbott’s Babbler | Malacocincla abbotti |
| Streaked Wren-Babbler | Gypsophila brevicaudata |
| Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler | Napothera danjoui |
| Alcippe Fulvettas (Alcippeidae) | |
| Mountain Fulvetta | Alcippe peracensis |
| Laughingthrushes & Allies (Leiothrichidae) | |
| Vietnamese Cutia | Cutia legalleni |
| Grey-crowned Crocias – EN | Laniellus langbianis |
| Red-tailed Laughingthrush | Trochalopteron milnei |
| Collared Laughingthrush – EN | Trochalopteron yersini |
| Golden-winged Laughingthrush – EN | Trochalopteron ngoclinhense |
| Black-headed Sibia | Heterophasia desgodinsi |
| Blue-winged Minla | Actinodura cyanouroptera |
| Black-crowned Barwing | Actinodura sodangorum |
| Silver-eared Mesia – EN | Leiothrix argentauris |
| Red-tailed Minla | Minla ignotincta |
| Rufous-backed Sibia | Leioptila annectens |
| White-crested Laughingthrush (H) | Garrulax leucolophus |
| Black-hooded Laughingthrush | Garrulax milleti |
| White-cheeked Laughingthrush | Pterorhinus vassali |
| Fairy-bluebirds (Irenidae) | |
| Asian Fairy-bluebird | Irena puella |
| Nuthatches (Sittidae) | |
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | Sitta frontalis |
| Yellow-billed Nuthatch | Sitta solangiae |
| Chestnut-vented Nuthatch | Sitta nagaensis |
| Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae) | |
| Golden-crested Myna | Ampeliceps coronatus |
| Crested Myna | Acridotheres cristatellus |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis |
| Vinous-breasted Myna | Acridotheres leucocephalus |
| Black-collared Starling | Gracupica nigricollis |
| White-shouldered Starling | Sturnia sinensis |
| Chestnut-tailed Starling | Sturnia malabarica |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Dark-sided Thrush | Zoothera marginata |
| Siberian Thrush | Geokichla sibirica |
| Orange-headed Thrush | Geokichla citrina |
| Japanese Thrush | Turdus cardis |
| Eyebrowed Thrush | Turdus obscurus |
| Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) | |
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | Copsychus saularis |
| White-rumped Shama | Copsychus malabaricus |
| Asian Brown Flycatcher | Muscicapa dauurica |
| Large Niltava | Niltava grandis |
| Blue-and-white Flycatcher | Cyanoptila cyanomelana |
| Verditer Flycatcher | Eumyias thalassinus |
| White-gorgeted Flycatcher | Anthipes monileger |
| Pale Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis unicolor |
| Hainan Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis hainanus |
| Indochinese Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis sumatrensis |
| White-tailed Robin | Myiomela leucura |
| Lesser Shortwing | Brachypteryx leucophris |
| Siberian Blue Robin | Larvivora cyane |
| Snowy-browed Flycatcher | Ficedula hyperythra |
| Mugimaki Flycatcher | Ficedula mugimaki |
| Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher | Ficedula strophiata |
| Little Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula westermanni |
| Taiga Flycatcher | Ficedula albicilla |
| White-throated Rock Thrush | Monticola gularis |
| Blue Rock Thrush | Monticola solitarius |
| Grey Bush Chat | Saxicola ferreus |
| Amur Stonechat | Saxicola stejnegeri |
| Leafbirds (Chloropseidae) | |
| Blue-winged Leafbird | Chloropsis moluccensis |
| Golden-fronted Leafbird | Chloropsis aurifrons |
| Orange-bellied Leafbird | Chloropsis hardwickii |
| Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae) | |
| Thick-billed Flowerpecker | Dicaeum agile |
| Fire-breasted Flowerpecker | Dicaeum ignipectus |
| Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker | Dicaeum cruentatum |
| Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) | |
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | Chalcoparia singalensis |
| Van Hasselt’s Sunbird | Leptocoma brasiliana |
| Ornate Sunbird | Cinnyris ornatus |
| Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird | Aethopyga gouldiae |
| Green-tailed Sunbird | Aethopyga nipalensis |
| Black-throated Sunbird | Aethopyga saturata |
| Crimson Sunbird | Aethopyga siparaja |
| Little Spiderhunter | Arachnothera longirostra |
| Streaked Spiderhunter | Arachnothera magna |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus |
| Plain-backed Sparrow | Passer flaveolus |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata |
| White-rumped Munia | Lonchura striata |
| Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) | |
| Forest Wagtail | Dendronanthus indicus |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba |
| Paddyfield Pipit | Anthus rufulus |
| Olive-backed Pipit | Anthus hodgsoni |
| Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae) | |
| Vietnamese Greenfinch | Chloris monguilloti |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra |
| Total seen | 285 |
| Total heard only | 12 |
| Total recorded | 297 |
Reptile List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Dragons (Agamidae) | |
| Vietnamese Blue Crested Lizard | Calotes bachae |
| Changeable Lizard | Calotes versicolor |
| Spotted Flying Dragon | Draco maculatus |
| Indochinese Flying Lizard | Draco indochinensis |
| Chinese Water Dragon | Physignathus cocincinus |
| Gekkonidae (Geckos) | |
| Asian House Gecko | Hemidactylus platyurus |
| Flat-tailed House Gecko | Hemidactylus platyurus |
| Tokay Gecko | Gekko gecko |
| Skinks (Scincidae) | |
| Common Mabuya | Eutropis multifasciata |
| Bronze Mabuya | Eutropis macularia |
| Spotted Forest Skink | Sphenomorphus maculatus |
| Total | 11 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae) | |
| Northern Pig-tailed Macaque | Macaca leonina |
| Long-tailed Macaque | Macaca fascicularis |
| Rhesus Macaque | Macaca mulatta |
| Black-shanked Douc Langur | Pygathrix nigripes |
| Red-shanked Douc Langur | Pygathrix nemaeus |
| Gibbons (Hylobatidae) | |
| Red-cheeked (Yellow-cheeked) Gibbon | Nomascus gabriellae |
| Deer (Cervidae) | |
| Sambar | Rusa unicolor |
| Chevrotains (Tragulidae) | |
| Lesser Oriental Chevrotain | Tragulus kanchil |
| Squirrels (Sciuridae) | |
| Berdmore’s (Indochinese Ground) Squirrel | Menetes berdmorei |
| Pallas’s Squirrel | Callosciurus erythraeus |
| (Asian) Red-cheeked Squirrel | Dremomys rufigenis |
| Cambodian Striped Squirrel | Tamiops rodolphii |
| Maritime Striped Squirrel | Tamiops maritimus |
| Treeshrews (Tupaiidae) | |
| Northern Treeshrew | Tupaia belangeri |
| Northern Smooth-tailed Treeshrew | Dendrogale murina |
| Civets, Genets, and Oyans (Viverridae) | |
| Common Palm Civet | Paradoxurus hermaphroditus |
| Bovids (Bovidae) | |
| Domestic Water Buffalo | Bubalus bubalis |
| Total | 17 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
