Thailand: Jewels of the South Trip Report, March 2023

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28 FEBRUARY – 13 MARCH 2023

By Andy Walker

This spectacular Mangrove Pitta gave amazing views sat out in full view at eye-level not 12 feet (4 meters) away, for ten minutes. A bird of the trip contender very early in the tour!

Overview

This exciting Thailand birding tour covered a circuit of the south of this bird-rich country, starting in Phuket on the 28th of February 2023 and ending back there on the 13th of March 2023. We visited numerous top Thai birding sites during the tour, see the detailed itinerary and map here. We recorded 273 species (seven heard only) as well as numerous interesting reptiles, mammals, and amphibians during the tour, trip lists for all species identified follow the report.

Some of the non-passerine highlights included top-quality birds like Helmeted Hornbill, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Great Hornbill, White-crowned Hornbill, Brown-winged Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Banded Kingfisher, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Orange-breasted Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Red-billed Malkoha, Back-bellied Malkoha, Raffles’s Malkoha, Knob-billed Duck, Oriental Plover, Oriental Pratincole, River Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Lesser Fish Eagle, Black Baza, Bat Hawk, Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle, Pied Harrier, Oriental Bay Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Red-breasted Parakeet, Black-thighed Falconet, Oriental Hobby, Red-throated Barbet, Golden-whiskered Barbet, Sooty Barbet, White-browed Piculet, Rufous Piculet, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Banded Woodpecker, and Buff-necked Woodpecker.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

We were treated to multiple sightings of the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Helmeted Hornbill during the tour, with five magnificent birds seen from three locations.

Some of the many passerine highlights included Green Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Mangrove Pitta, Malayan Banded Pitta, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Orange-headed Thrush, Amur Stonechat, Malayan Black-capped Babbler, Ferruginous Babbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Green-backed Flycatcher, Large Blue Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-eared Spiderhunter, Greater Green Leafbird, Asian Golden Weaver, Red-throated Pipit, and Forest Wagtail.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

We enjoyed close views of the rare Large Blue Flycatcher during the early part of the tour.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

One of the best-looking bulbuls on the planet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, gave great looks.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 28th February 2023. Arrival in Phuket

The group assembled at Nai Yang Beach in Phuket. We met for a welcome dinner in the evening and discussed the plans for our upcoming birding in southern Thailand.

Day 2, 1st March 2023. Birding Khao Phra Thaeo and Phang Nga

We met up with our excellent local guide (David) and driver (Don), and left Nai Yang Beach after breakfast and drove the short distance to Khao Phra Thaeo. Some relaxed birding here gave us good views of our main target, two Forest Wagtails. We came across a fruiting fig tree near some pretty waterfalls and while we watched the tree, we noted Black-headed Bulbul, Asian Red-eyed Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, and (female) Asian Fairy-bluebird all coming in for a snack. A few raptors were present too, and we saw Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Rufous-bellied Eagle, and Crested Serpent Eagle overhead.

Our next stop was the Phang Nga area, where we enjoyed some great birds throughout the afternoon. Top birds seen (and seen exceptionally well) included Mangrove Pitta (see trip report cover image), Brown-winged Kingfisher, and Streak-breasted Woodpecker. A large supporting cast included Oriental Pied Hornbill, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Arctic Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Dark-backed Tailorbird, and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. It was a great introductory day of relaxed birding and set the tone for the tour well!

Southern Thailand Trip Report

We enjoyed excellent and prolonged views of a close Brown-winged Kingfisher out in the open while we were birding in the mangroves.

Day 3, 2nd March 2023. Phang Nga birding

We spent the first part of the morning birding in some open city parkland, where we notched up around 50 species in no time at all. It was a great location to get to grips with lots of common birds, and several special species provided fantastic highlights, with the excellent views we had of them. Probably the most interesting sighting involved two pairs of Banded Woodpeckers in a territorial dispute and, oblivious to our presence, showed down to a mere few feet at times! Other rather colorful birds enjoyed included Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Blue-eared Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Lineated Barbet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, and Rufous-bellied Swallow. Further highlights here included Black-thighed Falconet, Yellow Bittern, Blue Rock Thrush, and Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

We watched in amazement as two pairs of Banded Woodpeckers had a territorial dispute right in front of us for a good five minutes!

Moving into an area of mangroves for the remainder of the morning we found Mangrove Whistler, Collared Kingfisher, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Brown-throated Sunbird, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, and White-chested Babbler. One of the highlights involved a huge Buffy Fish Owl, seen perched briefly. In nearby farmland we got our first Oriental Dollarbird, Indochinese Roller, Jungle Myna, Great Myna, and Greater Coucal of the trip.

The afternoon was spent driving along the west coast to our next destination, but a couple of stops along the way gave us Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Black-naped Oriole, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pacific Reef Heron, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser (Tibetan) Sand Plover, Red-necked Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, and several other shorebird species.   

Day 4, 3rd March 2023. Si Phang Nga National Park and Khao Sok National Park

We spent a wonderful morning birding in Si Phang Nga National Park where we saw a scout jamboree and a whole host of great birds on a gentle walk through the forest. Wallace’s Hawk Eagle was one of the first top birds seen, and was soon followed by some stunning hornbills, including a pair of Bushy-crested Hornbills. Working the forest, we found one of our main targets, the rare Large Blue Flycatcher, and after a bit of effort eventually got to grips with seeing Malayan Banded Pitta, the view of the male was fleeting but a female gave much appreciated prolonged views. Other species recorded during the morning included Orange-headed Thrush, White-rumped Shama, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Raffles’s Malkoha, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Red-billed Malkoha, Silver-rumped Spinetail, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Black-headed Bulbul, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Crow-billed Drongo, Lesser Green Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, and many more!

In the afternoon we took a drive through some meadowland, and in addition to finding our target River Lapwings, we also found a real nice surprise in the form of three Oriental Plovers, two were in near full summer plumage and looked spectacular. More highlights here included Oriental Pratincole, Pacific Golden Plover, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Black Drongo, Amur Stonechat, Richard’s Pipit, and Red-throated Pipit.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

Excitement levels were high when we discovered a small flock of Oriental Plovers. Two of the birds were in stunning breeding plumage. This species is a rare passage migrant to Thailand.

Day 5, 4th March 2023. Khao Sok National Park (including Lake Ratchaprapha)

During the morning we took a walk along the river trail at Khao Sok National Park, where we found some great birds. One of the first species seen was a pair of gorgeous Banded Kingfishers that gave prolonged views. Some of the other highlights from the morning walk included Bamboo Woodpecker, White-browed Piculet, Black-crested Bulbul, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Raffles’s Malkoha, Siberian Blue Robin, and Crimson Sunbird. The final stunning species of the morning was a Red-bearded Bee-eater, that eventually showed brilliantly. Several interesting animals were seen during the morning, including a couple of attractive Wagler’s Keeled Green Pit Vipers.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

Red-bearded Bee-eater was another gorgeous bird we enjoyed seeing during the tour.

After lunch we caught our longboat and made our way across Lake Ratchaprapha to our excellent floating resort. After quickly checking in we jumped back in the boat for what turned out to be an incredible boat-based birding trip. A pair of Lesser Fish Eagles gave some close perched views and then the fun really got going, when we had a flock of 24 Great Hornbills fly over us and drop into some fruiting trees, what a magnificent sight! As the excitement of this hornbill encounter subsided, we heard a White-crowned Hornbill calling from the next bay. A quick repositioning of our boat got us into position. We waited patiently and were rewarded when a bird hopped out on the top of a tree, allowing prolonged perched views. Next up, we found ourselves watching a pair of Bat Hawks foraging as the near-full moon rose, and then it got even crazier with the hawks attacking some very special hornbills! It was all rather chaotic in the airspace above us, but it was amazing to witness. Just as we were about to leave to get back to the resort for dinner, we picked up a pair of huge Stork-billed Kingfishers and a single Black-capped Kingfisher. The latter showed briefly, but the former put on a brilliant close showing. As we made our way back to the resort with the sun setting, we had a few final surprises with White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Crested Honey Buzzard, and best of all, a perched up Oriental Hobby! As far as boat trips go on Lake Ratchaprapha, this was seriously spectacular and the whole experience was one of the best on the entire tour.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

We enjoyed the magical sight of 24 magnificent Great Hornbills flying over us to a fruiting tree.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

The huge Stork-billed Kingfisher put on a great show for us just as the sun was setting.

Day 6, 5th March 2023. Khao Sok National Park (including Lake Ratchaprapha) to Tha Sala

We took another enjoyable boat ride on Lake Ratchaprapha before breakfast and had further views (our best yet) of some seriously stunning and rare hornbills. A Great Hornbill gave a fly-over view before perching out in the open, as did the much smaller Oriental Pied Hornbill. We had prolonged views of a stunning Blue-eared Kingfisher that allowed a close approach and similar views of the equally attractive Black-capped Kingfisher as well.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

Point blank views of Blue-eared Kingfisher provided an early morning highlight.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

This male Oriental Hobby was displaying to a nearby female, and the pair gave excellent views.

A couple of Ospreys looking for their breakfast were noted, with Crested Honey Buzzard also seen again. After breakfast it was time to leave our resort. The boat ride back to meet our vehicle yielded a pair of Oriental Hobbies, these birds showed well as they sat on a bare tree snag in the impressive tall cliffs.

During the afternoon we drove to Tha Sala, our base for the next three nights. We spent the late afternoon birding near the local university, where we enjoyed watching a colony of breeding Red-breasted Parakeets and also picked up Common Flameback, Red Collared Dove, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brown Shrike, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Oriole, and numerous common open-country birds.

Day 7, 6th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park

Another enjoyable day birding in southern Thailand. We spent the day birding at the Krung Ching section of Khao Luang National Park. Most of the morning was spent mesmerized by a fruiting fig tree right in the car park. Somewhere in the region of 40 species visited the tree while we watched it, including a range of bulbuls, barbets, and pigeons, such as Red-throated Barbet, Golden-whiskered Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, Sooty Barbet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, and Thick-billed Green Pigeon. Other stunning species noted here included Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Sultan Tit, Asian Fairy-bluebird (male!), Dark-throated Oriole, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Lesser Green Leafbird, Greater Green Leafbird, Green Iora, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter, and Yellow-eared Spiderhunter.

As we walked into the forest, we picked up Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Orange-breasted Trogon (a very showy male), Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, White-bellied Erpornis, and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

The attractive Orange-breasted Trogon showed well for us at close range.

In the afternoon we had an enjoyable session in a bird blind (bird hide) at a nearby waterhole. Birds came through frequently and we got great close views of many species, including Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Common Emerald Dove, Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Asian Red-eyed Bulbul, White-rumped Shama, Chestnut-winged Babbler, and Malayan Black-capped Babbler. Some of the group also saw Rufous Piculet and Rufous-tailed Tailorbird. Our time in the blind/hide rounded off a long but fun day of Thai birding.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

The bird blind (bird hide) we visited for an afternoon was a great spot for watching secretive species of bulbuls and babblers, including this Malayan Black-capped Babbler.

Day 8, 7th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park

We spent the morning back at the Krung Ching section of Khao Luang National Park. Here we enjoyed more views of some of the birds we’d seen the previous morning that were attracted to a few fruiting trees, such as Golden-whiskered Barbet, Red-throated Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, Sooty Barbet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Greater Green Leafbird, Lesser Green Leafbird, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Vernal Hanging Parrot, and Asian Fairy-bluebird (including more close views of a stunning male bird). We also picked up quite a few new birds and improved our looks at several other species, such as White-crowned Hornbill, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Plaintive Cuckoo, Red-billed Malkoha, Swinhoe’s Minivet, Dark-throated Oriole, Moustached Babbler, Taiga Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker.

In the afternoon we visited a wetland site near our accommodation in Tha Sala and found plenty of species, some of the highlights included Little Bronze Cuckoo, Siamese Pied Myna, Daurian Starling, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Brown Shrike, Yellow Bittern, Purple Heron, Intermediate Egret, Asian Openbill, Oriental Pratincole, and Whiskered Tern.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

The spectacular Scarlet-rumped Trogon gave some incredible low-level views.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

A group of four White-crowned Hornbills were feeding in a fruiting tree and we were lucky to get some good views of this Endangered (BirdLife International) species (photo Tim Marshall).

Day 9, 8th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park and Thale Noi

We had our final morning birding in the Krung Ching area and scored several new birds for our trip, such as Banded Broadbill, Violet Cuckoo, Black-bellied Malkoha, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Large Woodshrike, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Bronzed Drongo, and White-rumped Munia. We also had further looks at Red-billed Malkoha (a prolonged sighting of a sunbathing bird), Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Raffles’s Malkoha, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, nesting Red-throated Barbet, Dark-throated Oriole, Black-crested Bulbul, Purple-naped Spiderhunter, Crimson Sunbird, and Blue-winged Leafbird. A great selection of birds.

In the afternoon we drove south to Thale Noi, our base for the next two nights. The afternoon was spent at leisure and relaxing around our pretty lakeside resort.

Day 10, 9th March 2023. Thale Noi area

We had a pre-breakfast birding session at a site near our accommodation and it was great to see a huge expanse of excellent wetland habitat. Grey-headed Swamphens, Lesser Whistling Ducks, Whiskered Terns, and Asian Openbills were the most abundant species, and by scanning through them we also picked up Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Purple Heron, Yellow Bittern, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Common Moorhen, and Little Grebe. The above species were occasionally spooked by raptors flying overhead, and these included Pied Harrier, Eastern Marsh Harrier, and Brahminy Kite.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

We saw a few Pheasant-tailed Jacanas in various plumage stages during our wetland birding sessions. This individual gave a close flyby after spending some time feeding near our viewpoint.

Several small birds were noted in the emergent vegetation around the wetland, such as Yellow-bellied Prinia, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Jungle Myna, Crested Myna, Common Myna, Paddyfield Pipit, Brown Shrike, Chestnut Munia, and Amur Stonechat.

After breakfast we called in at a forested area near the lake and found a nesting pair of Buffy Fish Owls, a spectacular sight! We also got some good views of Ashy Minivet, Golden-bellied Gerygone, and Brown-throated Sunbird here, though the two Black Bitterns we saw were flighty and only gave brief views. After that we birded at some rice paddies, finding our first Zitting Cisticolas, Scaly-breasted Munias, and Plain-backed Sparrows of the trip.

Late in the afternoon we visited an interesting rice field nature reserve where we found our main target with ease and in good numbers, Knob-billed Duck. Here we also improved our views of many of the birds seen in the morning (such as close Cotton Pygmy Geese and Indochinese Roller) and added a few new ones for everyone, such as Oriental Darter, Black-winged Stilt, Baya Weaver, and the very localized (in southern Thailand) Asian Golden Weaver. We also had a soaring pair of locally uncommon Painted Storks and several Grey Herons during our journey.  

Southern Thailand Trip Report

An extremely confiding Indochinese Roller provided one of the highlights of the afternoon.

Day 11, 10th March 2023. Trang Peninsular Botanic Garden and Khao Nor Chu Chi

After a relaxed breakfast, featuring Indochinese Roller, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, and Blue-eared Kingfisher, we left our resort and made our way to Trang Peninsular Botanic Garden. Unfortunately, the wind was strong which made for very tough birding conditions and as a result we didn’t see too much, though we did have our best views of the tour of Red-billed Malkoha, along with Banded Woodpecker, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Great Iora, Black-headed Bulbul, Blue-eared Barbet, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (a calling bird), Eastern Crowned Warbler, and several other species.

After lunch we visited a different section of the botanic garden and found a sheltered spot out of the wind that was quite productive. Here we enjoyed seeing a few new species and also improved views of some others we’d seen earlier in the day/tour, such as Green-backed Flycatcher, Indian Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Rufous Piculet, Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, Great Iora, Green Iora, and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike.

In the middle of the afternoon, we continued our journey to the Khao Nor Chu Chi area, ready for tomorrow morning’s birding.

Day 12, 11th March 2023. Birding Khao Nor Chu Chi

We had an early start to our birding today and were richly rewarded, with a prolonged sighting of a pair of stunning Green Broadbills. We spent a while watching them foraging and soaked in the fantastic views that they were giving us, definitely a trip highlight bird.  

As we walked a forest road we found Ferruginous Babbler, Moustached Babbler, Cream-vented Bulbul, Puff-backed Bulbul, Olive-winged Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Crow-billed Drongo, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Crested Goshawk, Crested Honey Buzzard, Common Hill Myna, Sooty Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, and Black-and-yellow Broadbill. Some alarm calling attracted a range of species, including Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, Red-throated Sunbird, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, and Chinese Blue Flycatcher.

Southern Thailand Trip Report

This male Green Broadbill put on quite the show for us during our early morning birding.

We spent some time relaxing around our accommodation during the heat of the day and then in the late afternoon visited a couple of different spots, where we found more good birds. Some of the top birds included Brown-backed Needletail, Grey-rumped Treeswift, Raffles’s Malkoha, Red-billed Malkoha, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Cream-vented Bulbul, Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Plain Sunbird, and Van Hasselt’s Sunbird.

In the evening some of the group went owling and were handsomely rewarded with incredible, close views of an Oriental Bay Owl. The owl showed extremely well and proved yet another tour highlight, what a bird!

Southern Thailand Trip Report

The exquisite Oriental Bay Owl is an attractive yet strange looking owl. It is an uncommon and rarely seen species in Thailand and so it was a real treat to see one during our tour.

Day 13, 12th March 2023. Khao Nor Chu Chi to Phuket

Our last full day in southern Thailand started with some final birding at Khao Nor Chu Chi. We covered a similar area to the previous morning, finding Abbott’s Babbler, Cream-vented Bulbul, Hairy-backed Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Puff-backed Bulbul, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, and Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker. Two Oriental Pratincoles flying over the forest was a bit of a surprise, however the displaying Crested Goshawk was a little more expected!

After a late breakfast we drove back to Phuket, where we arrived in the middle of the afternoon, here we said goodbye and a massive thank you to David and Don. We had our final evening dinner of the tour, which was great fun as usual, and discussed our “birds of the trip”. Top votes went to Great Hornbill, Helmeted Hornbill, Oriental Bay Owl, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Mangrove Pitta, and Van Hasselt’s Sunbird.

Day 14, 13th March 2023. Tour concludes with departure from Phuket

We had a brief pre-breakfast birding session near our accommodation at Nai Yang Beach, where we found Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Hoopoe, and Indochinese Roller to provide a final splash of color and excitement for the trip.

After breakfast everyone said their goodbyes and departed Phuket for their international flights home or to join our Vietnam birding tour. Huge thanks to everyone for making this such a fun trip, full of amazing birds and great memories. I look forward to traveling with you all again soon.

Bird ListFollowing IOC (13.1)

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, and VU = Vulnerable.

Common NameScientific Name
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Lesser Whistling DuckDendrocygna javanica
Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotos
Cotton Pygmy GooseNettapus coromandelianus
Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae)
Great Argus – VU (H)Argusianus argus
Red Junglefowl (H)Gallus gallus
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Large-tailed Nightjar (H)Caprimulgus macrurus
Treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae)
Grey-rumped TreeswiftHemiprocne longipennis
Swifts (Apodidae)
Plume-toed SwiftletCollocalia affinis
Germain’s SwiftletAerodramus germani
Silver-rumped SpinetailRhaphidura leucopygialis
Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus
Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis
Pacific SwiftApus pacificus
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Greater CoucalCentropus sinensis
Raffles’s MalkohaRhinortha chlorophaea
Red-billed MalkohaZanclostomus javanicus
Chestnut-breasted MalkohaPhaenicophaeus curvirostris
Black-bellied MalkohaPhaenicophaeus diardi
Green-billed MalkohaPhaenicophaeus tristis
Asian KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
Violet CuckooChrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Little Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx minutillus
Banded Bay CuckooCacomantis sonneratii
Plaintive CuckooCacomantis merulinus
Square-tailed Drongo-CuckooSurniculus lugubris
Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)Columba livia dom.
Red Collared DoveStreptopelia tranquebarica
Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
Common Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
Zebra DoveGeopelia striata
Pink-necked Green PigeonTreron vernans
Thick-billed Green PigeonTreron curvirostra
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Grey-headed SwamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus
White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
Plovers (Charadriidae)
River LapwingVanellus duvaucelii
Red-wattled LapwingVanellus indicus
Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola
Lesser (Tibetan) Sand PloverCharadrius mongolus
Greater Sand PloverCharadrius leschenaultii
Oriental PloverCharadrius veredus
Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Pheasant-tailed JacanaHydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged JacanaMetopidius indicus
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres
Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollis
SanderlingCalidris alba
Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Grey-tailed TattlerTringa brevipes
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae)
Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Painted StorkMycteria leucocephala
Asian OpenbillAnastomus oscitans
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae)
Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogaster
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Little CormorantMicrocarbo niger
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Yellow BitternIxobrychus sinensis
Cinnamon BitternIxobrychus cinnamomeus
Black BitternIxobrychus flavicollis
Striated HeronButorides striata
Chinese Pond HeronArdeola bacchus
Eastern Cattle EgretBubulcus coromandus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Purple HeronArdea purpurea
Great EgretArdea alba
Intermediate EgretArdea intermedia
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Pacific Reef HeronEgretta sacra
Ospreys (Pandionidae)
OspreyPandion haliaetus
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
Crested Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchus
Jerdon’s BazaAviceda jerdoni
Black BazaAviceda leuphotes
Crested Serpent EagleSpilornis cheela
Bat HawkMacheiramphus alcinus
Blyth’s Hawk-EagleNisaetus alboniger
Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle – VUNisaetus nanus
Rufous-bellied EagleLophotriorchis kienerii
Crested GoshawkAccipiter trivirgatus
ShikraAccipiter badius
Chinese SparrowhawkAccipiter soloensis
Eastern Marsh HarrierCircus spilonotus
Pied HarrierCircus melanoleucos
Black KiteMilvus migrans
Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
White-bellied Sea EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
Lesser Fish EagleHaliaeetus humilis
Grey-faced BuzzardButastur indicus
Barn Owls (Tytonidae)
Oriental Bay OwlPhodilus badius
Owls (Strigidae)
Buffy Fish OwlKetupa ketupu
Brown Wood OwlStrix leptogrammica
Trogons (Trogonidae)
Scarlet-rumped TrogonHarpactes duvaucelii
Orange-breasted TrogonHarpactes oreskios
Hoopoes (Upupidae)
Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
Hornbills (Bucerotidae)
White-crowned Hornbill – ENBerenicornis comatus
Great Hornbill – VUBuceros bicornis
Helmeted Hornbill – CRRhinoplax vigil
Oriental Pied HornbillAnthracoceros albirostris
Bushy-crested HornbillAnorrhinus galeritus
Rollers (Coraciidae)
Indochinese RollerCoracias affinis
Oriental DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Banded KingfisherLacedo pulchella
Stork-billed KingfisherPelargopsis capensis
Brown-winged KingfisherPelargopsis amauroptera
Ruddy Kingfisher (H)Halcyon coromanda
White-throated KingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
Black-capped Kingfisher – VUHalcyon pileata
Collared KingfisherTodiramphus chloris
Blue-eared KingfisherAlcedo meninting
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (H)Ceyx erithaca
Bee-eaters (Meropidae)
Red-bearded Bee-eaterNyctyornis amictus
Blue-tailed Bee-eaterMerops philippinus
Chestnut-headed Bee-eaterMerops leschenaulti
Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae)
Lineated BarbetPsilopogon lineatus
Golden-whiskered BarbetPsilopogon chrysopogon
Red-throated BarbetPsilopogon mystacophanos
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon duvaucelii
Coppersmith BarbetPsilopogon haemacephalus
Sooty BarbetCaloramphus hayii
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Rufous PiculetSasia abnormis
White-browed PiculetSasia ochracea
Grey-capped Pygmy WoodpeckerYungipicus canicapillus
Banded WoodpeckerChrysophlegma miniaceum
Streak-breasted WoodpeckerPicus viridanus
Common FlamebackDinopium javanense
Bamboo WoodpeckerGecinulus viridis
Rufous WoodpeckerMicropternus brachyurus
Buff-rumped WoodpeckerMeiglyptes tristis
Buff-necked WoodpeckerMeiglyptes tukki
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Black-thighed FalconetMicrohierax fringillarius
Oriental HobbyFalco severus
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae)
Red-breasted ParakeetPsittacula alexandri
Vernal Hanging ParrotLoriculus vernalis
Typical Broadbills (Eurylaimidae)
Banded BroadbillEurylaimus javanicus
Black-and-yellow BroadbillEurylaimus ochromalus
African & Green Broadbills (Calyptomenidae)
Green BroadbillCalyptomena viridis
Pittas (Pittidae)
Malayan Banded PittaHydrornis irena
Mangrove PittaPitta megarhyncha
Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae)
Golden-bellied GerygoneGerygone sulphurea
Vangas & Allies (Vangidae)
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrikeHemipus picatus
Large WoodshrikeTephrodornis virgatus
Rufous-winged Philentoma (H)Philentoma pyrhoptera
Ioras (Aegithinidae)
Common IoraAegithina tiphia
Green IoraAegithina viridissima
Great IoraAegithina lafresnayei
Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae)
Ashy MinivetPericrocotus divaricatus
Swinhoe’s MinivetPericrocotus cantonensis
Lesser CuckooshrikeLalage fimbriata
Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae)
Mangrove WhistlerPachycephala cinerea
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Brown ShrikeLanius cristatus
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae)
White-bellied ErpornisErpornis zantholeuca
Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios (Oriolidae)
Dark-throated OrioleOriolus xanthonotus
Black-naped OrioleOriolus chinensis
Drongos (Dicruridae)
Bronzed DrongoDicrurus aeneus
Crow-billed DrongoDicrurus annectens
Greater Racket-tailed DrongoDicrurus paradiseus
Ashy DrongoDicrurus leucophaeus
Black DrongoDicrurus macrocercus
Fantails (Rhipiduridae)
Malaysian Pied FantailRhipidura javanica
Monarchs (Monarchidae)
Black-naped MonarchHypothymis azurea
Blyth’s Paradise FlycatcherTerpsiphone affinis
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Large-billed CrowCorvus macrorhynchos
Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae)
Grey-headed Canary-flycatcherCulicicapa ceylonensis
Tits, Chickadees (Paridae)
Sultan TitMelanochlora sultanea
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)
Hairy-backed BulbulTricholestes criniger
Yellow-bellied BulbulAlophoixus phaeocephalus
Grey-cheeked BulbulAlophoixus tephrogenys
Ochraceous BulbulAlophoixus ochraceus
Olive (Baker’s) BulbulIole viridescens
Streaked BulbulIxos malaccensis
Puff-backed BulbulEuptilotus eutilotus
Black-headed BulbulBrachypodius melanocephalos
Spectacled BulbulIxodia erythropthalmos
Grey-bellied BulbulIxodia cyaniventris
Scaly-breasted BulbulIxodia squamata
Black-crested BulbulRubigula flaviventris
Cream-vented BulbulPycnonotus simplex
Olive-winged BulbulPycnonotus plumosus
Asian Red-eyed BulbulPycnonotus brunneus
Streak-eared BulbulPycnonotus conradi
Stripe-throated BulbulPycnonotus finlaysoni
Yellow-vented BulbulPycnonotus goiavier
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
Pacific SwallowHirundo tahitica
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Rufous-bellied SwallowCecropis badia
Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae)
Yellow-bellied Warbler (H)Abroscopus superciliaris
Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae)
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
Eastern Crowned WarblerPhylloscopus coronatus
Sakhalin Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus borealoides
Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealis
Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae)
Oriental Reed WarblerAcrocephalus orientalis
Black-browed Reed WarblerAcrocephalus bistrigiceps
Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae)
Pallas’s Grasshopper WarblerHelopsaltes certhiola
Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae)
Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
Yellow-bellied PriniaPrinia flaviventris
Common TailorbirdOrthotomus sutorius
Dark-necked TailorbirdOrthotomus atrogularis
Rufous-tailed TailorbirdOrthotomus sericeus
White-eyes (Zosteropidae)
Swinhoe’s White-eyeZosterops simplex
Babblers, Scimitar Babblers (Timaliidae)
Pin-striped Tit-BabblerMixornis gularis
Chestnut-winged BabblerCyanoderma erythropterum
Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae)
Moustached BabblerMalacopteron magnirostre
Malayan Black-capped BabblerPellorneum nigrocapitatum
White-chested BabblerPellorneum rostratum
Ferruginous BabblerPellorneum bicolor
Abbott’s BabblerMalacocincla abbotti
Fairy-bluebirds (Irenidae)
Asian Fairy-bluebirdIrena puella
Nuthatches (Sittidae)
Velvet-fronted NuthatchSitta frontalis
Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae)
Asian Glossy StarlingAplonis panayensis
Common Hill MynaGracula religiosa
Great MynaAcridotheres grandis
Jungle MynaAcridotheres fuscus
Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
Siamese Pied MynaGracupica floweri
Daurian StarlingAgropsar sturninus
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrina
Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
Oriental Magpie-RobinCopsychus saularis
White-rumped ShamaCopsychus malabaricus
Asian Brown FlycatcherMuscicapa dauurica
Pale Blue FlycatcherCyornis unicolor
Large Blue FlycatcherCyornis magnirostris
Chinese Blue FlycatcherCyornis glaucicomans
Fulvous-chested Jungle FlycatcherCyornis olivaceus
Blue-and-white FlycatcherCyanoptila cyanomelana
Siberian Blue RobinLarvivora cyane
Chestnut-naped ForktailEnicurus ruficapillus
Green-backed FlycatcherFicedula elisae
Taiga FlycatcherFicedula albicilla
Rufous-chested FlycatcherFicedula dumetoria
Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
Amur StonechatSaxicola stejnegeri
Leafbirds (Chloropseidae)
Greater Green Leafbird – ENChloropsis sonnerati
Lesser Green LeafbirdChloropsis cyanopogon
Blue-winged LeafbirdChloropsis moluccensis
Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae)
Yellow-breasted FlowerpeckerPrionochilus maculatus
Crimson-breasted FlowerpeckerPrionochilus percussus
Thick-billed FlowerpeckerDicaeum agile
Yellow-vented FlowerpeckerDicaeum chrysorrheum
Orange-bellied FlowerpeckerDicaeum trigonostigma
Scarlet-backed FlowerpeckerDicaeum cruentatum
Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)
Ruby-cheeked SunbirdChalcoparia singalensis
Plain SunbirdAnthreptes simplex
Brown-throated SunbirdAnthreptes malacensis
Red-throated SunbirdAnthreptes rhodolaemus
Van Hasselt’s SunbirdLeptocoma brasiliana
Olive-backed SunbirdCinnyris jugularis
Crimson SunbirdAethopyga siparaja
Purple-naped SunbirdKurochkinegramma hypogrammicum
Little SpiderhunterArachnothera longirostra
Spectacled SpiderhunterArachnothera flavigaster
Yellow-eared SpiderhunterArachnothera chrysogenys
Grey-breasted SpiderhunterArachnothera modesta
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
Plain-backed SparrowPasser flaveolus
Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae)
Asian Golden WeaverPloceus hypoxanthus
Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus
Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae)
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulata
White-rumped MuniaLonchura striata
Chestnut MuniaLonchura atricapilla
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae)
Forest WagtailDendronanthus indicus
Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Richard’s PipitAnthus richardi
Paddyfield PipitAnthus rufulus
Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
Total seen266
Total heard only7
Total recorded273

Mammal List

Common NameScientific Name
Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae)
Southern Pig-tailed MacaqueMacaca nemestrina
Common Long-tailed MacaqueMacaca fascicularis
 
Gibbons (Hylobatidae)
Lar GibbonHylobates lar
 
Deer (Cervidae)
Northern Red MuntjacMuntiacus vaginalis
 
Old World Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae)
Lesser Dog-faced Fruit BatCynopterus brachyotis
 
Squirrels (Sciuridae) 
Slender SquirrelSundasciurus tenuis
Grey-bellied SquirrelCallosciurus caniceps
Variable SquirrelCallosciurus finlaysonii
Plantain SquirrelCallosciurus notatus
Black Giant SquirrelRatufa bicolor
Himalayan Striped SquirrelTamiops mcclellandii
 
Treeshrews (Tupaiidae)
Common TreeshrewTupaia glis
 
Mustelids (Mustelidae)
Smooth-coated OtterLutrogale perspicillata
 
Bovids (Bovidae)
Domestic Water BuffaloBubalus bubalis
Total14

Reptile List

Introduced reptiles are marked with (I) after the common name and deceased reptiles are marked with (D) after the common name.

Common NameScientific Name
Agamids (Agamidae)
Gunung (Mount) Raya Green-crested LizardBronchocela rayaensis
Changeable (Common Garden) LizardCalotes versicolor
Forest Garden LizardCalotes emma
Southern Short-horned PricklenapeAcanthosaura meridiona
Common Gliding LizardDraco sumatranus
Barred Gliding LizardDraco taeniopterus
 
Gekkonidae (Geckos)
Asian House GeckoHemidactylus platyurus
Flat-tailed House GeckoHemidactylus platyurus
Tokay GeckoGekko gecko
 
Monitors (Varanidae)
Common Water MonitorVaranus salvator
Clouded MonitorVaranus nebulosus
 
Skinks (Scincidae) 
Grass Sun SkinkEutropis macularia
Common MabuyaEutropis multifasciata
Spotted Forest SkinkSphenomorphus maculatus
Banded LipiniaLipinia vittigera
 
Iguanas and Chuckwallas (Iguanidae)
Green Iguana (I)Iguana iguana
 
Vipers (Viperidae) 
Wagler’s Keeled Green Pit ViperTropidolaemus wagleri
 
Mud Snakes (Homalopsidae)
South Asian Bockadam (D)Cerberus rynchops
 
Eurasian Pond, River, and Neotropical Wood Turtles (Geoemydidae)
Southeast Asian (Oldham’s) Leaf TurtleCyclemys oldhamii
 
Pond and Box Turtles (Emydidae)
Yellow-bellied (Red-eared) SliderTrachemys scripta elegans
Total20

Amphibian List

Common NameScientific Name
Fork-tongued Frogs (Dicroglossidae)
Crab-eating FrogFejervarya cancrivora
 
Shrub Frogs (Rhacophoridae)
Malayan Slender Tree FrogPolypedates discantus
Common Southeast Asian Tree FrogPolypedates leucomystax
 
Narrowmouth Toads (Microhylidae)
Burmese Squat FrogGlyphoglossus guttulatus
Mukhlesur’s Narrow-mouthed FrogMicrohyla mukhlesuri
 
True Toads (Bufonidae)
River ToadPhrynoidis asper
Lesser ToadIngerophrynus parvus
Total7

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