Birdwatching in Thailand - My Favourite Birds
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The Amazing Birds of Thailand
I have been birdwatching in Thailand since 1996 and it can be a most amazing experience due to the huge variety of species. Biodiversity is very high in tropical Asia and this is reflected by almost 1000 bird species having been seen in Thailand with new species being discovered every year.
I have been treated to some amazing sightings of some incredibly beautiful and sometimes strange birds in my time birdwatching in Thailand; this lens highlights some of my favourite species of birds that I have seen in Thailand.
If you are looking for places to watch birds when in Thailand please take a look at another one of my lenses; Where to Watch Birds in Thailand.
Have You Been Birdwatching In Thailand?
Birds of Thailand Fieldguide by Craig Robson
Birds of Thailand (Princeton Field Guides)
Amazon Price: $20.95 (as of 02/15/2012)
Anyone considering birdwatching in Thailand is going to require a field guide in order to identify what they see. Whilst it is not perfect and there have been a number of additions since publication, Craig Robson's Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand is probably the best single book for visitors to use.
The most up-to-date checklist of the birds of Thailand as compiled by the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand can be downloaded here: Birds of Thailand.
My Favourite Bird In Thailand: River Chat (White-capped Water Redstart)
River Chat is by no means the rarest or hardest to find of bird species in Thailand, but it is one of the most striking. Its colours are so contrasting that it looks like it has been designed by a small child.
I have often seen River Chat at the base of Vatcharitan Waterfall in Doi Inthanon National Park or in the small waterfall in the grounds of Ban Luang Resort at Doi Ang Kang. These falls are a rather beautiful setting with their mists swirling around frond-like ferns, and to see a bird as stunning as River Chat in this setting is always a satisfying experience.
My Second Favourite Bird Of Thailand: Silver-eared Mesia
Well, who wouldn't love Silver-eared Mesia? Just look at it, what amazing colours. If one were to sit down and try and design the most beautiful bird possible, it would surely look something like this.I have most often run into this species at Doi Ang Kang and it seems that it nearly always perches amongst dark green foliage, as if to highlight its brightly coloured plumage. What a bird!
More photos of Silver-eared Mesia can be found here: Silver-eared Mesia.
Another Of My Favourite Birds Of Thailand: Pied Kingfisher
Kingfishers are always high on most people's favourite bird lists and this one is quite special. It is not one of the rarer birds of Thailand, although not too many people see it often. I've seen it at Bueng Boraphet, about 3 hours north of Bangkok. Bueng Boraphet is a really nice place and to see a Pied Kingfisher hovering above the water is a lovely experience. It's quite a large bird, about the size of a Pigeon, and this, along with its unusual behaviour and black-and-white colouration make it quite a noticeable bird - go and see it!Find out more about Pied Kingfisher here: Pied Kingfisher
Great Hornbill - Thailand's Greatest Bird?
I have many happy memories of watching Great Hornbills at Khao Yai National Park and to me the two will always go together.
Thailand's Most Wanted Bird: Gurney's Pitta
Gurney's Pitta is the most sought after bird species for birdwatchers visiting Thailand according to a survey I did in 2007.
Pittas in Thailand are an enigmatic group of birds and difficult to see, so any sighting is special and I have been lucky enough to see Gurney's Pitta on several occasions.
Although recently a population of as many as 20,000 pairs of Gurney's Pitta were discovered in southern Myanmar, the tiny population in southern Thailand remains most birdwatchers' best hope of seeing one.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper - On The Road To Extinction
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a winter visitor to Thailand, arriving in October and departing for Siberia in March. With its distinctive bill and unique feeding action this is one of the most sought after birds in the world and its numbers are rapidly declining, partly due to problems on its breeding grounds and partly due to the destruction of feeding grounds along its migratory route; Spoon-billed Sandpiper is now classed as a critically endangered species.This is a super bird and is most easily picked out from Red-necked Stints, with which it feeds, by its bright white forehead colouration and its bill shape. In Thailand it is regularly seen at Khok Kham and Laem Pak Bia/Pak Thale.
The world population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper has now become so low (only a few hundred) and decreasing at 26% every year that extinction within 5 years is very likely. However, a conservation effort to establish a captive population is underway and those who wish to support this can make a donation - Please Support Our Spoon-billed Sandpiper Appeal.
Another Beautiful Bird From Thailand: Black-throated Sunbird
Birdwatching in Thailand's forests can be tricky at times making all sightings special but an encounter with this cheeky little guy is fairly common and always a welcome sight.Black-throated Sunbird is one of those species that many people overlook but it is colourful enough to brighten up the forest and it is rather entertaining to watch it drinking nectar from forest flowers.
Pied Imperial Pigeon
Pied Imperial Pigeon is one of my favourite species in Thailand just because of its snowy white plumage which contrasts against the dark leaves of the trees it perches in.This species is mostly found on offshore islands in the south of Thailand and it just adds another colour to the blue of the sea and sky, the silvery sand and green foliage - whenever I see Pied Imperial Pigeon I know I am in a beautiful island paradise such as Ko Similan.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: A Weird And Wonderful Species
If you are not impressed by Pheasant-tailed Jacana then I suggest that birdwatching isn't for you. With its contrasting colours, splendid tail and curious mewing call it is a very memorable species indeed.This is not a common bird in Thailand but I am lucky in that my local patch at Muang Boran Fishponds has them in abundance.
Olive-backed Sunbird - A Visitor To My Back Yard
Olive-backed Sunbird is one of the commonest birds in Thailand but what makes it special to me is that it is one of the few species that can be watched almost anywhere due to its adaptability.This sunbird originates from mangroves but it is able to live alongside man in gardens, parks and even window boxes! There is a pair of Olive-backed Sunbirds that visit my yard every morning to drink from the flowers. For visiting birdwatchers, Olive-backed Sunbird is easy to see in Bangkok's Parks: Suan Luang, Lumphini Park and Suan Rot Fai.
The Olive-backed Sunbirds that visit me in Bangkok are such colourful little characters that I have given them their own lens: My Olive-backed Sunbirds in Bangkok.
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Unfortunately, there is currently unrest in that region and as wonderful as it is, it is not risking travelling to that area right now due to the ongoing violence.
Striated Grassbird
For some reason Striated Grassbird is one of my favourite birds. It really shouldn't be as it is a fairly dull-coloured, brown streaky bird with a cacophonous song.Still, I like it as it sits out on very exposed perches and launches itself into the air to give its song, virtually all year round. At my local patch at Muang Boran Fishponds this bird is unusually common and it is a great place to study the species.
Golden Babbler
Golden Babbler is a common forest bird in Northern Thailand but it is a real character. As well as being nicely coloured, Golden Babbler is an inquisitive member of mixed bird flocks and it reacts quite aggressively if one mimics its call, coming to within a few feet of the origin of the call.The jeep track at Km 37.5, Doi Inthanon and Mae Per forest trail at Doi Ang Kang are great places to find Golden Babbler. Golden Babbler is also a fairly common bird at Kaeng Krachan from Km 27 to Panoen Tung campsite.
Vote For The Most Desirable Bird
Birdwatching Beyond Thailand
Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia
Amazon Price: $108.04 (as of 02/15/2012)
If you are travelling on from Thailand to neighbouring countries, then you will want a field guide which contains all the species that you may see. The Birds of Southeast Asia covers all the species that could be encountered on mainland Southeast Asia; Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Other Birds Of Thailand Lenses
Birdwatching In Thailand Useful Links
Free information, checklists, trip reports, maps and news on birdwatching in Thailand.
Information on some of the most endangered bird species of Thailand.
A list of the ten most wanted bird species in Thailand as voted for by visiting birdwatchers.
The official Birdlife International partner in Thailand.
A collection of quite superb photographs of birds of Thailand.
Gifts For Birdwatchers
Sometimes buying gifts for Christmas, birthdays or as a thank you can be really difficult. However, buying gifts for bird lovers is really easy, particularly those bird lovers with a garden, as a new bird feeder, bird table or other device designed to attract birds is always welcome. When you include bird books, bird DVDs and all the other bird-related products that exist, buying gifts for bird lovers can be made really easy indeed - there is just so much to choose from.
Check out these Great Gifts For Bird Lovers.
Thailand Guidebooks
Useful Thailand Lenses
Did You Like My Favourite Birds?
Please leave a comment
Let me know what you think of my favourite birds of Thailand, and maybe tell me what yours are.
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Heather426
Oct 8, 2011 @ 6:35 pm | delete
- Yes, I love your favourite birds, and I love birdwatching in general. Lovely page!
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orange3
Sep 16, 2011 @ 1:11 pm | delete
- Beautiful lens. I would love to see the Pied Kingfisher....and all the other birds too!
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annmackiemiller
May 7, 2011 @ 12:08 pm | delete
- lovely - you need to give yourself credit for your photos though - Angel blessed and featured on my wild bird lens
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MamaBelle
Mar 4, 2011 @ 7:52 am | delete
- The pied kingfisher looks so cool. Great info and images!
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blackspanielgallery
Feb 3, 2011 @ 3:06 pm | delete
- Great photos
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Birds Of Thailand Photo Credits
I must thank Peter Ericsson, Suppalak Klabdee, Banphot Kittinglert, Hans Stehl, Alister Benn and Johan Svensson for the use of their wonderful bird photos.
About The Lens Author
by nickupton
Having been a birdologist since the age of seven I am something of an ornithological obsessive. However, I managed to gain adulthood, if only physically,... more »
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Birds of Thailand
Photographic Guide to Birds of Thailand
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 02/15/2012)
This is a nice little book to browse as an introduction to Thailand's birds with many lovely photos. This is not to be used as a field guide though as it does not contain all the country's species. A nice addition to the birdwatcher's collection all the same.
Improve Your Birding
101 Ways to Help Birds
101 Ways To Help Birds
Amazon Price: $11.33 (as of 02/15/2012)
Exactly what it says on the cover - 101 ways for bird lovers to help birds. Tips on gardening, feeding and conservation; excellent.
