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One of the surprise visitors to the Doi Angkhang feeding station was a normally shy and elusive Rusty-naped Pitta, a bird we almost never see on this tour! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Another January and February have passed, and another fantastic Thailand tour is in the books! Our group, under the thoughtful care of Wat and crew, enjoyed great winter weather (though El Niño had made it quite dry throughout the country) and fantastic food and birds in this friendly Southeast Asian country for all of three weeks. We covered a lot of ground, birding and traveling from Kaeng Krachan NP, which is just south of Bangkok, north to the extreme northwest corner of the country to Doi Pha Hom Pok NP (Doi Lang) on the Myanmar border. All of our birding venues were exceptionally rich, and we did quite well in uncovering the wealth of species found in each.
We started the tour off right, with fantastic views of a rare wintering Spoon-billed Sandpiper south of Bangkok (one of almost 40 species of waders found on the tour!) and then got into the forest birding shortly thereafter in lovely Khao Yai NP north of Bangkok. Our timing here was pretty good, with relatively few human visitors and lots of birds to look at! Our first taste of forest birding in Thailand had many highlights, but none more memorable than those Silver Pheasants walking across the road, our hard-to-spot Collared Owlet, our first impressive Great Hornbills, colorful Banded Kingfisher, strange Long-tailed Broadbill, and that elusive Blue Pitta.
After another stop along the coast for the rare Nordmann's Greenshank and Asian Dowitchers, it was off to Thailand's largest national park, Kaeng Krachan. Protecting a huge swath of untouched hill forest on the Myanmar border, Kaeng Krachan can still boast of having the full compliment of birds and mammals originally found in this region. Seeing them, especially the big mammals, is another issue, though. We fared much better with the birds than we did the mammals, finding such specialties as Great and Wreathed hornbills, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Streak-breasted, Heart-spotted and Great Slaty woodpeckers, Black-thighed Falconet, four species of broadbills, Sultan Tit, Large Scimitar-Babbler, and Collared Babbler during our three full days in the park.
Flying north, we essentially started a different tour when we arrived in Chiang Mai. The birds we were to find on our final days of this tour were so different from what we had seen in the south! Our first major venue, Doi Inthanon NP, proved to be very productive -- full of new birds, new habitats, and lovely mountain scenery. New 'babblers' featured prominently on this leg of the trip, with the group scoring on Rufous-winged and Yunnan fulvettas, the shy Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Black-backed and Rufous-backed sibias, and Blue-winged and Chestnut-tailed minlas. Other families, such as bulbuls, leaf warblers, and Old World flycatchers were also central to our efforts, with several new species from each added to our tally. Our other two northern highland venues, Doi Lang and Doi Angkhang each had its own list of highlights, like the multiple Hume's Pheasants, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, Giant Nuthatch, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Long-tailed Sibia, White-bellied Redstart, and Siberian Rubythroat on Doi Lang, and the Rusty-naped Pittas, Crested Finchbill, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, and White-necked Laughingthrushes on Doi Angkhang. A couple of scarce Spot-winged Starlings on the way back to Chiang Mai and fantastic Green Peafowl on the final morning were the icing on the cake!
Thanks to Wat and his fabulous crew for taking such good care of our every need on this tour -- as they always do! I can't imagine doing this trip without Wat taking care of every detail while we enjoy birding this lovely country. And thanks to all of you for joining Uthai and me for another fantastic birding tour to Thailand. We hope to see all of you again somewhere else in Asia, or wherever our paths may cross! All the best for the remainder of 2016!
-- Dave
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
The last real 'mega' of the main tour was this male Green Peafowl, here displaying to a few nearby females across the pond from our vantage point. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
LESSER WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna javanica) – We had a pretty big flock of these in the coastal ponds near Laem Phak Bia. The smallest of the eight species of whistling-ducks.
COMMON SHELDUCK (Tadorna tadorna) – Brian spotted these at Pak Thale while we searched for Far Eastern Curlew on our way back to Bangkok from Kaeng Krachan. There are only a couple of records ever for the country and these birds had been around at this spot all winter.
EURASIAN WIGEON (Anas penelope) – Outnumbered by the Northern Pintails at that coastal mangrove spot s. of Bangkok.
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta) – We saw more of these at that one spot than I've ever seen in the country cumulatively.
GARGANEY (Anas querquedula) – Several birds mixed in with the other ducks at the above coastal mangrove spot.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca) – Just a couple of drakes in with the other ducks at the above spot. Quite rare this far south.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
RUFOUS-THROATED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila rufogularis) – Great looks at this normally shy bird at the summit. A little rice and some food scraps go a long way up there!
SCALY-BREASTED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila chloropus) [*]
GREEN PEAFOWL (Pavo muticus) – That male with the full train put on a great show for us (and those 3 female peafowl) on our last morning of the main tour. This bird seems to be doing quite well in this dry forest reserve.
GRAY PEACOCK-PHEASANT (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) [*]
MOUNTAIN BAMBOO-PARTRIDGE (Bambusicola fytchii) – Fantastic looks of several birds on the road edge on Doi Lang!
RED JUNGLEFOWL (Gallus gallus) – This one sure was in short supply on the tour this year! Our best was that male in the grassy opening near the park headquarters at Khao Yai NP.
HUME'S PHEASANT (Syrmaticus humiae) – Most folks got on the adult male on our first morning on Doi Lang before he disappeared around the corner, but then everyone scored the next day on a female near the same spot. This road seems to be one of the most reliable spots anywhere for this declining species.
SILVER PHEASANT (Lophura nycthemera) – WOW!! That adult male and a couple of females in Khao Yai NP that first morning really cooperated for us!
Now that's a strut! This gorgeous male Silver Pheasant cooperated nicely for us -- as we used our vans for effective blinds -- when he followed a couple of female pheasants across the road at Khao Yai NP. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – As is the norm, this was our only grebe species on the tour.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
ASIAN OPENBILL (Anastomus oscitans) – Numbers of this one have certainly declined in the Bangkok area, but we still saw plenty of them there, as well a good numbers in the north.
PAINTED STORK (Mycteria leucocephala) – We never see that many of these, but you have to remember to look at all of the flying storks to make sure that they're not all Openbills.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
INDIAN CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) – One fine look at the Royal project near Laem Phak Bia on Day 2.
LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger) – The vast majority of the cormorants on this tour are this small species.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
YELLOW BITTERN (Ixobrychus sinensis) – Excellent looks in flight of a couple of birds near Khao Yai NP.
CINNAMON BITTERN (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) – I think that most, if not all, got a look at the bird that flushed from the marsh next to the road at Rangsit on Day 3. Easily told from any plumage of Yellow Bittern by the rufous, not black, flight feathers.
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea) – Much more richly colored than the similarly sized Gray Heron.
GREAT EGRET (AUSTRALASIAN) (Ardea alba modesta)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia) – Much longer necked and legged than Cattle Egret and a much shorter billed and quite a bit smaller than Great Egret - but not always easy!
CHINESE EGRET (Egretta eulophotes) – We all had fantastic views of this rare egret on the boat ride out of Laem Phak Bia.
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
PACIFIC REEF-HERON (Egretta sacra) – The birds that we saw at Laem Phak Bia were dark-morph birds, which makes this i.d. easy.
The first of three rare eagles that we saw near Doi Lo was this Booted Eagle. Note those bright white spots on either side of the head, at the base of the wings. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
CATTLE EGRET (EASTERN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – Now split by most of the Old World ornithological committees from the Western Cattle-Egret. We'll see what the A.O.U. does.
CHINESE POND-HERON (Ardeola bacchus) – The only birds that we could be sure of were the ones away from the coastal lowlands and Bangkok. Javan and Chinese are virtually identical in this plumage.
STRIATED HERON (OLD WORLD) (Butorides striata javanica)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) – A couple of birds fishing at the reservoir near Khao Yai NP.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus) – Formerly lumped with the New World White-tailed Kite.
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus) – Didn't this one get a little old after a while? Not only do these birds have a variety of tricky plumages, but they also seem to adopt different flight profiles as well. Geez!
JERDON'S BAZA (Aviceda jerdoni) – Pretty good scope looks next to the road in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLACK BAZA (Aviceda leuphotes) – We chanced upon a terrific flyby individual at our picnic lunch spot high in Kaeng Krachan NP. We often miss both of the bazas on this tour, so it was great to get 'em both this year!
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela) – Nice looks of perched and flying birds.
MOUNTAIN HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus nipalensis) – For a few of us in the parking lot at the campground at Khao Yai NP - the rest of you were in the restrooms...
BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus) – We spotted this scarce (in Thailand) eagle almost immediately after we got out of the vans near Doi Lo.
STEPPE EAGLE (Aquila nipalensis) – This was the first big, distant Aquila eagle that we spotted near Doi Lo, a conclusion that we arrived at after we saw the real Imperial Eagle a little while later.
IMPERIAL EAGLE (Aquila heliaca) – Great views of an immature bird overhead in the paddies near Doi Lo!
It's in there somewhere! Our group enjoying looks at some scarce, skulking species in the roadside brush on Doi Lang. Mike, you're looking too high... (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
RUFOUS-WINGED BUZZARD (Butastur liventer) – Brian spotted this one quietly sitting in the dry forest at Mr. T's place near Doi Inthanon.
GRAY-FACED BUZZARD (Butastur indicus) – The only bird we had this year was one distant individual perched at Rangsit. A bit of a surprise here at this season.
EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus spilonotus) – Also a bit of a surprise was this adult male hunting low over the marsh a little later at Rangsit.
PIED HARRIER (Circus melanoleucos) – A single distant female or immature bird was spotted hunting over the paddies near Chiang Mai on our final morning together.
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus) – Most of our birds were in flight, but we did have one bird sitting on a nest at Kaeng Krachan. [N]
SHIKRA (Accipiter badius) – Often found in open or disturbed habitats, unlike the Crested Goshawk above which is tied to good forest.
JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter gularis) – We had a couple of these in flight this year - the size of a Sharp-shinned, but with a more rounded tail tip.
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans) – Several in the south and in the north this year.
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus) – I think we saw this one every time we visited the coastal lowlands.
EASTERN BUZZARD (Buteo japonicus japonicus) – Seven birds at the bat cave near Khao Yai was a really impressive number for there. Now split from Common Buzzard.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – Several good looks at this oddly patterned rallid.
BLACK-TAILED CRAKE (Amaurornis bicolor) [*]
BLACK-BACKED SWAMPHEN (Porphyrio indicus viridis) [*]
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) – Now split from the Common Gallinule in the New World.
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
INDIAN THICK-KNEE (Burhinus indicus) [*]
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) – A very common sight in the coastal lowlands.
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) – We found a very large wintering flock with the ducks near the coast on Day 6. It wasn't too long ago that this species was added to the official Thai checklist, so it seems to have become a much more regular winterer only very recently.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva)
GRAY-HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus cinereus) – We couldn't have asked for a better look at the birds next to the road in Kaeng Krachan!
RED-WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus atronuchalis) – There's talk of splitting this race from the birds in India.
LESSER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius mongolus) – Smaller, shorter-billed and shorter-legged than the next species. It often greatly outnumbers the next species along the coast south of Bangkok, too.
GREATER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius leschenaultii) – We had some good comparisons with the above species on that first full day south of Bangkok.
MALAYSIAN PLOVER (Charadrius peronii) – A quick trip out to the spit at Laem Phak Bia produced some good looks of a pair of these on the sandy beach.
KENTISH PLOVER (KENTISH) (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus) – Now split from the Snowy Plover in the New World.
KENTISH PLOVER (WHITE-FACED) (Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus) – We had a couple of these on the same beach with the above Malaysian Plovers. These birds differ in plumage and in structure from the typical Kentish, but the taxonomy hasn't been worked out yet - it may prove to be a distinct species.
Black-winged Stilts were common in the coastal lowlands. (Photo by participant Dave Harvey)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius) – The birds that we saw inland could have been local breeders.
Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes)
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE (Rostratula benghalensis) – Brian and I were the only ones who got on a bird that flew in and landed in the paddy near Bangkok that first afternoon.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) – We had a surprising number of these in the little marsh adjacent to the reservoir near Khao Yai NP that afternoon.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus) – A couple of birds at the irrigation project north of Chiang Mai.
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus)
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
NORDMANN'S GREENSHANK (Tringa guttifer) – We ended up seeing a couple of flocks of this rare shorebird along the coast on a couple of different days. Much paler with shorter legs and strongly bicolored and upturned bills separate this one from the similar Common Greenshank at this season.
MARSH SANDPIPER (Tringa stagnatilis) – One of the most common shorebird species along the coast.
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) – That striking wing pattern is the best way to tell this one from the similar Spotted Redshank.
WHIMBREL (SIBERIAN) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus)
FAR EASTERN CURLEW (Numenius madagascariensis) – We found a few of these with that huge flock of Eurasian Curlews at Pak Thale on our final visit to the coast.
EURASIAN CURLEW (Numenius arquata)
With upturned bills and short legs, these rare Nordmann's Greenshanks provided some excitement on our drive from Kaeng Krachan to Bangkok. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (MELANUROIDES) (Limosa limosa melanuroides)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa lapponica baueri)
GREAT KNOT (Calidris tenuirostris) – We didn't see nearly as many of these as I sometimes do here, but we still had plenty.
RUFF (Calidris pugnax)
BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris falcinellus) – Numbers seemed to be way down for this one, too, but we did have a couple of good looks at Pak Thale.
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea)
TEMMINCK'S STINT (Calidris temminckii) – Unfortunately, not everyone go on this stint before it took off for good.
LONG-TOED STINT (Calidris subminuta) – The Old World equivalent to the Least Sandpiper in the New World,
SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris pygmea) – YESSSS!!!!! Some years this unique and Critically Endangered little shorebird can be a real pain to try to find among the throngs of shorebirds that winter here. This year, we found it about a minute after we started scanning that first flock of shorebirds! I'll take that! Sadly, there may be no more than 100 of these sandpipers left in the wild, making any sighting of it bittersweet.
RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis) – The most common wintering stint along the coast here.
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
ASIAN DOWITCHER (Limnodromus semipalmatus) – Uthai knew the spot to look for this one and we ended up seeing more that 45 birds mixed in with a flock of Black-tailed Godwits. Larger and longer-billed than the New World dowitchers, this one also has black legs, unlike those birds.
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago) – We saw both this and the next in flight well, showing their respective upper- and underwing patterns well.
PIN-TAILED SNIPE (Gallinago stenura)
Laem Phak Bia is usually a good place to see a Great Crested Tern, which is primarily a pelagic species, flying by or hauled out on a sandy beach. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
SMALL PRATINCOLE (Glareola lactea) – A couple of us saw three of these fly by at the Imperial Eagle spot near Doi Lo.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BROWN-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) – This is the default species of gull along the coast, wintering here in large numbers.
PALLAS'S GULL (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) – Also called the Great Black-headed Gull, we ended up seeing several of these huge gulls at the Laem Phak Bia spit very well.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (HEUGLIN'S) (Larus fuscus heuglini) – For a while, this northeast Asian race of Lesser Black-backed Gull was split out and was called Heuglin's Gull.
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
WHITE-WINGED TERN (Chlidonias leucopterus) – Seen by some folks on the Laem Phak Bia spit with the other terns hauled out there.
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
GREAT CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bergii) – The Laem Phak Bia spit is usually a great place to see this distinctive pelagic tern.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPECKLED WOOD-PIGEON (Columba hodgsonii) – We found these highland pigeons in their usual tree next to the road just below the summit of Doi Inthanon.
ASHY WOOD-PIGEON (Columba pulchricollis) – Unfortunately, these didn't stick around quite long enough for all to see.
This was a particularly good year for Pink-necked Pigeon in the Bangkok area. This pair was a surprise in the parking lot of our hotel! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia orientalis) – A quick flyby for some at Doi Inthanon NP. Not a common bird here.
RED COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)
BARRED CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia unchall) [*]
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica) – Mostly seen flushing from the road in Kaeng Krachan NP.
ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) – Called Peaceful Dove in the guides, but now split from that one.
PINK-NECKED PIGEON (Treron vernans) – These were more common in the coastal lowlands this year along our route than usual.
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra) – The most common member of this highly frugivorous genus on the tour.
YELLOW-VENTED PIGEON (Treron seimundi) – All we got this year was a quick view of a pair as they shot out of a fruiting tree at Kaeng Krachan.
WEDGE-TAILED PIGEON (Treron sphenurus) – The pair of birds at the bridge in the dry forest at Kaeng Krachan was pretty low for this species.
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia) – Scarce this year, for some reason.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx sparverioides) – Looking every bit like an Accipiter, this big cuckoo was mostly obscured from view at Wat Phai Lom on the first afternoon. A couple of others were glimpsed later at Kaeng Krachan.
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) – We worked hard to get our first look at Kaeng Krachan, but later had it at eye-level on our visit to the park headquarters. Certainly more often heard than seen.
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus) – Not many around Bangkok this year.
ASIAN EMERALD CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx maculatus) – We had a male briefly above the road in Khao Yai, but that was all this year for this one.
ASIAN KOEL (Eudynamys scolopaceus) – Nicely on the first afternoon in Bangkok.
GREEN-BILLED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus tristis) – Most of our sightings came in the first half of the tour. Sadly, our only malkoha species of the main tour.
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis)
LESSER COUCAL (Centropus bengalensis) – A few of these were sitting out in the grasses and weeds at Rangsit one morning.
Strigidae (Owls)
MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL (Otus spilocephalus) [*]
COLLARED SCOPS-OWL (Otus lettia) – It took a little walking and a lot of trolling with the recording to finally get these to respond for us. We ended up with good looks, though.
COLLARED OWLET (Glaucidium brodiei brodiei) – We were able to track down one of these Asian 'pygmy-owls' at Khao Yai for some good looks in the scopes.
ASIAN BARRED OWLET (Glaucidium cuculoides) – Nicely along the main road in Kaeng Krachan NP.
SPOTTED OWLET (Athene brama) – It was great to see that this little owl was still using that roost site at the temple.
BROWN WOOD-OWL (Strix leptogrammica) [*]
BROWN BOOBOOK (Ninox scutulata) [*]
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
HODGSON'S FROGMOUTH (Batrachostomus hodgsoni) [*]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus macrurus) – Great looks for those who went out to look for the Collared Scops-Owls at Kaeng Krachan.
INDIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus asiaticus) – Nicely in the lights near our rooms at Kaeng Krachan. The smallest of the possible nightjars here.
SAVANNA NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus affinis) – It had been several years since we had seen this species at this spot, so it's good to know they're still around.
We probably saw hundreds of these Cook's Swifts fly past us while we took our mid-morning break along the road on Doi Lang. The reduced white rump patch and the very dark cap, neck, and back help to separate this one from the other species that were split from Fork-tailed Swift. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Apodidae (Swifts)
HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET (Aerodramus brevirostris) – Less of a pale rump than the Germain's and typically found at higher elevations, but otherwise very similar to that species.
GERMAIN'S SWIFTLET (Aerodramus germani) – Very common on the coastal plain south of Bangkok.
PACIFIC SWIFT (Apus pacificus) – One overhead at Khao Yai appeared to have much more white in the rump than the recently split Cook's Swift.
COOK'S SWIFT (Apus cooki) – These just kept streaming overhead as we sipped our coffee and ate our mid-morning snacks at Doi Lang.
HOUSE SWIFT (Apus nipalensis) – More white on the rump than any other potential species here.
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus balasiensis) – If we hadn't seen all of those Cook's Swifts, I'd say that this may have been our most common species on the tour. It was certainly the most widespread.
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
CRESTED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne coronata) – A couple of these came zooming past the group in the fading light as we watched for the Savanna Nightjar to appear.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RED-HEADED TROGON (Harpactes erythrocephalus) – After hearing several, we finally got a decent look at this one on the trail at Khao Yai NP.
ORANGE-BREASTED TROGON (Harpactes oreskios) – Much more confiding than that shy Red-headed Trogon!
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
GREAT HORNBILL (Buceros bicornis) – If you can find a fruiting fig tree in Khao Yai NP or Kaeng Krachan NP, you're pretty likely to find this huge hornbill chowing down on fruit!
RUSTY-CHEEKED HORNBILL (Anorrhinus tickelli) – Brief looks as we were headed down the mountain at Kaeng Krachan NP.
ORIENTAL PIED-HORNBILL (Anthracoceros albirostris) – Our most reliable and cooperative hornbill of the entire trip.
WREATHED HORNBILL (Rhyticeros undulatus) – Though it's comparable in size to a Great Hornbill, it's easily told from that one by the plain white tail and the all black wings in flight.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella) – A couple of birds made an appearance in Khao Yai NP, but it was the male that really showed off nicely for us.
WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER (Halcyon smyrnensis) – The blue on the upperparts of this one is simply electric!
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata) – Wintering here from China.
COLLARED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus chloris) – This one really favors the mangrove forests on the immediate coast.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) – Dave H. spotted this one for us along the road at Kaeng Krachan. This is about as far north as this "Sundaland" species gets.
BLUE-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis athertoni) – This big bee-eater gave us some trouble this year, but most in the group got a look of some kind.
GREEN BEE-EATER (Merops orientalis) – Very few this year, but maybe best near our rooms at Kaeng Krachan.
BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus) – Only in the Bangkok area this year.
CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops leschenaulti) – Unlike the other Merops bee-eaters on this tour, this one lacks the elongated central tail feathers of those two.
Coraciidae (Rollers)
INDIAN ROLLER (Coracias benghalensis) – Seeing it in flight is the only way to really appreciate this one.
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis) – At Kaeng Krachan NP only. This one enjoys a huge range in Asia and Australasia.
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
COPPERSMITH BARBET (Psilopogon haemacephalus) – Many fine looks, especially on the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Psilopogon duvaucelii) – We finally tracked this one down for some scope looks at Khao Yai.
The songs of Green-eared Barbets were a regular part of the tour soundtrack in the south. (Photo by participant Dave Harvey)
GREAT BARBET (Psilopogon virens) – We had some wonderful looks at this one high along the road in Kaeng Krachan NP. It was a near continuous background voice all of the way north to Doi Lang.
GREEN-EARED BARBET (Psilopogon faiostrictus) – A common voice in the south, especially at Khao Yai NP where we saw it well.
LINEATED BARBET (Psilopogon lineatus) – Probably seen best at Mr. T's.
GOLDEN-THROATED BARBET (Psilopogon franklinii) – At higher elevations than most of the others.
MOUSTACHED BARBET (Psilopogon incognitus) – This one's found at both Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan, but it's much more common at Khao Yai and easy to see there.
BLUE-THROATED BARBET (Psilopogon asiaticus) – Widespread in the highlands from Kaeng Krachan north to Doi Lang.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
SPECKLED PICULET (Picumnus innominatus) – Terrific looks along the road on Doi Angkhang.
WHITE-BROWED PICULET (Sasia ochracea) – It was tough to get this one to pop out long enough for folks to see it well, staying hidden in the roadside tangle on Doi Angkhang.
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus) – A tiny woodpecker that's barely larger than a White-breasted Nuthatch.
STRIPE-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos atratus) – The red on the undertail of this one helps to separate it from the similar Gray-capped Woodpecker.
CRIMSON-WINGED WOODPECKER (Picus puniceus) [*]
GREATER YELLOWNAPE (Picus flavinucha) – Nice views of this one at Kaeng Krachan on a particularly good woodpecker day there.
STREAK-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Picus viridanus) – Similar to the Laced woodpecker, but it generally replaces that species west of Bangkok along the Mynamar border area.
LACED WOODPECKER (Picus vittatus) – Normally a little difficult to see, we had uncharacteristically good views of a male at Khao Yai.
BLACK-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picus erythropygius) – This distinctive woodpecker was around in good numbers this year in the dry forest at the base of Doi Inthanon. Finding this one there the last several years has been challenging.
GRAY-HEADED WOODPECKER (BLACK-NAPED) (Picus canus hessei) [*]
COMMON FLAMEBACK (Dinopium javanense) – Far outnumbered by the similar Greater Flameback in most habitats, but it seems to be the predominant flameback in the dry Dipterocarp forest at the base of Doi Inthanon.
BAMBOO WOODPECKER (Gecinulus viridis) [*]
BLACK-AND-BUFF WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes jugularis) – This and the similar Heart-spotted woodpecker are almost tailless. Good views of a couple of birds in Khao Yai NP this year.
GREATER FLAMEBACK (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus) – Numbers of this normally common and widespread species seemed to be down this year.
BAY WOODPECKER (Blythipicus pyrrhotis) – It's very difficult to see this shy woodpecker perched.
HEART-SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Hemicircus canente) – I always worry about seeing this one on the tour if we miss it in Khao Yai, but we picked up a pair nicely along the roadside in Kaeng Krachan this year.
GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) – This one has gotten to be very difficult on this tour in recent years, so we were really fortunate to hear, and then see, a bird next to the road in Kaeng Krachan late one afternoon.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
COLLARED FALCONET (Microhierax caerulescens) – Terrific views of this minute falcon in the dry Dipterocarp forest at the base of Doi Inthanon.
BLACK-THIGHED FALCONET (Microhierax fringillarius) – We ended up with a couple of good sightings of this one at Kaeng Krachan this year. Another species that has become more difficult to find in recent years there.
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)
SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO (Cacatua galerita) – Excavating a nest hole at Wat Tian Thawai on our first afternoon. Uthai says that this escaped cagebird has found a mate [I]
This male Laced Woodpecker, normally quite a shy species, foraged in the open for the group at Khao Yai NP. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri) – This escaped cagebird might be becoming established as a breeder in the Bangkok area. [I]
BLOSSOM-HEADED PARAKEET (Psittacula roseata) – It's great to have a place where you can count on seeing this beautiful species!
RED-BREASTED PARAKEET (Psittacula alexandri) – That flowering Bombax outside our rooms at Khao Yai was very convenient for seeing this lovely bird well.
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis) – We actually did see a number of these perched this year, instead of the usually lightning-quick flyby.
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
LONG-TAILED BROADBILL (Psarisomus dalhousiae) – Khao Yai was the only place where we detected this one this year, but we did have some good looks at this strange bird there.
SILVER-BREASTED BROADBILL (Serilophus lunatus) – A large, vocal flock of these tiny broadbills cooperated nicely for us along the roadside at Kaeng Krachan NP. This one has gotten to be difficult everywhere on this itinerary lately.
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) – A nice distraction for us during one of our picnic lunches at Kaeng Krachan.
BLACK-AND-YELLOW BROADBILL (Eurylaimus ochromalus) – We couldn't have asked for a more cooperative pair of these little gems in Kaeng Krachan.
DUSKY BROADBILL (Corydon sumatranus) – We get this one about every five years or so in Kaeng Krachan, so consider yourselves lucky!
Pittidae (Pittas)
RUSTY-NAPED PITTA (Hydrornis oatesi) – We've never seen this shy species so well on this tour before! Thank goodness for meal worms!
BLUE PITTA (Hydrornis cyaneus) – We didn't quite get everyone on this super shy species at Khao Yai...
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) – Good, close views of the only species of gerygone that makes it to SE Asia. Formerly called the Flyeater.
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
LARGE WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis virgatus) – Nicely in the pines on Doi Inthanon.
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus) – Multiple excellent views of the widespread forest species.
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
ASHY WOODSWALLOW (Artamus fuscus) – The northernmost of the woodswallows.
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia) – More often heard than seen. Another one of the common birds on the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
GREAT IORA (Aegithina lafresnayei) – This one lacks the white wing bars of the above species and is found in good, undisturbed forest.
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
SMALL MINIVET (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) – A male at our first afternoon stop that first day proved to be the only one of the trip!
GRAY-CHINNED MINIVET (Pericrocotus solaris) – Several birds in the forests of the mountainous northwest.
SHORT-BILLED MINIVET (Pericrocotus brevirostris) – Very similar to the Long-tailed and Scarlet Minivets, this one is best told by voice if you can't see the wing pattern well enough.
LONG-TAILED MINIVET (Pericrocotus ethologus) – Almost always found in pine forest in the mountains.
SCARLET MINIVET (Pericrocotus speciosus) – The widespread orange minivet in Thailand.
ASHY MINIVET (Pericrocotus divaricatus) – This one is often found in mixed flocks of migrants with the next two species.
BROWN-RUMPED MINIVET (Pericrocotus cantonensis) – Also called Swinhoe's Minivet and wintering here from China.
Ashy Woodswallow ranges farther north than any of the other woodswallows. (Photo by participant Dave Harvey)
ROSY MINIVET (Pericrocotus roseus) – Including a beautiful close flyby flock from the overlook at Khao Yai NP.
LARGE CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina macei) – Distant views for some at Mr. T's.
BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Lalage melaschistos) – A 'regular' in the mixed species flocks in the forest of most of our venues.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus) – Widespread this year, but seemingly fewer than usual.
BURMESE SHRIKE (Lanius collurioides) – Some careful scanning produced scope looks of a distant pair on Doi Lang.
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach) – Except for one bird early on at the reservoir on our way to Khao Yai, all of our birds came late in the trip.
GRAY-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius tephronotus) – Excellent looks of one bird at the roadside on Doi Lang as we waited for Hume's Pheasant to show.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BLYTH'S SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius aeralatus) – There's been a lot of taxonomic revision recently involving the 'babblers' and, as suspected, the 'babblers' comprise many separate families and the relationships have all been revised. The White-browed Shrike-Babbler not only was split into several species, but all of the shrike-babblers are now assigned to Vireonidae - so this one is closer to Red-eyed Vireo than it is to any of the other 'babblers'.
BLACK-EARED SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius melanotis) – A surprise for some was seeing a pair of these along the roadside at Kaeng Krachan, where neither Uthai nor I have ever seen them previously.
CLICKING SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius intermedius) – We ended up with some super views of a pair at the final hour on Doi Suthep. Formerly known as Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler.
WHITE-BELLIED ERPORNIS (Erpornis zantholeuca) – A.k.a. - White-bellied Yuhina.
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (Oriolus chinensis) – The common, widespread black-and-yellow oriole along our route.
SLENDER-BILLED ORIOLE (Oriolus tenuirostris) [*]
BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus) – Nicely in the dry Dipterocarp woodland at the base of Doi Inthanon and also at Mr. T's the next morning.
MAROON ORIOLE (Oriolus traillii) – Only in the highland broadleaf evergreen forest and quite unlike the other oriole species on this tour.
Dicruridae (Drongos)
BLACK DRONGO (Dicrurus macrocercus) – Quite common in the flat open country of the lowlands.
ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus) – Most of ours were the all-slate gray resident birds, but we did have a few white-faced migrants from China.
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus) – The smallest of our six species of drongos.
LESSER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus remifer) – Generally pretty shy, this one also occurs at higher elevations than the similar Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (they do overlap some).
HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO (Dicrurus hottentottus) – A lot of books still call this one the Spangled Drongo, from which it is now split.
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus) – Great views of several on the lower road at Kaeng Krachan NP.
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
MALAYSIAN PIED-FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica) – Called Pied Fantail in the guides, this one is also now split.
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis) – Fewer than usual this year. The only Rhipidura in the highlands.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea) – Often around with mixed species flocks, but we seldom got a very good look at this widespread species.
Long-tailed Shrikes were most common late in the trip. (Photo by participant Dave Harvey)
BLYTH'S PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone affinis) – A couple of brief sightings in Khao Yai NP. These paradise-flycatchers need to be scrutinized now that they've been split into three species (Amur & Blyth's, at least, are found in Thailand)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
EURASIAN JAY (WHITE-FACED) (Garrulus glandarius leucotis) – We had one of the biggest flocks of these that I've ever seen in Thailand on Doi Angkhang.
RED-BILLED BLUE-MAGPIE (Urocissa erythrorhyncha) – A little distant but still decent looks, especially in flight at Mr. T's.
COMMON GREEN-MAGPIE (Cissa chinensis) – Our looks at this one in Khao Yai were better than we typically get of this shy corvid.
RUFOUS TREEPIE (Dendrocitta vagabunda) – Distant looks in the scopes in the dry Dipterocarp forest in Doi Inthanon NP.
GRAY TREEPIE (Dendrocitta formosae) – Rather easy this year on Doi Lang and Doi Angkhang.
RACKET-TAILED TREEPIE (Crypsirina temia) – We were able to track down only one of these strange corvids this year - at the irrigation project north of Chiang Mai.
LARGE-BILLED CROW (Corvus macrorhynchos) – This bird is likely to be split up into a few species at least. The birds we saw in the south were C.m levaillantii, and the birds in the north were likely C.m. macrorhynchos.
Alaudidae (Larks)
INDOCHINESE BUSHLARK (Mirafra erythrocephala) – We never did get one of these to sit up for the group, but we all saw it in flight.
ORIENTAL SKYLARK (Alauda gulgula) – Nice looks at the reservoir near Khao Yai NP.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii) – A couple of distant birds in the scope at the irrigation project. A widespread, but highly disjunct, range.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) – Most, if not all, of the 'red-rumped' swallows in the lowlands were this species, as far as I could tell.
STRIATED SWALLOW (Cecropis striolata) – We saw this one only on Doi Angkhang and at Mr. T's.
ASIAN HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon dasypus) – Very few birds at all this year anywhere. It's usually not uncommon in the mountains of the northwest.
Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
YELLOW-BELLIED FAIRY-FANTAIL (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) – Superficially similar, but unrelated, to the Rhipidura fantails.
GRAY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER (Culicicapa ceylonensis) – Habitually returns to the same perch, which makes it easy - if you can find the perch.
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
SULTAN TIT (Melanochlora sultanea) – Nicely overhead at Kaeng Krachan NP, where we typically see this striking species.
JAPANESE TIT (Parus minor nubicolus) – Now split from Great Tit to the west and Cinereous Tit to the south.
YELLOW-CHEEKED TIT (Machlolophus spilonotus) – Always a crowd-pleaser!
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
CHESTNUT-VENTED NUTHATCH (Sitta nagaensis) – Especially common on Doi Lang and looking a bit like a miniature Giant Nuthatch.
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis) – I think our best looks may have been after our final picnic lunch on Doi Suthep.
GIANT NUTHATCH (Sitta magna) – Recorded both days on Doi Lang and heard both days on Doi Angkhang. A tiny world range and a victim of widespread logging of pine forest within that range.
The Yellow-cheeked Tit is always a crowd-pleaser! (Photo by participant Dave Harvey)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
HUME'S TREECREEPER (Certhia manipurensis shanensis) – Excellent views of a close bird or two on Doi Inthanon.
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
CRESTED FINCHBILL (Spizixos canifrons) – That bird on Doi Lang gave us the slip, but we tracked down another on Doi Angkhang for good scope looks for all.
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps) – Seemingly scarce this year.
STRIATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus striatus) – At the highest elevations only on Doi Inthanon and on Doi Angkhang.
BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus flaviventris) – A couple of very different races were seen on this tour - P.f. johnsoni in Khao Yai with an orange throat, and birds away from there with yellow throats (maybe involving 2 or 3 other races).
RED-WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus) – This one seems to be effectively extinct in the wild in the south, due to the cagebird trade. Still found in decent numbers in the north, though.
BROWN-BREASTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) – Mostly a Chinese bird by range, this one barely gets into n.w. Thailand.
SOOTY-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus aurigaster) – All of our birds were seen in the north, so the undertail covert color was red (yellow on birds in the south).
STRIPE-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus finlaysoni) – A lovely bird if seen well.
FLAVESCENT BULBUL (Pycnonotus flavescens) – In the highlands throughout from Kaeng Krachan NP northward.
YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier) – Only in the lowlands around Bangkok. [N]
STREAK-EARED BULBUL (Pycnonotus blanfordi) – In lowland disturbed habitat throughout.
PUFF-THROATED BULBUL (Alophoixus pallidus) – This is the Alophoixus bulbul that's found at Khao Yai and then again in the forests of the northwest.
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus) – This species replaces the Puff-throated Bulbul at Kaeng Krachan and on the Peninsula southward.
Khao Yai was the only place on the tour where we saw this orange-throated race (P. f. johnsoni) of Black-crested Bulbul. (Photo by participant Dave Harvey)
GRAY-EYED BULBUL (Iole propinqua) – Like the above Alophoixus bulbuls, these two Ioles are similarly distributed, with this one in Khao Yai and the northwest and the next species in Kaeng Krachan and southward.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea)
BLACK BULBUL (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) – I think that all of our birds were black-headed birds and all were seen in the northwest.
WHITE-HEADED BULBUL (Hypsipetes thompsoni) – This is the trickiest of the bulbuls to get on this tour, but we did well with it this year. This has the most restricted world range of any of the bulbuls that we saw on this tour.
ASHY BULBUL (Hemixos flavala) – A very musical voice for a bulbul.
MOUNTAIN BULBUL (Ixos mcclellandii) – Another species found in the highlands throughout from Kaeng Krachan NP north to Doi Lang.
Pnoepygidae (Cupwings)
PYGMY CUPWING (Pnoepyga pusilla) – Very tough this year and not very vocal at all. A few lucky folks glimpsed it on Doi Angkhang.
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
SLATY-BELLIED TESIA (Tesia olivea) – Another perennially difficult species, most got a look of some sort on Doi Inthanon this year.
YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris) – Restricted to good stands of bamboo.
MOUNTAIN TAILORBIRD (Phyllergates cucullatus) – Note that this one is now in a different family from the true Orthotomus tailorbirds.
ABERRANT BUSH-WARBLER (Horornis flavolivaceus) – It took several tries, but we got everyone caught up with it on Doi Lang.
Phylloscopidae (Leaf Warblers)
DUSKY WARBLER (Phylloscopus fuscatus) – A few birds only around Rangsit and elsewhere.
BUFF-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus subaffinis) – Much more brightly colored than the other Phylloscopus warblers without wingbars on this tour.
YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER (Phylloscopus armandii) – One along the roadside on our last morning at Doi Angkhang.
RADDE'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus schwarzi) – Pretty common this year in the tangles at the edge of the road in the south. Large and more brightly colored than the similar Dusky Warbler.
BUFF-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus pulcher) – One of the more common Phylloscopus warblers on the summit of Doi Inthanon. I always get a bit of a chuckle when I see the species name of this one - 'pulcher'.
ASHY-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus maculipennis) – Widespread in the mountains to the north and east of Thailand, Doi Inthanon is the southern outpost for this one.
PALLAS'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus proregulus) – Finding this tiny warbler entails knowing the distinctive call, betraying its presence.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) – The only day we missed this one was the first full shorebird day south of Bangkok.
HUME'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus humei) – Pretty common in the mountains of the north, but you need to know the call, like so many of these Phylloscopus warblers.
ARCTIC WARBLER (Phylloscopus borealis) – One seen briefly on our final day at Khao Yai and it sounded like a typical borealis (Kamchatka Leaf Warbler and Japanese Leaf Warbler have both been split from Arctic now and they differ by voice).
GREENISH WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochiloides) – One of these foraged in the tree across the road from our picnic lunch spot on Doi Lang. Typically winters at higher elevations in Thailand than the Two-barred Warbler, which was recently split from Greenish.
TWO-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus) – Most of ours were in the low elevation forest and scrub of the south.
PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus tenellipes) [*]
SAKHALIN LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus borealoides) – This bird, which is essentially identical to the above species, is identified by voice and probably to a large extent by winter habitat away from the breeding grounds. We heard ours in the mangroves and its call is slightly lower pitched than the above. [*]
EASTERN CROWNED LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus coronatus) – A few of these in the lower camp at Kaeng Krachan while we looked for Black-and-red Broadbill.
BLYTH'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus reguloides assamensis) – Fairly common in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon with a loud Common Yellowthroat-like song.
CLAUDIA'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus claudiae) – We had a few of these migrants from China with some mixed species flocks in the south. Split from Blyth's Leaf Warbler.
DAVISON'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus davisoni) – This one's called White-tailed Leaf Warbler in the guides, but it's since been split into a few species.
Normally very difficult to observe on the wintering grounds, this Black-browed Reed-Warbler had other plans for us on our visit to Rangsit! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLER (Phylloscopus ricketti) – We saw more of these in the south than we typically see on this tour.
GRAY-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus tephrocephalus) – Glimpsed by some on Doi Inthanon. This and the next three species were once lumped with Golden-spectacled Warbler and are almost indistinguishable in the field, except by voice.
PLAIN-TAILED WARBLER (Seicercus soror) – Seen pretty well on our last morning at Khao Yai as we headed down the steps from the parking lot.
MARTENS'S WARBLER (Seicercus omeiensis) – We all got a good look at one foraging close by and in the open at the feeding station on Doi Angkhang.
BIANCHI'S WARBLER (Seicercus valentini) – Perhaps seen by some in the woods on Doi Angkhang where we saw our White-necked Laughingthrushes. [*]
CHESTNUT-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus castaniceps) – Flighty little sons-of-guns!
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
THICK-BILLED WARBLER (Iduna aedon) – There's not much to see on this big brown warbler.
BLACK-BROWED REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) – One of these sitting up and in the open at Rangsit was really unusual!
ORIENTAL REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus orientalis) – A couple of birds in the reeds at the marsh adjacent to the reservoir near Khao Yai NP.
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER (Locustella certhiola) – Some caught a glimpse of this skulker in the Rangsit marshes.
LANCEOLATED WARBLER (Locustella lanceolata) – One of my best looks ever at this extreme skulker!
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis)
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius) – A few looks, especially at the Green Peafowl spot on the last morning.
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis) – Hardly ever detected once we left Kaeng Krachan NP.
Proclaiming himself the rightful owner of the territory, this confiding Spot-breasted Parrotbill took our breath away next to the road on Doi Lang. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
HILL PRINIA (Prinia superciliaris) – Often heard, with a good look coming at the little marsh where we heard the Black-tailed Crake on Doi Inthanon.
RUFESCENT PRINIA (Prinia rufescens) – It was tough to get a good look up the hill and in bad light on Doi Lang.
GRAY-BREASTED PRINIA (Prinia hodgsonii) [*]
YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris) – Nicely in the reeds at Rangsit.
PLAIN PRINIA (Prinia inornata) – Our most widespread Prinia.
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
GRAY-HEADED PARROTBILL (Psittiparus gularis) – We had two large, fast-moving flocks this year, first on Doi Inthanon and the other on Doi Lang. It seems like they never landed in the open to give us the looks we wanted!
SPOT-BREASTED PARROTBILL (Paradoxornis guttaticollis) – This was one cooperative parrotbill! I wish they all could behave like this one!
Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies)
STRIATED YUHINA (Yuhina castaniceps) – A flock on Doi Angkhang on our last morning there.
CHESTNUT-FLANKED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops erythropleurus) – Our largest white-eye flocks of the tour were almost always this wintering species.
ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE (Zosterops palpebrosus) – Excellent looks, especially on Doi Inthanon in the pine forest as they fed on the Prunus flowers.
JAPANESE WHITE-EYE (Zosterops japonicus) – The dullest plumage of the four white-eyes that we saw on the tour, and the least common.
EVERETT'S WHITE-EYE (Zosterops everetti) – These frequented the same fruiting Macaranga tree near the upper camp in Kaeng Krachan NP on the two days that we drove up to the top of the road.
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)
CHESTNUT-CAPPED BABBLER (Timalia pileata) [*]
PIN-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Mixornis gularis) – One of the most frequently encountered babblers on the tour. Called Striped Tit-Babbler in the guides.
GOLDEN BABBLER (Cyanoderma chrysaeum) – We had a couple of close encounters with this beautiful little babbler. Vocally, this and the next are nearly identical.
RUFOUS-FRONTED BABBLER (Cyanoderma rufifrons) – Mostly in the lower stretches of Kaeng Krachan NP.
WHITE-BROWED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus schisticeps) – We enjoyed good looks of a pair carrying food to an unseen nest in Kaeng Krachan. [N]
LARGE SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos) – A shy bird that barely stopped long enough to get a look at it!
RUSTY-CHEEKED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys) – A close pair along the road on Doi Lang were more cooperative than usual for this shy species.
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps) – Glimpsed by some at the upper checkpoint in Doi Inthanon NP.
SPOT-NECKED BABBLER (Stachyris striolata) – These were very responsive in Kaeng Krachan, but they sure did their best to stay hidden from us.
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
COLLARED BABBLER (Gampsorhynchus torquatus) – One particularly good look at a flock at our picnic lunch spot high in Kaeng Krachan NP. Now split from the similar White-hooded Babbler to the north and west.
RUFOUS-WINGED FULVETTA (Schoeniparus castaneceps) – Seen well on our first visit to the summit bog on Doi Inthanon. These acted much like nuthatches or treecreepers as they worked the heavier limbs and trunks in the bog.
PUFF-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps) – Nicely on our final morning in Khao Yai.
SPOT-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum albiventre) – One of the most difficult of all of the babblers to lay eyes on, we finally found the right hole in the roadside vegetation on Doi Angkhang.
BUFF-BREASTED BABBLER (Pellorneum tickelli) – Most folks got some sort of a look at this shy, plain babbler next to the road in Kaeng Krachan.
EYEBROWED WREN-BABBLER (Napothera epilepidota) – Of our three wren-babblers on the tour, this was, by far, the most difficult to see well.
ABBOTT'S BABBLER (Turdinus abbotti) – Particularly nice looks next to the trail on our final morning at Khao Yai NP.
Shunning the limestone outcrops for the bushes, this curious Limestone Wren-Babbler checks us out after our picnic lunch near Khao Yai. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LIMESTONE WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus crispifrons calcicola) – Nicely just a few steps from our first of many picnic lunches on the tour.
STREAKED WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus brevicaudatus) – Good views at the feeding station on Doi Angkhang on our first afternoon visit there.
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
BROWN-CHEEKED FULVETTA (Alcippe poioicephala) – Certainly a common voice at Kaeng Krachan NP., but we saw very few, as usual.
YUNNAN FULVETTA (Alcippe fratercula) – Now split from the Gray-cheeked Fulvetta
HIMALAYAN CUTIA (Cutia nipalensis) – Heard distantly at Doi Lang. [*]
WHITE-CRESTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax leucolophus) – We found a few noisy flocks of this striking species in Khao Yai NP.
LESSER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax monileger) – A few folks probably got a decent view of this skulker with the above White-cresteds, but we never really got a great group encounter with it.
WHITE-NECKED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax strepitans) – We don't always get great looks at this shy species, but we did OK this year with it on Doi Angkhang.
SPOT-BREASTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax merulinus) [*]
GREATER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla pectoralis) – A couple of flybys only along the road in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLACK-THROATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla chinensis) – Ah, if only all laughingthrushes could behave like this one! Great views of a close pair at the upper checkpoint in Khao Yai NP on our first morning there.
WHITE-BROWED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla sannio) – Nicely on both Doi Lang and on Doi Angkhang.
SILVER-EARED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Trochalopteron melanostigma) – These birds have become entirely acclimated to humans at the summit of Doi Inthanon. This one is now split from the Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush.
BLACK-BACKED SIBIA (Heterophasia melanoleuca) – The song of this one is always in the background once you get to the mountains of the northwest. Called Dark-backed Sibia in the guide - a better name since it has a dark brown back, not a black back!
I've yet to find an easier laughingthrush to see than the Silver-eared Laughingthrushes on the summit of Doi Inthanon! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LONG-TAILED SIBIA (Heterophasia picaoides) – A rather lucky find along the Doi Lang road this year. A very local bird in Thailand.
SILVER-EARED MESIA (Leiothrix argentauris) [*]
RUFOUS-BACKED SIBIA (Minla annectens) – Great views on both Doi INthanon and on Doi Lang. Note that this one is now in the genus Minla and not Heterophasia like the other sibias (shouldn't it be called Rufous-backed Minla?).
SCARLET-FACED LIOCICHLA (Liocichla ripponi) – Good looks above the road at Doi Angkhang. Called Red-faced Liocichla in the field guide, this one has since been split into two very similar species.
SPECTACLED BARWING (Actinodura ramsayi) – This elegant species was seen well on Doi Inthanon.
BLUE-WINGED MINLA (Actinodura cyanouroptera) – A few fine looks, mostly on Doi Lang. Note that this and the next were moved from the genus Minla and placed in the genus Actinodura (the barwings).
CHESTNUT-TAILED MINLA (Actinodura strigula) – Like the Silver-eared Laughingthrushes, these birds are completely tolerant of humans atop Doi Inthanon.
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella) – Once we left Kaeng Krachan NP, we hardly ever saw this one again.
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa sibirica) – Also called the Siberian Flycatcher, it's a fairly common winterer in Kaeng Krachan NP.
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa latirostris) – Wintering here from n.e. Asia. Note that the species name for this one has changed from dauurica to latirostris.
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis) – Common and widespread, especially in towns and cities, where it thrives.
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (Copsychus malabaricus) – Some of you may have seen this one in Hawaii, but this one in Thailand counts!
WHITE-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Anthipes monileger) – Lovely looks at this shy species at one of the photographer clearings on Doi Lang.
RUFOUS-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Anthipes solitaris) – A close relative of the above species, this one always produces a headache or two in Kaeng Krachan.
I'd have to say that this may have been the easiest male Ultramarine Flycatcher in the world to see (so long as you've got treats)! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
HAINAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis hainanus) – A female for some folks at Kaeng Krachan NP. Oddly, no males this year at Khao Yai.
PALE BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis unicolor) [*]
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (CHINESE) (Cyornis rubeculoides glaucicomans) – This distinctive race of Blue-throated Flycatcher is a pretty common wintering species at Kaeng Krachan. Like most species of Cyornis flycatchers, it can be a bear to see well.
HILL BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis banyumas) – Our only Cyornis that produced multiple good looks throughout the tour.
TICKELL'S BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis tickelliae) – After some work, we all finally nailed this widespread species in the bamboo near Chiang Mai.
LARGE NILTAVA (Niltava grandis) – The largest of this distinctive genus.
SMALL NILTAVA (Niltava macgrigoriae) – Almost a carbon-copy of the above Large Niltava – only in miniature.
RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA (Niltava sundara) – Best at the feeding station in the Royal Project on Doi Angkhang. Of the three rufous and blue niltavas in Thailand, this is easily the most 'vivid'.
VERDITER FLYCATCHER (Eumyias thalassinus) – Never numerous, but we did see this one most often at Kaeng Krachan NP.
LESSER SHORTWING (Brachypteryx leucophrys) – Maybe glimpsed by some on Doi Angkhang. [*]
WHITE-BROWED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx montana) – The female at our picnic lunch spot on Doi Inthanon near the upper gate was about as confiding as they come!
SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora cyane) – That confiding male in Khao Yai on our last morning there was really something! Good looks at a female at the feeding station on Doi Inthanon, too.
WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART (Luscinia phaenicuroides) – Up until a few years ago, you almost never saw this skulking species in Thailand, even though it's not an uncommon wintering bird in the mountains of the northwest. Those photographer feeding stations are certainly worth something if you can get a great look at this (and others), like we did on Doi Lang.
BLUETHROAT (Luscinia svecica) – One of the bonus birds at our eagle spot near Doi Lo after we left Inthanon.
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (BLACK-BILLED) (Myophonus caeruleus caeruleus) – This black-billed wintering subspecies has a different call than the resident yellow-billed birds. Watch for a split...
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (YELLOW-BILLED) (Myophonus caeruleus eugenei) – You can count on this one at nearly every waterfall in the country. Really gorgeous if seen well!
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (Enicurus leschenaulti) – A few folks glimpsed this shy species along the stream at Doi Inthanon NP, but it wouldn't come back for another look.
BLACK-BACKED FORKTAIL (Enicurus immaculatus) – Reliable at that bridge at the loweer end of the park - but it never seems to stick around for long.
SLATY-BACKED FORKTAIL (Enicurus schistaceus) – Usually our most widespread and most easily seen forktail on this tour, we really struggled to get anyone on this one at Doi Inthanon NP.
SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT (Calliope calliope) – A very cooperative adult male on Doi Lang was a real treat!
WHITE-TAILED ROBIN (Cinclidium leucurum) – Reliably seen at the feeding station on Doi Angkhang. We rarely see this one away from there!
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (Tarsiger cyanurus) – This was the bird that we saw in the bog atop Doi Inthanon. A.k.a. – Orange-flanked Bush-Robin.
HIMALAYAN BLUETAIL (Tarsiger rufilatus) – A female-plumaged bird at one of the little photography clearings next to the road on Doi Lang was i.d.'ed as this species by Uthai. A relatively recent split from the above Red-flanked Bluetail.
MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER (Ficedula mugimaki) – A single female was glimpsed by some in the fruiting Macaranga tree in Kaeng Krachan NP near the upper camp.
SLATY-BACKED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula sordida) – I've never seen more individuals of this species - maybe combined over 20 years of Thailand tour - than I saw this year on Doi Inthanon. The female that we saw in Kaeng Krachan was a real rarity that far south.
SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula tricolor) – Unlike most of the other flycatchers seen on this tour, this one is an extreme skulker, so we were lucky to see a couple of females so well on Doi Lang.
SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hyperythra) – We saw more than I usually encounter on this tour this year. These Himalayan birds are likely to be split from the birds found in the highlands of the Greater Sundas.
RUFOUS-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula strophiata) – Several of these this year marks it as one of the best years ever for this species.
'River Chat' is such a better name for this one! This was one of several White-capped Redstarts that we found in the north at the many mountain streams there. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SAPPHIRE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula sapphira) – It was an excellent year for wintering flycatchers in the mountains of Thailand this year, including this handsome species. The lone female that we saw at Kaeng Krachan NP was the furthest south that Uthai or I had ever seen.
LITTLE PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula westermanni) – Remarkably, this normally common species was unseen by the group until we got to Doi Lang.
ULTRAMARINE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula superciliaris) – It doesn't get much better than the male we saw at close range on Doi Lang! The female that we found in the fruiting Macaranga tree in Kaeng Krachan NP was quite far south for this wintering species.
TAIGA FLYCATCHER (Ficedula albicilla) – A.k.a. - Red-breasted Flycatcher. Common as a winterer in all of the disturbed habitats.
PLUMBEOUS REDSTART (Phoenicurus fuliginosus) – A couple of birds at some of the rushing streams that we visited in Doi Inthanon NP.
WHITE-CAPPED REDSTART (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) – This animated species gave us some good views at Doi Inthanon NP. I like the old name of 'River Chat' better!
DAURIAN REDSTART (Phoenicurus auroreus) – A female near the Doi Inthanon summit, then a lovely adult male again at the Myanmar border military post on Doi Angkhang.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola rufiventris) – On Doi Angkhang only this year.
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius) – A couple of female-plumaged birds that we couldn't assign to subspecies in Khao Yai and at Angkhang.
SIBERIAN STONECHAT (PRZEWALKSI'S) (Saxicola maurus przewalskii) – This was the very colorful male that we saw at the end of the road on Doi Lang, which breeds locally.
SIBERIAN STONECHAT (STEJNEGER'S) (Saxicola maurus stejnegeri) – All of the other Siberian Stonechats that we saw on this tour were this Chinese breeding race.
PIED BUSHCHAT (Saxicola caprata) – We were unsure why it was called 'Pied" until it flew.
GRAY BUSHCHAT (Saxicola ferreus) – Quite common along the roadsides on both Doi Lang and Doi Angkhang.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH (Geokichla citrina) – A couple of birds gave us a look behind the restrooms at the campground in Khao Yai NP.
Another fabulous home cooked picnic lunch, prepared for us on the spot by Wat and crew, on Doi Inthanon. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BLACK-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus dissimilis) – Point-blank views of a couple of birds at the Doi Angkhang feeding station.
CHESTNUT THRUSH (Turdus rubrocanus) – Glimpsed by a few folks before it disappeared for good in the Doi Inthanon summit bog.
GRAY-SIDED THRUSH (Turdus feae) – We had a couple of great looks at this scarce and local specialty on Doi Inthanon and Doi Lang.
EYEBROWED THRUSH (Turdus obscurus) – This one was widespread, but we saw very few at each spot. This wasn't a particularly good thrush winter in Thailand.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) [*]
BLACK-COLLARED STARLING (Gracupica nigricollis) – Mostly around Chiang Mai this year.
ASIAN PIED STARLING (Gracupica contra) – Never very far from the rice paddies.
WHITE-SHOULDERED STARLING (Sturnia sinensis) – They were a long way away, but there was now doubt in the scope. The numbers that winter here vary yearly.
CHESTNUT-TAILED STARLING (Sturnia malabarica) – Nice looks on our way back in to Chiang Mai from Doi Angkhang.
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)
GREAT MYNA (Acridotheres grandis) – A.k.a. - White-vented Myna.
SPOT-WINGED STARLING (Saroglossa spiloptera) – This very rare winterer was seen quite well in the flowering Bombax tree just north of Chiang Mai on our last full afternoon of birding.
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati) – A cooperative male sat up nicely for us and sang at the overlook near the upper camp in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLUE-WINGED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) – The most widespread of our four species of leafbirds on the main tour.
GOLDEN-FRONTED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis aurifrons) – That flowering Erythrina near Inthanon Nest was absolutely loaded with these!
ORANGE-BELLIED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis hardwickii) – Several fine looks at this ornate leafbird. This one occurs higher than the others.
Kaeng Krachan NP is a wonderful place for a variety of broadbills. This colorful and very photogenic Black-and-yellow Broadbill seems to be the most likely to be seen of the seven species here. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
YELLOW-VENTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum chrysorrheum) – That vent looks more orange than yellow to me.
YELLOW-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum melanoxanthum) – We had unprecedented numbers of this normally scarce flowerpecker atop Doi Inthanon. I wonder if the local population simply had a good year, or if most of these birds were wintering here from farther north and east?
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus ignipectus) – This was the race - with the fire breast - that we saw once we left Khao Yai.
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus cambodianum) – Sometimes split and called Buff-bellied Flowerpecker.
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum) – A common garden bird at our hotel in Bangkok.
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis) – Never common, but it's rather easily seen in both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NP.
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis) – Mostly found in towns and disturbed habitats, like the gardens of our Bangkok hotel.
VAN HASSELT'S SUNBIRD (Leptocoma brasiliana) – Now split from the endemic Philippine bird, which maintains the Purple-throated Sunbird name.
PURPLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris asiaticus) – In good light, you can actually see some color on this one.
OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris jugularis) – One of the most widespread of the many sunbirds in Thailand.
BLACK-THROATED SUNBIRD (Aethopyga saturata) – Throughout the foothills and mountains countrywide, but it lacks the vibrant colors of its closest relatives.
GOULD'S SUNBIRD (Aethopyga gouldiae) – Many outstanding males once we arrived in the mountains of the northwest.
GREEN-TAILED SUNBIRD (DOI INTHANON) (Aethopyga nipalensis angkanensis) – This gorgeous endemic race was only seen on the summit of Doi Inthanon.
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja) – A few fine males presented themselves to the group at Kaeng Krachan NP.
A panoramic view of Doi Inthanon from the Royal residence across the valley. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra) – Curiously undetected in most places we went in Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NP. [*]
STREAKED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera magna) – Throughout the mountainous western border region of the country.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla tschutschensis) – A few around Bangkok and the coast only.
CITRINE WAGTAIL (Motacilla citreola) – Never a common bird in Thailand, in my experience, but we always seem to find a couple of birds for good looks. Our best were at the lake on our way to Khao Yai.
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea) – Generally not out in the fields with the other wagtails, this one is often wintering along road edges in the mountains and along streams.
WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba) – We had a couple of races on the tour, with the black-backed Chinese-breeding leucopsis being the most common. We had a couple of gray-backed ocularis at the irrigation project north of Chiang Mai.
RICHARD'S PIPIT (Anthus richardi) – Larger and with more of a 'pot-bellied' look than the similar Paddyfield Pipit.
PADDYFIELD PIPIT (Anthus rufulus) – A.k.a - Oriental Pipit.
OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT (Anthus hodgsoni) – It's not unusual at all to see this one flush into the trees (it was called the Olive Tree-Pipit at one time).
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
COMMON ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus erythrinus) – Good views in the scope near the dump on Doi Angkhang. This bird was more scarce than usual this year on the tour.
BLACK-HEADED GREENFINCH (Chloris ambigua) [*]
SPOT-WINGED GROSBEAK (Mycerobas melanozanthos) [*]
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus indicus) – Nearly everywhere now in the Bangkok area. A recent colonizer from the west.
PLAIN-BACKED SPARROW (Passer flaveolus) – Pretty for a Passer.
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus)
Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies)
BAYA WEAVER (Ploceus philippinus) – A few only in the Rangsit area.
ASIAN GOLDEN WEAVER (Ploceus hypoxanthus) – At least one of these obliged us in the Rangsit marsh. None of the weavers are very pretty at this season here.
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
RED AVADAVAT (Amandava amandava) – Nicely seen next to the road on our final morning near Chiang Mai.
SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA (Lonchura punctulata) – Nutmeg Mannikin is an older name for this one.
CHESTNUT MUNIA (Lonchura atricapilla) – Maryann spotted a couple of these perched across the pond near Laem Phak Bia as we headed to Kaeng Krachan from Khao Yai.
MAMMALS
WRINKLE-LIPPED FREE-TAILED BAT (Chaerephon plicatus) – 100,000's emerging from the cave near Khao Yai was quite a sight!
NORTHERN TREESHREW (Tupaia berlangeri) – One of these shy mammals came in to the feeding station on Doi Angkhang, giving all a great look!
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis) – A.k.a - Long-tailed Macaque. These must be quite a nuisance if you happen to live in that neighborhood in Phetchaburi!
PIGTAIL MACAQUE (Macaca nemestrina) – If you're a camper in Khao Yai, you'll learn to hate these primates.
BANDED LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis melalophos) – This local langur really suffered a serious population decline in Kaeng Krachan NP in the past fifteen years, but they seem to be rebounding.
DUSKY LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis obscura) – We saw fewer of these langurs than I usually see on this tour at Kaeng Krachan.
PILEATED GIBBON (Hylobates pileatus) [*]
WHITE-HANDED GIBBON (Hylobates lar) – Seen - and heard - well at both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLACK GIANT SQUIRREL (Ratufa bicolor) – I'm sure glad that I don't have these at my bird feeders in my yard!
MOUNTAIN RED-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus flavimanus) – A couple of these were seen in the mountains of the northwest.
FINLAYSON'S SQUIRREL (Callosciurus finlaysoni) – A.k.a. - Variable Squirrel.
GRAY-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus caniceps) – This one has a wide variety of pelages, but they always have a black tip to the tail.
HIMALAYAN STRIPED SQUIRREL (Tamiops macclellandi) – The 'chipmunk' that we saw so commonly throughout.
ASIAN RED-CHEEKED SQUIRREL (Dremomys rufigenis) [*]
YELLOW-THROATED MARTEN (Martes flavigula) – At Kaeng Krachan NP for some of us.
INDIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus) – I don't think I've ever had this as a 'heard only'! [*]
MUNTJAC (BARKING DEER) (Muntiacus muntjak) – Numbers of both this and the much larger Sambar appeared to be down this year in Khao Yai NP.
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 472 bird taxa and 18 mammal taxa