Asia is an exciting and diverse region for birding, offering an impressive range of habitats--from Himalayan peaks and tropical rainforests to vast wetlands and volcanic islands. Asia is home to more than 3,400 bird species, many found nowhere else. At Field Guides we offer tours to more than a dozen Asian countries across the seasons. Continue reading our overview of all Asia tours or click an image below for a specific destination.
Asia Birding Destinations
Asia Overview & Highlights
Our itineraries range from Uzbekistan in the far west to Japan in the far east.
A visit to Central Asia in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan) features an enticing mix of localized resident species and northbound migrants among the vast steppes, dramatic mountains, and ancient deserts of Central Asia. This is a unique crossroads for Eurasian and Himalayan bird life, and along our route lie the famed Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.
The ancient forests of Thailand feature some of the most diverse and exciting birding in Southeast Asia as we visit a series of national parks in the northern and southern reaches of the country, with our birding ranging from sea level to 8000 feet. Attractions include everything from Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Siamese Fireback to Hume's Pheasant and much more. And need we mention the fabulous Thai food?
A trip to Borneo highlights rainforest birding and brings you to dazzling pittas, hornbills, and the elusive Great Argus, as well as some marvelous oddities of the animal world (think Bornean Bristlehead among the birds, Proboscis Monkey among the mammals).
A visit to Cambodia features a focus on large, rare Asian waterbirds now extinct in neighboring countries (in particular vultures and ibises), but there are numerous additional regional specialties, and a trip highlight is the chance to explore world-famous Angkor Wat.
Vietnam has a rich but poorly known avifauna with a good number of endemic, near-endemic, and highly threatened birds. By visiting several fine reserves and national parks both in the north and south of the country, we have a chance to see some of Southeast Asia's rarest birds and mammals.
You can marvel at the beauty and richness of spring birding in Japan on an itinerary that spans from Hokkaido in the far north of the island chain to Okinawa in the far south. Or go there “off” season for magnificent winter spectacles including dancing cranes and immense Steller’s Sea-Eagles.
Our spring itinerary to Taiwan offers a chance to see its 30 endemic birds. The birding is productive and the scenery lovely (we range from sea level to mid- and high-elevation forests), and among the many attractions are the magnificent Swinhoe's and Mikado pheasants. Seeing most or all of the island's specialties on a single trip is doable in this relatively small compass.
India is a key birding destination in Asia, and there are two important regions that we cover on separate itineraries: the "classic" northern route, hitting key hotspots such as Ranthambhore, Corbett, Bharatpur, and Nainital, and a trip to the southwestern reaches of the subcontinent focused on the avian specialties of the Western Ghats mountains.
Just offshore to the south of India lies Sri Lanka, island home to its own suite of more than 30 endemic birds.
To the north of India, one option is a visit to magical Bhutan. This small country nestled in the Himalaya offers a fantastic combination of great birding (Ward's Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, and many more attractions), distinctive culture, and spectacular spring rhododendron blooms.
China also beckons as a rich destination for birding. Here, there are two primary routes: Sichuan Province in the south-central part of the country, and Yunnan Province nestled in the south and abutting Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. Sichuan highlights include fabulous pheasants and numerous other specialties, some spectacular scenery, and must-see mammals such as Red Panda. Yunnan, which returns to our schedule in 2027, is a bird-rich region with a wealth of laughingthrushes, bulbuls, parrotbills, and eastern Himalayan specialties, not to mention the lovely Red-headed Trogon.
Last but not least, consider the wilds of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and steppes, where the attractions are many, from Mongolian Ground-Jay and Azure Tit to Saker Falcon and much more.
There is so much to choose from in Asia--start planning your next birding adventure!
Photo credit: Our thanks to participant Becky Hansen for the fabulous image at the top of this page of a Steller's Sea-Eagle in Japan.
We offer many tours to AUSTRALASIA and other parts of the world, too!