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Silver-eared Mesia: not rare, but what an amazing bird! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
This may have been the chilliest Thailand tour I've ever guided! We never did experience the heat and humidity that is the norm in Bangkok and along the coast to the south, and most mornings everywhere we went this year had many folks wearing a fleece or light jacket. Doi Inthanon was downright cold at the summit, and there were scores of locals there excitedly photographing the frost on the ground! The cold didn't seem to adversely affect bird activity or abundance, and we came away from this one with quite a list of goodies after our three-week adventure came to a close.
We started the trip with an almost clean sweep of the shorebirds south of Bangkok, including a wonderful study of at least one vanishing Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Pak Thale after much searching. It would take us another try to find one of the world's other ultra-rare shorebirds, Nordmann's Greenshank, but we came away with great looks at a flock of nineteen at Laem Phak Bia on our way to Kaeng Krachan NP from Khao Yai. In my experience, there's no better place on the planet to view such a staggering variety and number of wintering shorebirds!
Our first forest venues, Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan national parks, treated us very well indeed this year, with the former producing prizes like Siamese Fireback, Silver Pheasant, Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo, Banded Kingfisher, Great and Wreathed hornbills, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Banded Broadbill, and so many others. And while Kaeng Krachan produced a number of these same species, we were treated to many more birds that are mostly Sundaic in distribution. Who can forget that incredible Crested Jay or the close group of local Ratchet-tailed Treepies? Or the gaudy Black-and-red Broadbills or Crimson-winged Woodpecker? We left the south with well over 300 species under our belts -- a fine introduction to the fabulous birds of this rich region!
But the birding variety didn't diminish at all once we got to the north. Our venues at Doi Inthanon, Doi Lang, and at Doi Angkhang yielded a wealth of new babblers, warblers, flycatchers, and more during our final nine days of birding on this wonderful tour. Highlights were too numerous to mention here, with many of our birds seen at exceptionally close range! I can still picture the Silver-eared Laughingthrushes, the Ultramarine Flycatcher, the Himalayan Bluetail, the Golden Bush-Robin, the... well, I could go on! And finishing up with a cooperative Green Peafowl on the final morning was a great way to end it!
This tour wouldn't have been half as enjoyable without the high service provided by Wat and his crew of drivers and cooks. I've worked with Wat for many years now, and I've never had another ground agent like him anywhere. He's the best! And we certainly couldn't have done this trip without the expertise and good company of my co-leader, Uthai Treesucon. Our thanks to him and to all of the other gracious Thais that made this trip truly memorable. And thanks, too, to all of you for joining us on this great trip! I hope to see you soon on another birding adventure elsewhere in this diverse world!
--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
BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
Aren't laughinthrushes tough to see well? Not this Silver-eared on our tour...fantastic views! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE (Nettapus coromandelianus) – Up to this point in Thailand, I'd only seen a handful of these distinctive, tiny geese. Seeing 100+ south of Bangkok on our way to Kaeng Krachan NP was a real thrill!
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
RUFOUS-THROATED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila rufogularis) – It took a little patience and a couple of tries before we all came away with a look at this shy partridge atop Doi Inthanon.
BAR-BACKED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila brunneopectus) [*]
SCALY-BREASTED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila chloropus) [*]
FERRUGINOUS PARTRIDGE (Caloperdix oculeus) [*]
MOUNTAIN BAMBOO-PARTRIDGE (Bambusicola fytchii) – The road up to Doi Lang was the place to see this partridge. Great looks!
RED JUNGLEFOWL (Gallus gallus) – Not many wild birds this year, but that close female at Kaeng Krachan was very cooperative!
KALIJ PHEASANT (Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni) – Sometimes you just get lucky! Great views of an adult male accompanied by a few females on the road up to the upper camp at Kaeng Krachan. The Robson guide lumps this one with Silver Pheasant, but the definitive paper aligning this bird with the Kalij Pheasant to the west came out a few years ago, after the publication of Robson's guide.
SILVER PHEASANT (Lophura nycthemera) – YESSSS!!!!! What a thrill it was to watch these beautiful birds forage at close range at Khao Yai NP!
SIAMESE FIREBACK (Lophura diardi) – Just like clockwork every morning late afternoon that we drove by at Khao Yai NP. Thailand's national bird.
HUME'S PHEASANT (Syrmaticus humiae) – It was a quick look at that adult male up on Doi Lang, but just good enough.
GRAY PEACOCK-PHEASANT (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) [*]
GREEN PEAFOWL (Pavo muticus) – No males this year, but at least one female gave us some great views in the scopes east of Chiang Mai.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
Yellow Bittern (Photo by participant George Sims)
Ciconiidae (Storks)
ASIAN OPENBILL (Anastomus oscitans) – A regular in the agriculture around Bangkok.
PAINTED STORK (Mycteria leucocephala) – We had multiple sightings of this normally rare species, with Steve spotting our first birds on the first afternoon in Bangkok. The largest numbers were down near Phetchaburi. [b]
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
INDIAN CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) – We had good comparisons with the next species in flight late in the afternoon near Laem Phak Bia.
LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger) – The common cormorant throughout much of Thailand.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
YELLOW BITTERN (Ixobrychus sinensis) – Not many this year, but we did have a couple of great looks early on in the tour.
CINNAMON BITTERN (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) – Good looks in flight, if you happened to be looking in the right direction on that first afternoon.
BLACK BITTERN (Ixobrychus flavicollis) – Another one of those birds early on in the tour that was seen well in flight if you were looking the right way at the right time.
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea) – The Old World counterpart of our Great Blue Heron. [b]
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea) – Much darker overall than the above species.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia) – Very similar to the above species, but the gape line doesn't extend past the eye on this one (it does on Great). [b]
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) – The Old World counterpart of our Snowy Egret.
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – The Europeans and the Australians already split this one from the Cattle Egrets west of western India, and call it Eastern Cattle-Egret (B. coromandus). All of the birds in N. America are "Western" Cattle Egrets since their origin was in west Africa. I'm not sure of the origin of the birds that show up in Hawaii, though.
CHINESE POND-HERON (Ardeola bacchus) – We're certain that we saw this species, at least. Some of the birds that we saw in the Bangkok area and along the coast south of there were undoubtedly Javan Pond-Heron, but we can't identify them when they're in basic (winter) plumage, which all of our birds were. [b]
The super-flashy Green-tailed Sunbird at the summit of Doi Inthanon (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus) – Shorter-tailed than our White-tailed Kite. This and the birds in Australasia and in the New World were once all lumped as one species and called Black-shouldered Kite, but they've since been (re-)split.
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus) – Often mis-identified as something much better! The small head and the tail shape help to i.d. this one.
BLACK BAZA (Aviceda leuphotes) – A couple of sightings at Kaeng Krachan NP this year. [b]
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela) – A couple of nice views in flight and perched. This is always the most common large raptor on this tour.
RUFOUS-WINGED BUZZARD (Butastur liventer) – Our first bird at Khao Yai was about as far south as I've ever seen it in the country.
GRAY-FACED BUZZARD (Butastur indicus) – One of these was hanging around the bat cave near Khao Yai, hoping for an easy meal at dusk when the hoards of Wrinkle-lipped Bats emerged. [b]
EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus spilonotus) – We had a couple of nice adult males near Phetchaburi this year. [b]
PIED HARRIER (Circus melanoleucos) – A single dark immature bird was spotted over the field near Phetchaburi. Noticeably smaller than the nearby Eastern Marsh-Harrier. [b]
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus) – Several birds, including a displaying bird or two.
SHIKRA (Accipiter badius) – Very often the most common of the Accipiters on this tour.
JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter gularis) – The very small Accipiter at the bat cave near Khao Yai and the soaring bird at the headquarters at Kaeng Krachan NP were the only two that I felt comfortable identifying this tour. [b]
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans) – A few south of Bangkok. [b]
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus) – Usually near water on this tour.
GRAY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) – Luddy spotted this bird over the parking lot at the end of the road in Kaeng Krachan, with only a couple of others getting on it. There's apparently a pair with a territory on the stream at the bottom of the valley near here, but it's the first time I've seen it here.
Our close pair of Collared Falconets at Doi Inthanon (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – The most common and widespread rallid on the tour this year.
BLACK-TAILED CRAKE (Amaurornis bicolor) – Once a near-mythical species, it's pretty easy to see now at Doi Inthanon.
RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE (Porzana fusca) – Certainly heard by all, but see by only a lucky few this year.
WATERCOCK (Gallicrex cinerea) – You had to be looking in the right direction when this one flew up from the marsh near Rangsit. They're likely all over the marshes here, but they're tough to see during the winter months.
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (BLACK-BACKED) (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis) – These tropical Asian birds are split by some as Gray-headed Swamphen (P. poliocephalus).
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) – Split from our familiar Common Gallinule, so likely a lifer for some of you.
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
INDIAN THICK-KNEE (Burhinus indicus) – This one is called the Eurasian Thick-knee in the guide, but it's since been split into two species. Ours is the eastern form. Good flyby looks on our final morning at Kaeng Krachan.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) – One of the most common birds out in the salt pans south of Bangkok.
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) – We found a huge flock of these (the largest flock I've ever seen here) on our late afternoon visit to Laem Phak Bia on our way to Kaeng Krachan. [b]
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola) – Grey Plover in the guide. [b]
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva) [b]
GRAY-HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus cinereus) – Our biggest flock of these was a group of 42 north of Chiang Mai. [b]
RED-WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus atronuchalis) – There's been a little talk about splitting this eastern subspecies from the Indian birds, but I'm not sure where the discussion stands.
LESSER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius mongolus) – I think that most of the birds that winter here in Thailand are from the Tibetan breeding populations (the atrifrons subspecies group), but the Siberian bird (the old "Mongolian Plover") also winters here. There's been talk of splitting these two groups as well, but they're impossible to i.d. in the field in winter. [b]
GREATER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius leschenaultii) – Very few this year. [b]
KENTISH PLOVER (KENTISH) (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus) – Until very recently, this was lumped with our own Snowy Plover. [b]
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius) – Thailand gets birds wintering here from the northern Palearctic, and it also has a breeding population, which we saw courting at Mae Taeng north of Chiang Mai.
Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes)
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE (Rostratula benghalensis) – We flushed a couple of birds on our final day near Chiang Mai for some decent views in flight.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) – The birds at Rangsit are usually pretty wary, so it was nice to be able to get some scope looks at them.
Large Niltava at Doi Inthanon (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos) – The Old World version of our Spotted Sandpiper. [b]
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus) – We finally picked up this one north of Chiang Mai on our way to Thaton. [b]
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus) – We had good comparisons between this and the Common Redshank near Laem Phak Bia. [b]
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) – Longer-legged than the next species and much more like our Greater Yellowlegs than the Nordmann's is. [b]
NORDMANN'S GREENSHANK (Tringa guttifer) – It took a couple of tries, but we all came away with excellent views of this super-rare shorebird near Laem Phak Bia on our way to Kaeng Krachan. Current population estimates put this one at about 1000 total individuals in the world. Also called the Spotted Greenshank. [b]
MARSH SANDPIPER (Tringa stagnatilis) – Much like a long-legged Wilson's Phalarope. [b]
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) – Sort of a cross between a Green Sandpiper and a Lesser Yellowlegs. [b]
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) – This one is easy to i.d. when it flies. [b]
WHIMBREL (SIBERIAN) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus) – I really didn't scrutinize these, but I'm assuming that they were all the Siberian variegatus subspecies. [b]
EURASIAN CURLEW (Numenius arquata) – A huge flock at the Spoon-billed Sandpiper spot. [b]
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa limosa melanuroides) – Not as many as in past years south of Bangkok. [b]
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa lapponica baueri) – This was the same race that breeds in w. Alaska. [b]
GREAT KNOT (Calidris tenuirostris) – The wintering flock here seems to be growing every year. That huge, swirling flock of shorebirds near Laem Phak Bia was made up almost entirely of this species. [b]
RED KNOT (Calidris canutus) – Just a couple of birds mixed in with the huge flock of Great Knots. [b]
RUFF (Calidris pugnax) – A couple of female birds (Reeves) in the scope for most on our second visit to Laem Phak Bia. [b]
BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris falcinellus) – This was a particularly good year for this species at the salt pans s. of Bangkok. [b]
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea) – Much like our Dunlin, but much longer-legged. [b]
TEMMINCK'S STINT (Calidris temminckii) – It took a few tries before we got everybody on this drab little stint. [b]
LONG-TOED STINT (Calidris subminuta) – The Old World version of our own Least Sandpiper. [b]
A beautiful adult male White-throated Rock-Thrush at Khao Yai (Photo by participant George Sims)
RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis) – This is the most common wintering stint in the region. [b]
SANDERLING (Calidris alba) [b]
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina) – Three or four of these were mixed in with the throngs of shorebirds south of Bangkok. Quite a rare bird here. [b]
ASIAN DOWITCHER (Limnodromus semipalmatus) – Not quite as rare as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper or the Nordmann's Greenshanks, our single bird was a great find nonetheless! [b]
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago) – Now split from our Wilson's Snipe in N. America. [b]
PIN-TAILED SNIPE (Gallinago stenura) – This was the last of our 41 species of shorebirds seen on this tour! Incredible diversity! [b]
EURASIAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola) – We all had super views of a feeding bird in the Doi Inthanon summit bog.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BROWN-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) – The 'default' gull along the coast south of Bangkok. [b]
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons) – The Old World version of our Least Tern.
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica) [b]
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia) [b]
WHITE-WINGED TERN (Chlidonias leucopterus) – Just one flyby was all that we could muster this year. [b]
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida) – By far, this is the most common and widespread of the terns on this tour. [b]
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo) [b]
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPECKLED WOOD-PIGEON (Columba hodgsonii) – That one spot on the Doi Inthanon road is very reliable for this species.
ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia orientalis) – For some on Doi Lang, where we usually see this species.
Vinous-breasted Starling at Kaeng Krachan (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis) – Almost daily.
BARRED CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia unchall) [*]
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica) – As usual, we saw a number of these along the Kaeng Krachan road.
ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) – Most, if not all, of the birds north of the Isthmus are the descendants of captive birds. Called Peaceful Dove in the book.
PINK-NECKED PIGEON (Treron vernans) – I'm a little surprised that we don't see this one more often than we do in the Bangkok area.
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra) – Just a few encounters at Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan this year. Usually the most common green-pigeon on this tour.
PIN-TAILED PIGEON (Treron apicauda) – Careful scanning at the temple near Chiang Dao yielded scope views of a pair of these distinctive green-pigeons (all of the pigeons in the genus Treron used to be called 'Green-Pigeons').
WEDGE-TAILED PIGEON (Treron sphenurus) – A couple of close birds at Kaeng Krachan.
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia) – Including a very confiding bird at Kaeng Krachan building a nest right over the road.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx sparverioides) – Lynn spotted this shy bird perched in the trees next to our cabins at Kaeng Krachan one afternoon. [b]
MOUSTACHED HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx vagans) – This bird was at the northern limit of it's range in the country. [*]
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) – We sure heard a bunch of these, but only saw a couple of them over the course of the tour.
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus) – Only in the Bangkok area on the first afternoon.
ASIAN EMERALD CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx maculatus) – Really beautiful - but still a brood parasite.
VIOLET CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) [*]
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris) – Simply called the Drongo Cuckoo in the guide, this one is now split into four species, all of which look and sound very similar to one another. This one, as far as is known, is the common and expected species north of the Malay Peninsula.
ASIAN KOEL (Eudynamys scolopaceus) – Detected by voice almost every day of the tour, but we saw precious few birds. This big brood parasite specializes on mynas.
GREEN-BILLED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus tristis) – Typically the malkoha most frequently encountered on this tour, and the only one in Thailand found north of Kaeng Krachan.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) – Most folks got on this very impressive malkoha at Kaeng Krachan.
CORAL-BILLED GROUND-CUCKOO (Carpococcyx renauldi) – WOWWWWW!!!!! We came around a corner at Khao Yai when this fabulous bird was spotted on the shoulder, lingering just long enough for most to get a look before it retreated to the dense understory of the forest.
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis) – This, and the above ground-cuckoo, were the only cuckoos seen on the tour that aren't brood parasites.
Strigidae (Owls)
MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL (Otus spilocephalus) [*]
COLLARED SCOPS-OWL (Otus lettia) – Nicely for everyone on the grounds of our lodging at Kaeng Krachan.
ORIENTAL SCOPS-OWL (Otus sunia) – Great views in the spotlight in the dry forest near our lodging at Inthanon.
SPOT-BELLIED EAGLE-OWL (Bubo nipalensis) – Heard calling during the daylight at Khao Yai. [*]
COLLARED OWLET (Glaucidium brodiei) – Great looks of a close bird next to the road at Khao Yai.
ASIAN BARRED OWLET (Glaucidium cuculoides) – A couple of good looks. Heard daily at our Inthanon lodging, too.
SPOTTED OWLET (Athene brama) – We had the briefest of looks at our Inthanon lodging early one morning.
A very tame Spot-breasted Parrotbill! (Photo by participant George Sims)
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
HODGSON'S FROGMOUTH (Batrachostomus hodgsoni) – Close, but not quite. [*]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
GREAT EARED-NIGHTJAR (Lyncornis macrotis) – This one could almost be mistaken for a harrier in flight!
LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus macrurus) – Fantastic looks of a bird sitting on the road at dusk at Kaeng Krachan.
INDIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus asiaticus) – Much small than the other nightjars on this tour, our looks at Kaeng Krachan were quick, but okay.
Apodidae (Swifts)
BROWN-BACKED NEEDLETAIL (Hirundapus giganteus) – Very differently shaped compared to the other swifts that we'd seen up to that point.
HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET (Aerodramus brevirostris) – Most common in the upper elevations of Kaeng Krachan NP this year.
GERMAIN'S SWIFTLET (Aerodramus germani) – Very common in the coastal lowlands south of Bangkok. This one is a fairly recent split from the Edible-nest Swiftlet.
PACIFIC SWIFT (Apus pacificus) – Given that the field marks and the winter ranges of this and the recently split Cook's Swift have yet to be worked out, I'm calling all of our birds Pacific. Both of these are recent splits from the Fork-tailed Swift and Cook's is the only one that breeds within Thailand.
HOUSE SWIFT (Apus nipalensis) – Never very common anywhere, but we did have our best looks at Mae Taeng north of Chiang Mai.
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus balasiensis) – The most common and widespread swift on the tour.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RED-HEADED TROGON (Harpactes erythrocephalus) – After hearing a few, we all ended up with great looks along the boardwalk after enjoying our Silver Pheasants.
ORANGE-BREASTED TROGON (Harpactes oreskios) – A couple of fabulous looks at Khao Yai NP.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis) [b]
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella) – Don had this bird's number, finding both of them at Khao Yai NP. This is the species that converted Uthai into a birder about thirty years ago!
STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER (Pelargopsis capensis) – This was a good find on the first afternoon of birding in Bangkok.
WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER (Halcyon smyrnensis) – We usually see lots more of these than we did this year.
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata) – Wintering here from China. [b]
COLLARED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus chloris) – Mostly restricted to the coastal habitats on this tour.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) [*]
GREEN BEE-EATER (Merops orientalis) – An open country species seen best this year at our Inthanon lodging.
BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus) – Best on our first afternoon of birding.
CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops leschenaulti) – Numbers of these beautiful bee-eaters were way down compared to most years.
Coraciidae (Rollers)
Another of the seven species of laughingthrushes we saw: White-browed Laughingthrush at Doi Angkhang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops) – Some had nice looks on the grounds of our Kaeng Krachan lodging. The rest of us got some decent looks in flight near Doi Inthanon.
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
ORIENTAL PIED-HORNBILL (Anthracoceros albirostris) – On this tour, the hornbills are confined to the two parks in the south (Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan). This species is always the most common and widespread of the hornbills that we record there.
GREAT HORNBILL (Buceros bicornis) – This distinctive species was seen well at both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan.
RUSTY-CHEEKED HORNBILL (Anorrhinus tickelli) – They were tough at the start, but they eventually cooperated for us, giving all great looks at Kaeng Krachan. This one was split from the very similar Brown Hornbill.
WHITE-CROWNED HORNBILL (Aceros comatus) – It was quite a shock to hear this one vocalize from that spot on the road where we stopped late one afternoon in Kaeng Krachan NP. After a lot of scanning, George spotted a few distant birds sitting up, giving us decent scope views at this unmistakable bird.
WREATHED HORNBILL (Aceros undulatus) – Our timing for this one was impeccable as we watched a beautiful pair glide by the group late one afternoon at Khao Yai NP.
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
GREAT BARBET (Megalaima virens) – In the scope for most, if not all, just before we ascended the steps to the limestone temple near Chiang Dao.
LINEATED BARBET (Megalaima lineata) – A bird of dry forest here. Well seen on several occasions.
GREEN-EARED BARBET (Megalaima faiostricta) – In wetter forest than the above species.
GOLDEN-THROATED BARBET (Megalaima franklinii) – This one occurs at higher elevations than the other barbets on this tour.
BLUE-THROATED BARBET (Megalaima asiatica) – We had a particularly great look at one of these at the upper camp at Kaeng Krachan. More of a foothill species than the others.
MOUSTACHED BARBET (Megalaima incognita) – This one occurs at both Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan, but it's much easier to see at the former.
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Megalaima australis) – All of these barbets are much easier to hear than they are to see! We did have a few nice looks at this small species in the south.
COPPERSMITH BARBET (Megalaima haemacephala) – This is the common barbet of Bangkok and of all of the lowland, man-altered habitats throughout the lowlands of Thailand.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
EURASIAN WRYNECK (Jynx torquilla) – One of the first birds we saw at Rangsit before we drove on to Khao Yai. [b]
SPECKLED PICULET (Picumnus innominatus) – We had a couple of sightings of this one, but the best was on our final full day at Doi Inthanon. It's hard to believe that this bird could be in the same genus as all of our New World piculets!
WHITE-BROWED PICULET (Sasia ochracea) – This little guy went undetected until we got to Doi Lang. He responded well for some good looks next to the road.
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus) – Not quite as small as the above piculets, but pretty darned small. Used to be called the Gray-capped Pygmy-Woodpecker.
STRIPE-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos atratus) – Great views on Doi Inthanon of this pine specialist.
RUFOUS WOODPECKER (Celeus brachyurus) – We finally got a good look at this one in the lower sections of Kaeng Krachan NP. This is another one that I have trouble believing that it's the same genus as the New World Celeus woodpeckers.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus javensis) – Most folks saw this big guy fly by in the dry forest on the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon, but a few got to see it perch briefly.
LESSER YELLOWNAPE (Picus chlorolophus) [*]
CRIMSON-WINGED WOODPECKER (Picus puniceus) – A truly stunning woodpecker! Primarily a Malay/Sunda species, it gets just far enough north at Kaeng Krachan for us to have a chance.
Blue Whistling-Thrush at Doi Inthanon: note the yellow bill, marking a locally breeding bird, while the migrants have black bills. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
STREAK-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Picus viridanus) – I think a few folks got on this one at Kaeng Krachan on the Crested Jay trail.
LACED WOODPECKER (Picus vittatus) – A close relative of the above species, which it replaces north and east of Kaeng Krachan.
BLACK-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picus erythropygius) – These birds have become very difficult to track down at Doi Inthanon in recent years, but most folks got a look at a silent pair this year.
GRAY-FACED WOODPECKER (Picus canus hessei) [*]
COMMON FLAMEBACK (Dinopium javanense) – Usually in slightly drier habitats than the next species on this tour. That lower dry habitat at Kaeng Krachan is a great area for this and other woodpecker species.
GREATER FLAMEBACK (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus) – Usually the most common and widespread woodpecker species on the tour. [N]
BAMBOO WOODPECKER (Gecinulus viridis) – They never really perched in the open for us, darn it!
BAY WOODPECKER (Blythipicus pyrrhotis) – One of the shyest of the woodpeckers on this tour, but some folks got a decent look - at least in flight!
GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) – It had been years since I'd found this species at Khao Yai, so it was fabulous to find a pair there again! Some think that this, not the Magellanic Woodpecker in S. America, is the largest extant woodpecker in the world.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
COLLARED FALCONET (Microhierax caerulescens) – Steve spotted a group of these about a mile away in the dry dipterocarp forest, and we all had decent scope views - but that close pair later on was stupendous!
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) – A few of these were camped out at the bat cave near Khao Yai, hoping for an easy meal. Called Common Kestrel in the guide. [b]
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) [b]
Psittacidae (Parrots)
ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET (Psittacula eupatria) – These birds were apparently absent from this site in December, so I sure am glad they decided to come back!
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri) – This escaped pair had kicked out a nesting pair of Alexandrines and seemed to be doing quite well at the wat on our fist afternoon of birding. [I]
BLOSSOM-HEADED PARAKEET (Psittacula roseata) – Our second visit in the morning got us the looks that we wanted.
RED-BREASTED PARAKEET (Psittacula alexandri) – These were busy in the parking lot of our Khao Yai hotel eating the nectar produced by the Bombax flowers.
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis) – On some tours, you never see this one perched at all. Just quick flybys, much to the dismay of the members of the tour. We got lucky a number of times this year with some nice scope looks of perched birds.
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
BLACK-AND-RED BROADBILL (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) – The pair here is very reliable, thank goodness. It's one of the most spectacular members of a spectacular family.
White-tailed Robin (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SILVER-BREASTED BROADBILL (Serilophus lunatus) [*]
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) – Steve spotted a pair of these fly in an perch near the group on our last morning at Khao Yai. FANTASTIC!!!
BLACK-AND-YELLOW BROADBILL (Eurylaimus ochromalus) – This tiny broadbill is usually quite the show-stopper. That pair came in quietly, but they eventually gave us some stellar views in the scopes at Kaeng Krachan.
Pittidae (Pittas)
RUSTY-NAPED PITTA (Pitta oatesi) [*]
BLUE PITTA (Pitta cyanea) – Despite having multiple encounters with this skulking beauty, only a few in the group ever got a look at it. That's usually the case with this one on this tour.
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) – Another name for this one is the Flyeater.
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
LARGE WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis gularis) – I think that flyover looks was the best that we could muster from this one this year.
COMMON WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) – This one seems to be getting scarce, too, so it was good to find a few birds near our Inthanon lodging.
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus) – A common forest canopy dweller.
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
ASHY WOODSWALLOW (Artamus fuscus) – It was interesting to see these feeding among the orange Erythrina flowers at Khao Yai - a behavior that I don't think I've seen before.
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia) – In most of the disturbed habitats, including the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
GREAT IORA (Aegithina lafresnayei) – The lack of wingbars makes this one easy to i.d.
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
SMALL MINIVET (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) – That flock near our Inthanon lodging provided the best looks of the tour. This one is usually tough to come by on this itinerary. This and the Fiery Minivet are sometimes lumped as one species.
GRAY-CHINNED MINIVET (Pericrocotus solaris) – We did better with this one than we usually do, with multiple good looks throughout the tour.
SHORT-BILLED MINIVET (Pericrocotus brevirostris) – Very similar to the next species and, unlike that one, typically found in broadleaf forest adjacent to the pine habitat.
LONG-TAILED MINIVET (Pericrocotus ethologus) – Fond of the pine forests and not often far from there.
SCARLET MINIVET (Pericrocotus speciosus) – Very similar in plumage to the above two species, but that isolated orange or yellow patch on the tertials is always a good mark.
ASHY MINIVET (Pericrocotus divaricatus) – This and the next two are migrants from the north, wintering here in Thailand and points south. We had a nice mixed flock of these three on our final day of the tour at the peafowl spot. [b]
BROWN-RUMPED MINIVET (Pericrocotus cantonensis) – Sometimes called Swinhoe's Minivet. [b]
ROSY MINIVET (Pericrocotus roseus) – Including a few nice males. [b]
LARGE CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina macei) – Best in the dry dipterocarp on the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon.
Scarlet-faced Liocichla at Doi Lang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus) – Not as common as usual this year. [b]
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach) – This widespread species gets all of the way east to the mountains of New Guinea.
GRAY-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius tephronotus) – Wintering here from farther north. [b]
Vireonidae (Vireos)
BLYTH'S SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius aeralatus) – We had quite a few excellent looks at both males and females throughout the tour. Called the White-browed Shrike-Babbler in the guide.
BLACK-EARED SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius melanotis) – Of the three species of shrike-babblers on this tour, this one is typically the toughest to find. We ended up with super views of a couple of males this year.
CLICKING SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius intermedius) – Great looks along the roadside at Doi Inthanon NP. Called Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler in the guide. All of these shrike-babblers were traditionally placed with the rest of the babblers, but recent evidence points to these being vireos instead!
WHITE-BELLIED ERPORNIS (Erpornis zantholeuca) – This is another one that got moved out of the babblers. It's called the White-bellied Yuhina in the guide.
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (Oriolus chinensis) – A common wintering bird in the south, but pretty scarce in the north at this season. [b]
BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus) – I had given up on this one when we missed it in the dry dipterocarp forest that we walked inside the park. I was pleased to find multiple birds very close to our accommodations!
MAROON ORIOLE (Oriolus traillii) – Great looks at a female that was interested in the Silver Oriole recording.
Dicruridae (Drongos)
BLACK DRONGO (Dicrurus macrocercus) – The common drongo of the open lowlands and abundant agriculture.
ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus) – We saw quite a few of the white-faced migrants from China this year.
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus) – Always inside the forest in the openings of the canopy, but not found out in open country like the Black Drongo.
LESSER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus remifer) – It took until our final day of birding to find this one, but it was a super view!
HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO (Dicrurus hottentottus) – Very common in all of the nectar-producing flowering trees.
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus) – Very showy, and pretty common - a combination I like!
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
MALAYSIAN PIED-FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica) – This one was recently split from the Pied Fantails in the Philippines. It's called Pied Fantail in the guide.
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis) – We finally found a cooperative pair on Doi Angkhang.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea) – Not quite daily, but pretty widespread.
Himalayan Bluetail at Doi Lang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CRESTED JAY (Platylophus galericulatus) – Man! What a bird!! What a crest!! This is another bird that used to be more common here, so Uthai and I are really glad to have gotten it as well as we did.
EURASIAN JAY (Garrulus glandarius leucotis) – Nice views on our final morning at the peafowl spot.
RED-BILLED BLUE-MAGPIE (Urocissa erythrorhyncha) – A couple of birds at the Blossom-headed Parakeet site were a nice surprise there. Sometimes just called the Blue Magpie.
COMMON GREEN-MAGPIE (Cissa chinensis) – Unbelievably shy for a corvid! Called the Green Magpie in the guide.
RUFOUS TREEPIE (Dendrocitta vagabunda) – Excellent looks right on the grounds of our lodging.
GRAY TREEPIE (Dendrocitta formosae) – Marie may have been the only one to see this one.
RACKET-TAILED TREEPIE (Crypsirina temia) – A flighty pair at the parakeet site was our only encounter this year.
RATCHET-TAILED TREEPIE (Temnurus temnurus) – Funny how we worked so hard to get a look of a hidden bird, then it comes out into the open for all to see! Not a bad bird for #4000, Don!
LARGE-BILLED CROW (Corvus macrorhynchos) – It's unclear to me, reading the ranges of the various races of this widespread species, which race(s) we were seeing. There's a lot of talk of splitting this one, so check the ranges of the various species if it comes to pass in the Clements Checklist.
Alaudidae (Larks)
INDOCHINESE BUSHLARK (Mirafra erythrocephala) – The old Rufous-winged Bushlark was split into three a while back, and this is one of those (the easternmost of the splits).
ORIENTAL SKYLARK (Alauda gulgula) – Nice looks of a displaying bird in the rice paddy n. of Chiang Mai.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) – Called Sand Martin in the guide. [b]
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) [b]
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii) – Excellent views of perched birds and birds in flight at our picnic lunch spot.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) – Very similar to the next species, but with a paler rump, finer streaking below, and more extensive chestnut on the nape. [b]
STRIATED SWALLOW (Cecropis striolata) – We had some fine scope looks at a couple of perched birds at the parakeet site.
ASIAN HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon dasypus) – We found a couple of really big foraging flocks in the north. [b]
Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
YELLOW-BELLIED FAIRY-FANTAIL (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) – One of the cutest birds on the planet! Called Yellow-bellied Fantail in the guide.
GRAY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER (Culicicapa ceylonensis) – Recorded almost every day on this tour.
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
JAPANESE TIT (Parus minor nubicolus) – Great Tit was just very recently split into at least three species, and this is the one found throughout the mountains of n. Thailand.
YELLOW-CHEEKED TIT (Parus spilonotus) – We had a couple of very confiding individuals at Doi Inthanon.
SULTAN TIT (Melanochlora sultanea) – In the scope at Kaeng Krachan.
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
BURMESE NUTHATCH (Sitta neglecta) – It took a couple of tries at different locales, but we ended up seeing this attractive nuthatch very well in the dry forest on the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon. Called the Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch in the guide.
CHESTNUT-VENTED NUTHATCH (Sitta nagaensis) – Like a miniature version of the Giant Nuthatch!
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis) – Very different from the nuthatches that we're used to seeing back home!
Chestnut Thrush at Doi Lang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
HUME'S TREECREEPER (Certhia manipurensis shanensis) – Not the treecreeper song that we're all used to back home! This one is called Brown-throated Treecreeper in the guide (the result of another split).
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
CRESTED FINCHBILL (Spizixos canifrons) – This one was the last of our twenty species of bulbuls this year (a record for this tour)!
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps) – One of the more attractive of our many bulbuls.
STRIATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus striatus) – Only at the highest elevations on this tour.
BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus flaviventris) – Our most widespread bulbul, we had both black-throated birds and orange-throated (Khao Yai only) birds.
RED-WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus) – Wildly popular as a cagebird now in Thailand, the numbers of this normally common bulbul continue to drop.
BROWN-BREASTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) – Mostly a s.w. Chinese bird in distribution, this is a local specialty on Doi Angkhang.
SOOTY-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus aurigaster) – We had yellow-vented birds in the south (Kaeng Krachan) and red-vented birds in the north.
STRIPE-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus finlaysoni) – A couple of sightings only in the south. Never very common anywhere.
FLAVESCENT BULBUL (Pycnonotus flavescens) – One of the most common of the bulbuls in the highlands.
YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier) – This and the Streak-eared Bulbul are the common bulbuls in the flat, disturbed lowlands throughout Thailand.
STREAK-EARED BULBUL (Pycnonotus blanfordi) – About as dull as a bulbul gets.
PUFF-THROATED BULBUL (Alophoixus pallidus) – This species is replaced by the next in Kaeng Krachan.
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus) – Very similar to the Puff-throated Bulbul, this one has a more southern distribution in Thailand, occurring throughout the peninsula.
GRAY-EYED BULBUL (Iole propinqua) – Like the above Puff-throated and Ochraceous bulbuls, this is part of another very similar species pair that we encountered on the trip. This one is the bird that we found commonly at Khao Yai (and in a few places in the north), while the next was just found in Kaeng Krachan.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea) – Like the Ochraceous Bulbul, this one's distribution is primarily peninsular Thailand.
BLACK BULBUL (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) – The race that we encountered in the north was all black.
WHITE-HEADED BULBUL (Hypsipetes thompsoni) – This handsome bird has the most restricted range of any of the bulbuls that we saw, so it was a good one to get (we often miss it).
ASHY BULBUL (Hemixos flavala) – We had a couple of different races, but they both had that distinctive yellow-green patch on the wing.
MOUNTAIN BULBUL (Ixos mcclellandii) – In all of our highland venues, starting at Kaeng Krachan.
STREAKED BULBUL (Ixos malaccensis) – This was one of the surprises we found at Kaeng Krachan, where we'd seen it only once before in 18 years of tours here! More of a Malay/Sunda species that reaches its northern limit here.
Pnoepygidae (Cupwings)
PYGMY CUPWING (Pnoepyga pusilla) – What a fabulous show this little guy put on for us! Normally very difficult to see well, we had repeated great views of one that kept coming out of the understory to feed on the open ground. Called Pygmy Wren-Babbler in the book.
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
A fantastic Banded Broadbill at Khao Yai (Photo by participant George Sims)
SLATY-BELLIED TESIA (Tesia olivea) – Usually very difficult to see well, our experience with this one was par for the course.
CHESTNUT-HEADED TESIA (Cettia castaneocoronata) – Another bird that's normally very difficult to see well, we had a super encounter with this beautiful bird on Doi Lang.
YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris) – We found this bamboo specialist from Kaeng Krachan north to Doi Angkhang.
MOUNTAIN TAILORBIRD (Phyllergates cucullatus) – Another bamboo specialist, this tailorbird was removed from the Orthotomus tailorbirds and placed its own genus in the family Cettiidae (it's much more like that Yellow-bellied Warbler, for instance, than it is like a Common Tailorbird).
ABERRANT BUSH-WARBLER (Horornis flavolivaceus) – Surprisingly good looks at this difficult species on Doi Angkhang. [b]
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
DUSKY WARBLER (Phylloscopus fuscatus) – Uncharacteristically good looks at the Rangsit marsh. [b]
BUFF-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus subaffinis) – Great looks at this one at the Blue-fronted Redstart spot on Doi Lang. [b]
RADDE'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus schwarzi) – Quite similar to the above Dusky Warbler, but with a different call and a warmer plumage. [b]
BUFF-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus pulcher) – The color of the wingbars of this one range from dull buff to a rather bright orangish. Used to be called the Orange-barred Leaf-Warbler. [b]
ASHY-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus maculipennis) – The top of Doi Inthanon is the only place to see this tiny warbler in Thailand.
PALLAS'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus proregulus) – This was a particularly good year for this bird in n.w. Thailand, with multiple birds seen from Doi Inthanon north to Doi Lang. [b]
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) – Daily. Sometimes called the Inornate Warbler. [b]
HUME'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus humei) – Very similar to the above Yellow-browed, but a little duller and with a very different call note. Very fond of the pines in the winter months here. [b]
GREENISH WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochiloides) – This and the next form used to be split out as separate species (and they may be split again), but this one has a slightly different call note, has only one faint wingbar, and winters at higher elevations than the next. We finally laid eyes on one on Doi Angkhang. [b]
GREENISH WARBLER (TWO-BARRED) (Phylloscopus trochiloides plumbeitarsus) [b]
PALE-LEGGED LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus tenellipes) – One was seen by some early on at Khao Yai, but we never saw it again on the tour, hearing quite a few as we birded to the north. There's a very similar species that winters in Thailand as well, the Sakhalin Leaf-Warbler, and it doesn't appear to be separable in the field from Pale-legged in the winter months, but we've always called these bird Pale-leggeds. [b]
BLYTH'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus reguloides assamensis) – Very similar to the Davison's Leaf-Warbler, but it has a slightly different undertail pattern, a more strident song, and it seems to be less yellow overall than that species.
CLAUDIA'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus claudiae) – This is a split from the above Blyth's Leaf-Warbler that winters here from China. Pretty large for a leaf-warbler, it has the habit of creeping along larger limbs while foraging, rather like our Black-and-white Warbler, making it easier to i.d. [b]
DAVISON'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus davisoni) – Very common in all of the highland habitats of the north. Called the White-tailed Leaf-Warbler in the guide.
SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLER (Phylloscopus ricketti) – This distinctive species was a little more widespread than normal this year. Particularly interesting was the bird that we found at the Limestone Wren-Babbler spot on Day 3 (the first sighting there for Uthai and me). [b]
GRAY-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus tephrocephalus) – Heard pretty well low on Doi Inthanon, but seen by only a few. This was formerly known as the Golden-spectacled Warbler, but that one was split into six species, four (or five?) of which winter in Thailand! [b]
Black-backed Sibia (Photo by participant George Sims)
MARTENS'S WARBLER (Seicercus omeiensis) – This is another 'Golden-spectacled' Warbler that we encountered on the tour. It's not listed in the guide at all and it used to be called Omei Shan Spectacled-Warbler (glad they changed the name!). We saw this one well high in Khao Yai (the chip note of this one sounds a bit like our Wilson's Warbler). [b]
BIANCHI'S WARBLER (Seicercus valentini) – A few of us saw this one, the last of the 'Golden-spectacled' Warblers of the trip, on Doi Lang at our first lunch spot. [b]
CHESTNUT-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus castaniceps) – This one is always on the move, making it difficult to see well. Most folks saw it either on Doi Inthanon or on Doi Lang.
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
THICK-BILLED WARBLER (Iduna aedon) – Seen well, finally, near our lodging at Kaeng Krachan. [b]
BLACK-BROWED REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) – Most folks got a decent look at this one working through the cattails at Rangsit. [b]
ORIENTAL REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus orientalis) [b*]
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER (Locustella certhiola) – Seen by a few folks at the Rangsit marsh. Called Rusty-rumped Warbler in the guide. [b]
LANCEOLATED WARBLER (Locustella lanceolata) – That was about as visible as a Lanceolated Warbler gets, so consider yourself fortunate if you saw it! [b]
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis) – A few early on in the tour around Bangkok, and a few at the end on the last morning.
GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLA (Cisticola exilis) – Most got on this furtive bird in the tall grass at Khao Yai. Called Bright-headed Cisticola in the guide.
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius) – Certainly common, but not many seen by us.
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis) – Our most common tailorbird on the tour, at least by voice.
HILL PRINIA (Prinia superciliaris) – Excellent looks up in the north.
RUFESCENT PRINIA (Prinia rufescens) – This was the prinia that gave us the most trouble on this tour, but at least some folks got a look.
GRAY-BREASTED PRINIA (Prinia hodgsonii) – A couple of good looks, especially at our lodging at Kaeng Krachan.
YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris) – One of the most common birds out in the Rangsit marsh. Good looks!
PLAIN PRINIA (Prinia inornata) – Our most common and widespread prinia.
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
GRAY-HEADED PARROTBILL (Psittiparus gularis) [*]
SPOT-BREASTED PARROTBILL (Paradoxornis guttaticollis) – Man, what a look!!! These parrotbills can be very confiding, but that was a little ridiculous!
BLACK-THROATED PARROTBILL (GRAY-BREASTED) (Suthora nipalensis feae) – They didn't stick around long, but most, if not all, got a look of some sort before they disappeared into the bamboo up the hill.
Zosteropidae (Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies)
Black-breasted Thrush at Doi Angkhang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHISKERED YUHINA (Yuhina flavicollis) – After a little searching, we all finally came away with a good study of this local (in Thailand) yuhina.
CHESTNUT-FLANKED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops erythropleurus) – We usually see dozens and dozens of these migrant white-eyes on this tour, so I'm not sure where they were this year. Most got a distant scope look in the flowering tree on Doi Lang. [b]
ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE (Zosterops palpebrosus) – This was another white-eye that was missing in action, for the most part. This and the Everett's are the only white-eyes that breed in Thailand.
JAPANESE WHITE-EYE (Zosterops japonicus) – Not usually the most common and widespread white-eye on this tour, but that was the case with this migrant species this year. [b]
EVERETT'S WHITE-EYE (Zosterops everetti) – We had this one in both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NP.
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)
CHESTNUT-CAPPED BABBLER (Timalia pileata) – Flyby looks were all that most folks got of this one.
PIN-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Mixornis gularis) – Maybe the most widespread 'babbler' on the tour. The guide simply calls this one Striped Tit-Babbler, but that was before it was split into two species.
GOLDEN BABBLER (Cyanoderma chrysaeum) – This bird was really difficult everywhere this year, so only a few folks got a really satisfactory look.
RUFOUS-FRONTED BABBLER (Cyanoderma rufifrons) – Nicely at the Blossom-headed Parakeet spot.
WHITE-BROWED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus schisticeps) – Our best looks were on the first morning at Kaeng Krachan. This one doesn't usually sit out like that!
LARGE SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos) – We worked hard on this one, but everyone finally got a good look at this impressive scimitar-babbler at Kaeng Krachan.
RUSTY-CHEEKED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys) – Thank goodness for meal worms!
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps) – It was very difficult to get a good look at such a furtive bird in such close quarters.
SPOT-NECKED BABBLER (Stachyris striolata) – Nicely at the start of the trail at the end of the road in Kaeng Krachan. A really beautiful babbler if you see it well!
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
COLLARED BABBLER (Gampsorhynchus torquatus) – We found one cooperative flock along the upper Kaeng Krachan road. This one is called the White-hooded Babbler in the guide, but it's since been split into two.
RUFOUS-WINGED FULVETTA (Schoeniparus castaneceps) – We had a couple of really big flocks up high on Doi Inthanon, especially up in the bog at the summit. Not really a true fulvetta, this one is now in a separate genus and family than the other two fulvettas we saw.
PUFF-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps) – We had a couple of really great looks at this one. This might be the easiest Pellorneum to see.
SPOT-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum albiventre) – In contrast to the above Puff-throated, this is one of the most difficult of the Pellorneums to see, but we all came away with a great look at the last minute on Doi Angkhang.
EYEBROWED WREN-BABBLER (Napothera epilepidota) – Difficult to spot as they moved quickly through the dark understory on Doi Inthanon.
ABBOTT'S BABBLER (Turdinus abbotti) – Most, but not all, got on this dull babbler on our first morning at Khao Yai NP.
LIMESTONE WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus crispifrons calcicola) – Our first 'babbler' of the trip! It's certainly an interesting setting to look for this local species.
We got very lucky with these lovely Kalij Pheasants. (Photo by participant George Sims)
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
BROWN-CHEEKED FULVETTA (Alcippe poioicephala) – The race that we saw in Kaeng Krachan (A.p. karenni) pretty much lacks any hint of the black crown stripes found on the other races. The song is significantly different from those others as well.
YUNNAN FULVETTA (Alcippe fratercula) – Very common and widespread in the highlands of the northwest. This one is called the Gray-cheeked Fulvetta in the guide.
WHITE-CRESTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax leucolophus) – Good looking with lots of character!
LESSER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax monileger) – It looked like all of the laughingthrushes on the Crested Jay trail were this species.
WHITE-NECKED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax strepitans) – We had much better luck with this shy laughingthrush on our last day of the tour up on Doi Suthep.
GREATER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla pectoralis) – Mostly flyby looks along the lower road at Kaeng Krachan. There were likely a few Lessers in this flock as well.
BLACK-THROATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla chinensis) – One bird showed well with the Collared Babblers at Kaeng Krachan.
WHITE-BROWED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla sannio) – We had some nice looks at this one this year, even without the aid of the meal worms.
SILVER-EARED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Trochalopteron melanostigma) – Maybe the easiest laughingthrush you'll ever see. Called Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush in the guide.
BLACK-BACKED SIBIA (Heterophasia melanoleuca) – Very common and approachable in the mountains of the northwest. Called Dark-backed Sibia in the guide (a better name since the back isn't black).
LONG-TAILED SIBIA (Heterophasia picaoides) – This one is always a bit of a long shot on this tour, but most folks got a decent to great look of a flock of six or so birds on Doi Lang.
SILVER-EARED MESIA (Leiothrix argentauris) – A real stunner!
RUFOUS-BACKED SIBIA (Minla annectens) – We had a couple of nice looks at this one up in the mountains of the northwest. Not really a Sibia, this one is now in a separate genus.
SCARLET-FACED LIOCICHLA (Liocichla ripponi) – Easy this year up on Doi Lang. It can really be difficult to see on other mountains. Called Red-faced Liocichla in the guide.
SPECTACLED BARWING (Actinodura ramsayi) – This handsome babbler was seen well on our three mountaintops up in the northwest.
BLUE-WINGED MINLA (Actinodura cyanouroptera) – That flock at the King's Project up on Doi Angkhang was probably our best sighting of all. This and the next species were merged into the Barwing genus Actinodura, which makes some sense.
CHESTNUT-TAILED MINLA (Actinodura strigula) – Gaudy and really confiding up on Doi Inthanon.
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella) – I've never seen blue like that on any other bird in the world.
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa sibirica) – On just about every dead snag in Kaeng Krachan this year. Also called the Siberian Flycatcher, this one turns up most years in w. Alaska/Bering Sea islands. [b]
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa latirostris) – Looks a lot like many of our own Empidonax flycatchers, but those wings are longer than any of our birds. [b]
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis) – A prolific songster.
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (Copsychus malabaricus) – That female plumage can really throw people if they've never seen it before.
WHITE-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Anthipes monileger) – Fabulous looks and this normally skulking flycatcher.
RUFOUS-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Anthipes solitaris) [*]
HAINAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis hainanus) – A male seen by some folks on our first morning at Khao Yai NP.
PALE BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis unicolor) [*]
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (BLUE-THROATED) (Cyornis rubeculoides dialilaemus) [*]
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (CHINESE) (Cyornis rubeculoides glaucicomans) – This distinctive race of Blue-throated Flycatcher winters commonly at Kaeng Krachan and might soon get split as a separate species. [b]
HILL BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis banyumas) – Our most common and widespread Cyornis on the tour route.
TICKELL'S BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis tickelliae) – This one proved to be rather difficult on our final morning at the peafowl spot near Chiang Mai.
LARGE NILTAVA (Niltava grandis) – We had lots of memorable looks at this big, gaudy flycatcher in the northwest.
SMALL NILTAVA (Niltava macgrigoriae) [*]
RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA (Niltava sundara) – WOWWWW!!! We waited and waited for this guy to show at Doi Angkhang and he just blew us away when he finally did appear. Ironically, this one is much more 'vivid' than the Vivid Niltava. [b]
VERDITER FLYCATCHER (Eumyias thalassinus) – Unlike many of these Asian flycatchers, this one is almost always out on some conspicuous perch.
LESSER SHORTWING (Brachypteryx leucophrys) [*]
WHITE-BROWED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx montana) – It took a little patience, but a male finally showed in the bog atop Doi Inthanon, giving all of us great looks.
SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora cyane) – This was a good year for this species on the tour. Especially nice was seeing an adult male early on out in the middle of the road in Khao Yai. [b]
WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART (Luscinia phaenicuroides) – It can be a real pain to try to get a look at this extreme skulker, but those worms paid off for us again! [b]
BLUETHROAT (Luscinia svecica) – We saw this wintering bird very early on at the Rangsit marsh. [b]
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus caeruleus eugenei) – This was the yellow-billed breeding race that we saw so often and so well.
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus caeruleus caeruleus) – All of our black-billed birds were this migrant race. The calls of these two are radically different, so there may be a split coming up down the road. [b]
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (Enicurus leschenaulti) – All of these forktails are so shy, I count my blessings if we get any sort of look for a group. Most had to be content with just the audio on this one.
BLACK-BACKED FORKTAIL (Enicurus immaculatus) – I think we all scored a look at this lowland forktail on the lower slopes at Doi Inthanon NP. This pair was absent from this spot for many years, but they again showed up here several years ago and have been reliable since then.
SLATY-BACKED FORKTAIL (Enicurus schistaceus) – Most got on this dapper bird before it disappeared for good around the bend of the river.
SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT (Calliope calliope) – This bird winters commonly here, but it can be a bear to see well. [b]
WHITE-TAILED ROBIN (Cinclidium leucurum) – We usually miss this one entirely on the tour, so seeing three this year was really something to shout about!
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (Tarsiger cyanurus) – It looks like this one is perhaps the more widespread of the two Bluetails in the winter in Thailand, but I think it's outnumbered in the northwest by the next species. We had excellent looks at both a male and female up at the overlook on Doi Lang (where we saw the Golden Bush-Robin). That white loral spot on the male is quite distinctive and very different from the shining blue supercilium of the male Himalayan. This species breeds farther north and east of the Himalayan and is the one that's been found several times in N. America. [b]
HIMALAYAN BLUETAIL (Tarsiger rufilatus) – This was the male that we saw so well for so long at the Chestnut-headed Tesia/White-gorgeted Flycatcher spot. [b]
GOLDEN BUSH-ROBIN (Tarsiger chrysaeus) – This was a very pleasant surprise up at the overlook on Doi Lang. It probably occurs every winter in Thailand, but it was a first for me! Great views! [b]
LITTLE PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula westermanni) – This one really like the highland habitat where the pines mixed with the broadleaf forest.
TAIGA FLYCATCHER (Ficedula albicilla) – Not quite daily, but recorded about 80% of the days on the tour. Called the Red-throated Flycatcher in the guide. [b]
ULTRAMARINE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula superciliaris) – Getting one of these was pretty darned good, but to get two adult males was unprecedented on this tour! [b]
RUFOUS-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula strophiata) – One gorgeous adult male this year on Doi Lang. [b]
MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER (Ficedula mugimaki) – We usually find one or two wintering birds at Khao Yai. [b]
SLATY-BACKED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hodgsonii) – We found this one almost every day up in the mountains of the northwest, including several adult males. [b]
SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hyperythra) – A few folks got this one just as we arrived at the bottom of the steps at the summit bog on Doi Inthanon.
SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula tricolor) – Notoriously difficult to see on the wintering grounds, we were very fortunate to find this cooperative male on Doi Angkhang. [b]
SAPPHIRE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula sapphira) – A couple of birds, including an adult male, for some folks on Doi Lang. [b]
BLUE-FRONTED REDSTART (Phoenicurus frontalis) – This was a stakeout vagrant up on Doi Lang. I saw some blue on the shoulder of this bird, so I suspect that it's a first-winter male. [b]
PLUMBEOUS REDSTART (Phoenicurus fuliginosus) – Both a male and a female on Doi Inthanon, but at different waterfalls. Called the Plumbeous Water Redstart in the guide.
WHITE-CAPPED REDSTART (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) – We wound up with a couple of gorgeous adult birds, one at Doi Inthanon, and the other on Doi Angkhang. Called the White-capped Water Redstart in the guide.
DAURIAN REDSTART (Phoenicurus auroreus) – It took a little while, but that stakeout male finally came in for a bite to eat up at the army post on Doi Angkhang. This may be the first Thailand tour that we've seen five species of redstarts well on the tour. [b]
CHESTNUT-BELLIED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola rufiventris) – A few on Doi Lang and on Doi Angkhang. Some of these birds may have been local breeders. [b]
WHITE-THROATED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola gularis) – We found a couple of stunning adult males at Khao Yai this year. That first one was quite the camera ham! [b]
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius pandoo) – This was the all-blue male that we saw at Khao Yai NP. [b]
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius philippensis) – This was the male with the chestnut belly on the corner of the building at our first stop on our first morning at Kaeng Krachan NP. [b]
SIBERIAN STONECHAT (Saxicola maurus) – The vast majority of our birds were migrants from the north, but we did have some local breeders (subspecies przewalskii) up on Doi Angkhang.
PIED BUSHCHAT (Saxicola caprata) – A few in the agricultural areas and near our lodging at Doi Inthanon. You really don't see why it's called 'pied' until it flies.
GRAY BUSHCHAT (Saxicola ferreus) – Common on both Doi Lang and Doi Angkhang. This one always looks a bit shrike-like.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH (Geokichla citrina) – Carol spotted this one in somebody's carport at Khao Yai NP. Gorgeous! [b]
DARK-SIDED THRUSH (Zoothera marginata) – It's always a bit of a challenge to find this one rummaging around in the mud and leaf litter of the summit bog, but we did eventually find it, coming away with some great views!
SCALY THRUSH (WHITE'S) (Zoothera dauma aurea) – I really wasn't expecting to see this one at Khao Yai, but I'm glad we did since it was the only one that we encountered! [b]
BLACK-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus dissimilis) – Great looks at a couple of birds coming to the 'feeder' on Doi Angkhang. Uthai says that this one has now been found breeding on Doi Angkhang so, while I'm pretty sure these were winterers from the north, we can't rule out that they're local breeders now.
GRAY-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Turdus boulboul) – A couple of adult males were seen very well on Doi Lang and on Doi Angkhang. I really didn't anticipate a good thrush year this year on the tour, but it turned out to be better than average. [b]
CHESTNUT THRUSH (Turdus rubrocanus) – A couple of beautiful adult on Doi Lang this year. I'll see this one on the breeding grounds in c. China later this year. [b]
EYEBROWED THRUSH (Turdus obscurus) – Not many this year at all. This one is usually the most common wintering thrush on the tour. [b]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA (Ampeliceps coronatus) – Pictures don't lie - the photos of the flyover myna flock that were taken along the lower road in Kaeng Krachan NP clearly show that most of the birds in that flock were this species, and not Common Hill Myna.
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) – Good looks at both Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan.
GREAT MYNA (Acridotheres grandis) – Called White-vented Myna in the guide.
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis) – Just about everywhere in the lowlands.
VINOUS-BREASTED STARLING (Acridotheres burmannicus) – Several birds at our lodging at Kaeng Krachan on the final morning there were seen very well. A local specialty found here and throughout Indochina.
BLACK-COLLARED STARLING (Gracupica nigricollis) – Common in open country of the north.
ASIAN PIED STARLING (Gracupica contra) – Often a few of these were mixed in with the other starlings/mynas in the agricultural areas.
CHESTNUT-TAILED STARLING (Sturnia malabarica) – If you can find a big flowering tree, like that Bombax at our Khao Yai hotel, you have a good chance of finding this small, migrant starling feeding in it. [b]
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati) [*]
BLUE-WINGED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) – I don't think we saw this one after we left the south.
GOLDEN-FRONTED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis aurifrons) – Most common in the dry forests of the north.
ORANGE-BELLIED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis hardwickii) – The most ornate of the leafbirds. Great looks!
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
THICK-BILLED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum agile) – A couple of sightings in the canopy. Not quite as unexciting as the Plain Flowerpecker, but pretty close!
YELLOW-VENTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum chrysorrheum) – Great views at Kaeng Krachan NP on our first full day there.
YELLOW-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum melanoxanthum) – A couple of birds feeding in the mistletoe on Doi Angkhang were a nice surprise there. They were the last of our seven flowerpeckers on the tour (a record, I think, for this tour).
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) – A beautiful male sitting up in the open near the end of the road at Kaeng Krachan NP was the first that I'd seen there in several years.
PLAIN FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum minullum) – 'Plain' sums it up pretty well, I think.
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus ignipectus) – This was the male with the red breast patch that we saw well in Kaeng Krachan NP on our first full day there. I'm quite surprised that we never found one of these up north!
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus cambodianum) – The race in Khao Yai lacks the red breast patch. Sometimes split out as a separate species and called Buff-bellied Flowerpecker.
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum) – The common flowerpecker of th lowlands and a common bird in the gardens of our Bangkok hotel.
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis) – Very short-billed for a sunbird, we had a few beautiful males at Kaeng Krachan NP.
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis) – On the grounds of our Bangkok hotel for many folks, but we did see a few others during the first few days of the tour around Bangkok.
VAN HASSELT'S SUNBIRD (Leptocoma brasiliana) – A couple of birds at the bridge along the trail in Khao Yai NP on our last morning of birding there. Called Purple-throated Sunbird in the guide.
PURPLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris asiaticus) – Very common in the dry forest around the base of Doi Inthanon.
OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris jugularis) – Throughout the lowlands, another common bird on the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
BLACK-THROATED SUNBIRD (Aethopyga saturata) – The most common and widespread of the Aethopyga sunbirds on the tour.
GOULD'S SUNBIRD (Aethopyga gouldiae) – We had a few stunning males in the high mountains of the northwest. Called Mrs. Gould's Sunbird in the guide. [b]
GREEN-TAILED SUNBIRD (DOI INTHANON) (Aethopyga nipalensis angkanensis) – This fancy sunbird was surprisingly scarce this year up on Doi Inthanon, but we did eventually find a few of them for some unforgettable looks at the summit.
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja) – Nice looks at both Khao Yai NP and Kaeng Krachan NP.
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra) – Our best looks were probably in the south. All of the spiderhunters are primarily nectar feeders, but they supplement their diet with insects, including spiders.
STREAKED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera magna) – Throughout the foothills and highlands on this tour, once we left Khao Yai.
GRAY-BREASTED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera modesta) [*]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla tschutschensis) – The male that we saw well in the Rangsit marsh looked like the subspecies macronyx with the all-gray head and no white supercilium. [b]
CITRINE WAGTAIL (Motacilla citreola) – A couple of winter-plumaged birds in the wet paddy north of Chiang Mai. [b]
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea) – Here and there, but never in the agriculture on this tour. [b]
WHITE WAGTAIL (OCULARIS) (Motacilla alba ocularis) – These paler birds with the obvious white wingbars actually looked like the subspecies baicalensis, since they seemed to lack black in the face. [b]
WHITE WAGTAIL (CHINESE) (Motacilla alba leucopsis) – Most of our White Wagtails were this dark-backed race from China. [b]
RICHARD'S PIPIT (Anthus richardi) – Three calling birds overhead at the grounds of our Kaeng Krachan hotel were the only ones detected this year. [b]
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus) – This was the only pipit that we found in the south, other than the above Richard's. Called Paddyfield Pipit in the guide.
OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT (Anthus hodgsoni) – We had some very good looks at these at various spots in the northwest. [b]
FOREST WAGTAIL (Dendronanthus indicus) – A single bird at the grounds of the park headquarters was a nice find there in winter. [b]
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
RED-HEADED BUNTING (Emberiza bruniceps) – Uthai and I called this drab, immature bunting on our final morning of birding near Chiang Mai a Black-headed Bunting at first. After looking at our photos and reading up on it a little more, Uthai convinced me that we had found this species instead, which would be only the second ever record for Thailand if accepted by the Thai rarities committee. This one is illustrated in the more comprehensive Birds of Southeast Asia, but it's not illustrated in either of the Thailand field guides. [b]
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
COMMON ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus erythrinus) – A few pairs on Doi Angkhang only this year. [b]
BLACK-HEADED GREENFINCH (Chloris ambigua) – A nice surprise was finding this bird perched atop a pine next to the road on Doi Angkhang.
SPOT-WINGED GROSBEAK (Mycerobas melanozanthos) [*]
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus indicus) – The population within Thailand has exploded in recent years. It wasn't too long ago that we never saw this species on the tour, and our first sighting ever was a small flock up near Thaton back in the late '90's.
PLAIN-BACKED SPARROW (Passer flaveolus) – Quite an attractive Passer.
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus)
Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies)
STREAKED WEAVER (Ploceus manyar) – A few of these in a mixed flock of weavers south of Bangkok was the first ever on one of our tours here.
BAYA WEAVER (Ploceus philippinus) – A few at the Rangsit marsh and another up near Chiang Mai was all we found.
ASIAN GOLDEN WEAVER (Ploceus hypoxanthus) – One or two around Bangkok early on. That strongly decurved culmen (the top of the bill) is the best field mark at this season.
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
RED AVADAVAT (Amandava amandava) – I'm not sure if anyone got to see this one perched or not, but we had decent looks in flight on our last full day of the tour near Chiang Mai.
WHITE-RUMPED MUNIA (Lonchura striata) – Several in the Rangsit marsh.
NUTMEG MANNIKIN (Lonchura punctulata) – Called Scaly-breasted Munia in the guide.
MAMMALS
WRINKLE-LIPPED FREE-TAILED BAT (Chaerephon plicatus) – I lost count...
COMMON TREESHREW (Tupaia glis) – The mammal authority that we use for our listing software doesn't appear to recognize Northern Treeshrew (T. bengalensis) as a distinct species, but this is what we saw a couple of times at Kaeng Krachan. Very squirrel-like in appearance, but with a longer snout.
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis) – Also called the Long-tailed Macaque, we only saw these south of Bangkok and at the limestone wat on our way to Khao Yai.
PIGTAIL MACAQUE (Macaca nemestrina) – I can't imagine being a tent camper at Khao Yai with these running around!
DUSKY LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis obscura) – Common and easy to see at Kaeng Krachan.
PILEATED GIBBON (Hylobates pileatus) – I've still never seen this one at Khao Yai! [*]
WHITE-HANDED GIBBON (Hylobates lar) – Great looks at this wonderful primate at both Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan. We were never out of earshot of their wonderful singing at either place.
BLACK GIANT SQUIRREL (Ratufa bicolor) – That's one BIG squirrel! All of the Ratufas are pretty huge.
FINLAYSON'S SQUIRREL (Callosciurus finlaysoni) – This is what Uthai and I called the Variable Squirrel. Very common in the Bangkok area, especially on the grounds of our hotel.
GRAY-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus caniceps) – One of the most common squirrels seen away from Bangkok. That small black tail tip is always a good mark.
HIMALAYAN STRIPED SQUIRREL (Tamiops macclellandi) – This was the tiny, striped, chipmunk-like squirrel that we saw in the forest for much of the tour.
INDOCHINESE GROUND SQUIRREL (Menetes berdmorei) – One of these dashed across the road at the Kaeng Krachan dump.
COMMON PORCUPINE (Hystrix brachyura) – We've now seen this one two years in a row on this tour!
CRAB-EATING MONGOOSE (Herpestes urva) – Seen by a few folks at Kaeng Krachan on Day 8, and seen by a few others up on Doi Lang. That pale line in the face was the clincher.
LEOPARD (Panthera pardus) – WOWWWW!!!!! This was only the third time in 18 years that I've seen Leopard on this tour, but to get three in about ten minutes?! Obviously, it must have been an adult female with a couple of older cubs, but still pretty riveting! Thank your lucky stars if you happened to be in the lead van that day, but everyone got to see at least one of these beautiful cats.
MUNTJAC (BARKING DEER) (Muntiacus muntjak) – Much smaller and tawnier than the Sambar.
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor) – Common and very acclimated to the human presence at Khao Yai NP.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 485 bird taxa and 17 mammal taxa