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We had terrific luck with pheasants on this trip! This male Kalij Pheasant, our second male of the tour, crossed the road right in front of our parked van on the main road through Kaeng Krachan NP. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
This was my second tour to lovely Thailand this year (I had a short, but satisfying, 2-week stay back home in Tucson in between the two tours), and I think I actually enjoyed this second tour more than the first! That first one was terrific, make no mistake, but to have this particular small group in one vehicle was really enjoyable for me.
Weather was pretty predictable for late February into March, mostly being hot and dry throughout, but we could tell it was going to get even hotter and drier after we were to leave this beautiful country in the heart of S.E. Asia. The coolness of the north was really a welcome change for all. The political theater was still going strong during our visit, but we saw no evidence of the protests or other disruptions during our tour, mostly thanks to Wat, our indispensable ground operator, who saw to it that our paths never crossed with any of the unrest going on in Bangkok.
We try to see as much of Thailand as we can on this tour, sampling as many key habitats as possible, and, like always, I think this year's tour worked out just great in that regard. We sampled the marshes and coastal habitats in and near Bangkok, the gorgeous broadleaf evergreen forests of both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan National Parks, and the varied highland habitats and the lowland dry dipterocarp forests of the northwest. Every habitat harbors its own special birds, and we did well in tracking these down. From the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpipers along the coast on our first full day out of Bangkok to the fabulous adult male Hume's Pheasant strutting across the road in front of our parked van on Doi Angkhang, and from the astoundingly cooperative Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo at Khao Yai NP to the unbelievable Hodgson's Frogmouth nesting right next to the road on Doi Lang, we certainly had our share of unforgettable sights on this wonderful tour.
Thanks to Wat and his crew, we never felt like we had a need that was unmet during the entire tour. They've really got this program working as a well-oiled machine! All of the great food, great service, and all of the smiles made this tour a pleasure to guide, thanks to them. And thanks to all of you, for your wonderful companionship during the course of the trip! A great, engaging group like this one makes my job just that much more enjoyable and fulfilling. I hope to see each of you again in the future on another birding adventure somewhere else in the 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)
We watched a number of critters parade through the little muddy drainage behind the buildings at Khao Yai -- monitors, deer, squirrels, junglefowl -- but none more riveting than this stunning Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo! Khao Yai is the best place in the world to see this special bird, but it's certainly not guaranteed. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE (Nettapus coromandelianus) – Still good numbers of these south of Bangkok, like the tour just prior to this one.
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata) – A surprising find at Laem Phak Bia.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
RUFOUS-THROATED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila rufogularis) – Easy at the summit!
SCALY-BREASTED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila chloropus) [*]
FERRUGINOUS PARTRIDGE (Caloperdix oculeus) – Rita was the only one in the group who got a look at this scarce partridge at Kaeng Krachan.
MOUNTAIN BAMBOO-PARTRIDGE (Bambusicola fytchii) – Very good views of a couple of pairs on the side of the road on Doi Lang.
RED JUNGLEFOWL (Gallus gallus) – The best was probably the male that showed just before the ground-cuckoos appeared at Khao Yai.
KALIJ PHEASANT (Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni) – A couple of sightings at Kaeng Krachan this trip. Robson lumps this one with Silver, but there's a paper that was published after the field guide was published that convincingly shows that these birds are correctly aligned with Kalij, and not Silver.
SILVER PHEASANT (Lophura nycthemera) – Memorable views of a displaying male on the shoulder of the road at Khao Yai NP.
SIAMESE FIREBACK (Lophura diardi) – Everybody got a look before they disappeared into the forest at Khao Yai. The national bird of Thailand.
HUME'S PHEASANT (Syrmaticus humiae) – Heart-stopping views of an adult male emerging from the grass on the shoulder of the road right in front of our parked van! By far, the best look that I've ever had at this seldom-seen bird!
GRAY PEACOCK-PHEASANT (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) – Very brief views of this difficult bird at Kaeng Krachan. It's never easy!
GREEN PEAFOWL (Pavo muticus) – It was great to see an adult male with a full train! A very rare and local bird now on the SE Asian mainland.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – A close relative of our Least Grebe.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
ASIAN OPENBILL (Anastomus oscitans) – Easily the most common stork in the Bangkok area at all seasons.
PAINTED STORK (Mycteria leucocephala) – We had a good haul of these uncommon storks along the coast s. of Bangkok on Day 2.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
INDIAN CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) – At least one of these along the coast s. of Bangkok on our way from Khao Yai to Kaeng Krachan.
LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger) – Always the most common cormorant on this trip.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
YELLOW BITTERN (Ixobrychus sinensis) – A flyby for some at Rangsit on Day 3.
CINNAMON BITTERN (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) – One of these flushed near Wat Phai Lom on that first afternoon. Despite a lot of tromping around, we never saw it again.
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea) – The Old World replacement species for our familiar Great Blue Heron. [b]
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea) – Darker and more ornate than the above species.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – These Old World birds might get split from the Great Egrets in the New World, so watch for that.
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia) – Small numbers in the Bangkok area. [b]
CHINESE EGRET (Egretta eulophotes) – If we get this rare egret on the tour, it tends to be at Laem Phak Bia. Similar to the white-morph Pacific Reef-Heron, but differs in structure, bill and facial color, and leg color in the breeding season. That shaggy crest helps i.d. it too!
This Ratchet-tailed Treepie is one of the many rare prizes that awaits birders visiting Kaeng Krachan NP. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – Most of the Old world taxonomists split this one from the Cattle Egrets from w. India and Africa west into the New World, calling it Eastern Cattle-Egret (B. coromandus).
CHINESE POND-HERON (Ardeola bacchus) – We know that we at least saw this one! [b]
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus) – Much shorter-tailed than our White-tailed Kite, which was lumped with this one not too long ago.
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus) – This one will often fool you into thinking it's some other raptor species.
BLACK BAZA (Aviceda leuphotes) – Usually on clients' list of 'birds I want to see' on this tour.
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela) – We heard more than we saw. Usually the most common large raptor on this tour.
MOUNTAIN HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus nipalensis) – Rita spotted an imm. bird soaring near the road at the top of Doi Lang, and we all had decent views after getting out of the van.
RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE (Lophotriorchis kienerii) – We had a couple of birds at both Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan. For an 'eagle' it's only about the size of a Red-tailed Hawk.
GRAY-FACED BUZZARD (Butastur indicus) – Contrary to what the guide shows, the flight feathers of this raptor can be quite rufous.
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus) – Our most common and widespread Accipiter on the tour. It usually doesn't show much of a crest.
SHIKRA (Accipiter badius) – These became very impatient when the bats wouldn't come out on schedule at Khao Yai, with one of them even stooping into the mouth of the cave.
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans) – I was amazed at how eagle-like these birds appeared to be on the ground.
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus) – Always near the coast on this tour.
COMMON BUZZARD (JAPONICUS) (Buteo buteo japonicus) – Most of our were in the north. These eastern birds are split by some taxonomists and called Japanese Buzzard.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – Very distinctive - with an unforgettable voice.
BLACK-TAILED CRAKE (Amaurornis bicolor) – I don't think that my plastic wrapper and cookies made any difference, but we saw this one very well in the marsh on Doi Inthanon. A very poorly-known bird.
RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE (Porzana fusca) – Most got a look as they flew from one bed of reeds to the next near Laem Phak Bia.
WHITE-BROWED CRAKE (Porzana cinerea) – We spotted one of these poking its head above the marsh grasses at a stop south of Bangkok on our way to Kaeng Krachan.
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (BLACK-BACKED) (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis) – Look for a split of this one sometime soon. Despite what's on the checklist, this on isn't allied to the Black-backed birds to the south in Australasia. If it's split it'll likely be called Gray-headed Swamphen.
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) – Now split from our own Common Gallinule.
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
INDIAN THICK-KNEE (Burhinus indicus) – We ended up with a pretty darned good look at this late one afternoon at our accommodations. A recent split from the Eurasian Thick-knee.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) – The Old World replacement species of our familiar Black-necked Stilt.
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) – We found a huge flock at Laem Phak Bia this year, likely the biggest flock ever in Thailand!
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva)
GRAY-HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus cinereus) – Just a couple of birds only this year.
RED-WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus) – These eastern birds might get split from the western birds in India.
Finding the super-rare Spoon-billed Sandpiper on this trip couldn't have been much easier. It took us all of about 20 minutes to locate the right pond where this Critically Endangered shorebird was feeding -- certainly one of the major highlights of the first half of the tour! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
GREATER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius leschenaultii) – We had some very fancy breeding-plumaged birds at Pak Thale this trip.
MALAYSIAN PLOVER (Charadrius peronii) – We found one pair at Laem Phak Bia this year. Some years produce ten or more pairs there at the spit.
KENTISH PLOVER (KENTISH) (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus) – Recently split from our Snowy Plover.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius) – Lots of birds from n.e. Asia winter here, but there's also a breeding race, which we saw near Chiang Mai this year.
Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes)
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE (Rostratula benghalensis) – We had super views at Laem Phak Bia, but it was great to see a male with two chicks at Rangsit the next morning. [N]
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) – Unmistakable with those white wings.
BRONZE-WINGED JACANA (Metopidius indicus) – The more common of the two jacana species.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos) – Replaces our familiar Spotted Sandpiper in the Old World.
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus) – This one greatly outnumbered the similar Common Redshank.
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) – This one looks and sounds a lot like our Greater Yellowlegs. We looked at a bunch, but couldn't turn any of them into the rare Nordmann's Greenshank.
MARSH SANDPIPER (Tringa stagnatilis) – There's nothing quite like this one in N. America, but it does look a lot like a long-legged Wilson's Phalarope in winter plumage.
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) – We found most of these in flooded rice paddies.
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) – We found the mother load of these near our lunch restaurant south of Bangkok before we flew north to Chiangmai.
WHIMBREL (SIBERIAN) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus) – There's been talk of splitting these Old World Whimbrels from our birds in N. America.
FAR EASTERN CURLEW (Numenius madagascariensis) – At least one of these was picked out of that huge flock of Eurasian Curlews at Pak Thale. A rare bird in Thailand.
I think that if there had been a bug on my shoe, "Rusty," our very confiding Orange-headed Thrush at Khao Yai NP, would have snatched it! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa limosa melanuroides) – A few taxonomists now split the eastern Black-tailed Godwits from the larger birds in the west of the range.
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
GREAT KNOT (Calidris tenuirostris) – There were slightly fewer of these around compared to the tour right before this one, but the numbers at Laem Phak Bia were still impressive!
RED KNOT (Calidris canutus) – A few of these were mixed in with the much more abundant Great Knots.
BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris falcinellus) – Excellent views of quite a few on our first explorations of the shorebird habitats south of Bangkok on Day 2.
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea) – All of our birds were still in dull basic plumage.
TEMMINCK'S STINT (Calidris temminckii) – We all saw one flighty bird on our second visit to Laem Phak Bia on Day 6. That high-pitched cricket-like call is a good one to know.
LONG-TOED STINT (Calidris subminuta) – Very much like our own Least Sandpiper, but that upright stance really sets it apart from that one.
SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris pygmea) – YESSSSS!!!!! Finding these Critically Endangered shorebirds turned out to be rather straightforward this trip (it was a real pain last tour!), and allowed us to enjoy them for much longer and at much closer range. Neither of the birds that we saw appeared to be banded, so it does make me wonder if there is an unknown breeding site where researchers aren't banding birds.
RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis) – The vast majority of the peeps that we saw were this species.
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina) – A rare shorebird in this part of the world.
ASIAN DOWITCHER (Limnodromus semipalmatus) – We were able to track down one wintering bird near Laem Phak Bia for some great views on the afternoon that we drove to Kaeng Krachan from Khao Yai. Another rare shorebird here, especially in winter.
PIN-TAILED SNIPE (Gallinago stenura) – The couple of snipe that we saw near Laem Phak Bia on Day 2 proved to be this species (dark underwings, no white trailing edge to the wing).
EURASIAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola) – Utterly fantastic views of this bird in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon!
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus) – We saw more of these on the tour than I think that I've ever seen in the country before.
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE (Glareola maldivarum) – We don't usually get this one on the early tour, so timing was right to get the good numbers that we saw on Day 2.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BROWN-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) – The common gull of the Thai coastline in winter.
PALLAS'S GULL (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) – Several of these were present on the little island that we landed next to at Laem Phak Bia, and they towered over the nearby Lesser Black-backed, Brown-headed, and Black-tailed gulls. Also called the Great Black-headed Gull.
BLACK-TAILED GULL (Larus crassirostris) – This one was a surprise find at Laem Phak Bia on our brief visit there and was my first for Thailand!
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (HEUGLIN'S) (Larus fuscus heuglini) – These east Asian Lesser Black-backed Gulls are sometimes split off from the others and called Heuglin's Gull.
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons) – The Old World replacement species to our familiar Least Tern.
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida) – The most common tern on the tour.
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
GREAT CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bergii) – We got great views of both this species and the much smaller Lesser Crested Tern on the island at Laem Phak Bia.
LESSER CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bengalensis) – Very similar to our Elegant Tern.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPECKLED WOOD-PIGEON (Columba hodgsonii) – That spot on the road just below the summit on Doi Inthanon has proven to be quite reliable for this retiring forest species.
ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia orientalis) – Good looks late one afternoon on the road at Doi Lang.
RED COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia tranquebarica) – A very common roadside bird, especially in the south.
This was quite a sight when we rounded that curve at Khao Yai NP! It was the first of several fabulous pheasant species that we encountered on the tour. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BARRED CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia unchall) – A couple of flyby birds at Khao Yai revealed that distinctive shape and very long tail.
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica) – The best were on the road through the park at Kaeng Krachan NP.
ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) – All of the birds north of the Isthmus are thought to be descendants of introduced stock. [I]
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra) – Deb spotted our first sitting quietly in a fig tree at Khao Yai.
YELLOW-VENTED PIGEON (Treron seimundi) – We found one of these uncommon pigeons gathering nesting material along the roadside at Kaeng Krachan NP. [N]
PIN-TAILED PIGEON (Treron apicauda) – We were able to find one of these perched high above the temple near Chiang Dao. This seems to be a very reliable spot for this one.
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia) – These big pigeons were also gathering nesting material in Kaeng Krachan. [N]
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx sparverioides) – One of these giant cuckoos flew right at us along the roadside at Khao Yai on our second full day there.
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) [*]
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus) – A few in the Bangkok area.
ASIAN EMERALD CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx maculatus) – The three birds that we saw feeding above the road at Kaeng Krachan were likely migrants headed north to breed.
VIOLET CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) [*]
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris) – Asian Drongo-Cuckoo was recently split (again), and this one seems to be the only one found in Thailand north of the Peninsula. We had ours at Kaeng Krachan NP.
ASIAN KOEL (Eudynamys scolopaceus) – One of the most common voices on this tour.
BLACK-BELLIED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus diardi) – Very similar to the Green-billed Malkoha, but it's much smaller, it lacks the white border to the red facial skin, and also lacks any hint of streaking on the breast.
GREEN-BILLED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus tristis) – The most widespread of the malkohas on this tour, and the only species along our route on this main tour found away from Kaeng Krachan.
RED-BILLED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus javanicus) [*]
CHESTNUT-BREASTED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) – Really an impressive bird if seen well. None of the malkohas, and none of the ground-cuckoos or koels, are brood parasites, which bucks the trend among Old World cuckoos.
CORAL-BILLED GROUND-CUCKOO (Carpococcyx renauldi) – WOWWWWW!!!!! Thanks to a hot tip from Uthai Treesucon, we all enjoyed FANTASTIC looks at this local specialty at Khao Yai! We couldn't have asked for a better look - but maybe a better setting!
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis) – Another very common voice along our route.
LESSER COUCAL (Centropus bengalensis) – We just glimpsed one of these briefly at Khao Yai.
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba) – A pair of these out at the entrance of our accommodations was pointed out to some by Wat one evening.
Strigidae (Owls)
MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL (Otus spilocephalus) [*]
COLLARED SCOPS-OWL (Otus lettia) – Nicely on the resort grounds.
ORIENTAL SCOPS-OWL (Otus sunia) – This one behaved very nicely for us in the fading light near our resort. These resident southern birds are quite vocally distinct from the migrant race stictonotus breeding to the north, so it wouldn't surprise me if a split is in order sometime in the future.
Trying its best to look like a broken branch, this male Hodgson's Frogmouth sitting on a nest right next to the road delighted our group in the far northwestern corner of the country on Doi Lang. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
ASIAN BARRED OWLET (Glaucidium cuculoides) – Vocally conspicuous, but often difficult to spot.
SPOTTED OWLET (Athene brama) – Easily found this year near Doi Inthanon.
BROWN BOOBOOK (Ninox scutulata) – Two very responsive birds at the lakeside in Kaeng Krachan NP gave us great views!
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
HODGSON'S FROGMOUTH (Batrachostomus hodgsoni) – WOWWWW!!!! Thanks to a hot tip from Uthai, we thrilled at the sight of a very close male incubating eggs on a nest right next to the road! It doesn't get much better than that! [N]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
GRAY NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus indicus) – Great views of a bird on the road near our Angkhang hotel.
LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus macrurus) – Mostly just distant eye-shine in the road at Kaeng Krachan, but we could see it flying around in the beam of the light.
INDIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus asiaticus) – Excellent views of a bird on the grounds of our resort. Smaller and paler than the other nightjars that we saw on this tour.
Apodidae (Swifts)
BROWN-BACKED NEEDLETAIL (Hirundapus giganteus) – We had decent views early one morning along the entrance road into Kaeng Krachan NP. This is the expected needletail species on this tour.
HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET (Aerodramus brevirostris) – This is the swiftlet of the foothills and the mountains on this tour.
GERMAIN'S SWIFTLET (Aerodramus germani) – A relatively recent split from the Edible-nest Swiftlet and the common swiftlet in the coastal lowlands south of Bangkok.
COOK'S SWIFT (Apus cooki) – My thinking on this one has come around these birds since they're so common in the mountains at this season. Pacific Swift, at this season, ought to be on the wintering grounds well to the south and east of here. Cook's is a regional endemic that has only recently been split from Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift.
HOUSE SWIFT (Apus nipalensis)
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus balasiensis) – The most common and widespread swift on this tour.
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
CRESTED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne coronata) – We finally ran into these near the base of Doi Inthanon on our final morning there.
GRAY-RUMPED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne longipennis) – A distant pair above the entrance road in Kaeng Krachan was all that we could find - but they've become increasingly difficult to find in recent years.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RED-HEADED TROGON (Harpactes erythrocephalus) – A close pair at Kaeng Krachan were a delight! This one is often a difficult bird to see well and it seems to be much more shy than the next species.
ORANGE-BREASTED TROGON (Harpactes oreskios) – We had a few nice, close looks at this one. The female at the campground in Khao Yai was particularly confiding.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella) [*]
Thailand is full of fancy flycatchers, especially in the winter months. This Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher sure gave us an eyeful on Doi Lang! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata) – Wintering here only - it breeds mostly in China. [b]
COLLARED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus chloris) – A wonderful and unexpected splash of color in the coastal mangrove habitat.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) – After coming up empty on the prior tour, it was very satisfying to get such a fantastic look at this bizarre bird with all of you at Kaeng Krachan!
BLUE-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis athertoni) – For whatever reason, this one proved to be very difficult to see well on our tour.
GREEN BEE-EATER (Merops orientalis) – Best seen at the base of Doi Inthanon.
BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus) – We always seem to find this one near the Bangkok area.
CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops leschenaulti) – Surprisingly few this year, especially in the Kaeng Krachan NP area (where I only heard it!).
Coraciidae (Rollers)
INDIAN ROLLER (Coracias benghalensis) – Unmistakable in flight.
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops) – Great looks at the park headquarters at Kaeng Krachan.
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
ORIENTAL PIED-HORNBILL (Anthracoceros albirostris) – Always the most common of the hornbills that we see on this tour.
GREAT HORNBILL (Buceros bicornis) – There's no mistaking that sound when this one flies overhead!
RUSTY-CHEEKED HORNBILL (Anorrhinus tickelli) – A split from the Brown Hornbill to the east of Bangkok.
WREATHED HORNBILL (Aceros undulatus) – Almost as big as the Great Hornbill, this one lacks the wing striping and the tail banding so evident on that one in flight.
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
GREAT BARBET (Megalaima virens) – We heard quite a few of these before we all saw it well on Doi Angkhang.
LINEATED BARBET (Megalaima lineata) – Always in drier forest than the rather similar Green-eared Barbet.
GREEN-EARED BARBET (Megalaima faiostricta) – We all had a great study of a very close, confiding individual excavating a nest hole next to the road at Kaeng Krachan. [N]
RED-THROATED BARBET (Megalaima mystacophanos) [*]
GOLDEN-THROATED BARBET (Megalaima franklinii) – Rita spotted our first on Doi Inthanon.
BLUE-THROATED BARBET (Megalaima asiatica) – Much more common once we got to the foothills and mountains of the north.
MOUSTACHED BARBET (Megalaima incognita) – Although I see this one from time to time at Kaeng Krachan, the place to see this barbet is at Khao Yai. This and the Green-eared are the most range-restricted of the nine barbets that we recorded on this tour.
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Megalaima australis) – One of the most widespread of the barbets on this tour route.
COPPERSMITH BARBET (Megalaima haemacephala) – This seems to be the most common in the disturbed lowlands - even in downtown Bangkok!
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
WHITE-BROWED PICULET (Sasia ochracea) [*]
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus) – This one used to be called the Gray-capped Pygmy-Woodpecker.
STRIPE-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos atratus)
CRIMSON-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos cathpharius) [*]
RUFOUS WOODPECKER (Celeus brachyurus) [*]
WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus javensis) [*]
CRIMSON-WINGED WOODPECKER (Picus puniceus) [*]
GREATER YELLOWNAPE (Picus flavinucha) – Nice looks along the km. 33 trail at Khao Yai NP.
We ran across a number of temporary feeding stations that photographers had set up in the mountains of the northwest, and most were still being frequented during our visit by a number of beauties, like this fancy Spectacled Barwing on Doi Lang. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LACED WOODPECKER (Picus vittatus) – We found a couple of cooperative birds at the first viewpoint at Khao Yai.
GRAY-FACED WOODPECKER (Picus canus hessei) – We tracked one down at the Kaeng Krachan NP headquarters before we headed back north to Bangkok and our flight to the north.
COMMON FLAMEBACK (Dinopium javanense) – Kaeng Krachan NP is the best place for this one along our route.
GREATER FLAMEBACK (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus) – Our most common and widespread woodpecker species on the first half of the tour.
BAMBOO WOODPECKER (Gecinulus viridis) – I'm not sure if anyone ever saw this one perched, but most of us had to be satisfied with flyby looks late one afternoon at Kaeng Krachan NP.
BAY WOODPECKER (Blythipicus pyrrhotis) – A pair of these shy woodpeckers was uncharacteristically low and relatively easy to see at Kaeng Krachan this year.
BUFF-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tristis) – Great looks in the scope at Kaeng Krachan!
BLACK-AND-BUFF WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes jugularis) – A little fishing brought us great views of this fancy little woodpecker at Khao Yai.
HEART-SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Hemicircus canente) – We had missed both this and the above two species of woodpeckers on my prior tour, so it was great to be able to produce them for all of you on this trip!
GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) [*]
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
WHITE-RUMPED FALCON (Polihierax insignis) [*]
COLLARED FALCONET (Microhierax caerulescens) – These brightened a rather dull morning in the dry forest at Doi Inthanon NP.
BLACK-THIGHED FALCONET (Microhierax fringillarius) – A very difficult bird to track down nowadays at Kaeng Krachan NP.
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) – We usually only see this one in the north on this tour, so seeing five in the south was a bit surprising.
Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)
SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO (Cacatua galerita) – A long-staying escapee at Wat Thian Thawai on the first afternoon. [I]
Psittacidae (Parrots)
ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET (Psittacula eupatria) – These big parakeets are still hanging in there at Wat Thian Thawai.
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri) – We'll have to keep an eye on these as they might very well compete with the native Alexandrine Parakeets for nest sites in the Bangkok area. [I]
BLOSSOM-HEADED PARAKEET (Psittacula roseata) – An early morning visit to Inthanon Nest yielded good scope looks at these beauties.
RED-BREASTED PARAKEET (Psittacula alexandri) – That site near our hotel has always been a winner for this one. It's the remnant big native trees that make the difference here.
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis) – Quite a few of these obliged us by pausing in the treetops long enough for us to get a look.
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
LONG-TAILED BROADBILL (Psarisomus dalhousiae) – We were lucky enough to have a number of good looks at this strange one on the tour, which was a far cry from the bad luck we had with it on the prior tour!
SILVER-BREASTED BROADBILL (Serilophus lunatus) – These have become difficult in the past several years, so I was thrilled that we had it so easily at Kaeng Krachan on this trip!
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) – These broadbills, on the other hand, have never been more difficult!
Another temporary feeding station on Doi Angkhang played host to this gorgeous Silver-eared Mesia, among others. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Pittidae (Pittas)
RUSTY-NAPED PITTA (Pitta oatesi) [*]
BLUE PITTA (Pitta cyanea) – We found a relatively cooperative bird along the trail at Khao Yai, but you still had to be quick with your bins to keep up with it!
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) [*]
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
LARGE WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis gularis) – Good looks, finally, at Kaeng Krachan NP headquarters.
COMMON WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) [*]
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus) – Found in just about every type of forest on this tour.
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
ASHY WOODSWALLOW (Artamus fuscus) – A common 'wire bird' along the roadsides.
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia)
GREAT IORA (Aegithina lafresnayei) – A larger version of the above species, but without the wing bars.
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
GRAY-CHINNED MINIVET (Pericrocotus solaris) – We found a few pairs associated with mixed species feeding flocks in the upper elevation forests of Doi Inthanon. Unlike many of the other minivets, these were always found well below the canopy.
SHORT-BILLED MINIVET (Pericrocotus brevirostris) – Similar to the next species, but this one shuns the pines and favors the broadleaf forest of the upper elevations.
LONG-TAILED MINIVET (Pericrocotus ethologus) – Almost always in pines, but we did have a wintering flock in the dry dipterocarp forest on the lower slopes at Doi Inthanon.
SCARLET MINIVET (Pericrocotus speciosus) – The most common and widespread of the minivets.
ASHY MINIVET (Pericrocotus divaricatus) – For some folks at Khao Yai.
BROWN-RUMPED MINIVET (Pericrocotus cantonensis) – We had our best looks with the Silver-breasted Broadbills at Kaeng Krachan.
ROSY MINIVET (Pericrocotus roseus) – Great views in the dry forest on our final morning.
LARGE CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina macei) – For most folks on Doi Lang.
BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Lalage melaschistos) – Very widespread and in all forest types.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus) – We had relatively few shrikes this year, but this was the most common of the lot.
BURMESE SHRIKE (Lanius collurioides) – We found a couple of these scarce shrikes while we were chasing after the Blue-bearded Bee-eater on Doi Lang.
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach) – One on our second day south of Bangkok showed off nicely for us.
GRAY-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius tephronotus) – Only at Khao Yai and on Doi Angkhang this trip.
Vireonidae (Vireos)
BLYTH'S SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius aeralatus) – Called White-browed Shrike-Babbler in the guide.
BLACK-EARED SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius melanotis) – Finally a good look at one of these as we were leaving the top of Doi Lang.
CLICKING SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius intermedius) – Called Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler in the field guide. All of these shrike-babblers have been found to be the closest Old world relatives of the New World vireos.
I'm not sure if it was the crinkling of the plastic wrapper or the pile of cookie crumbs left on the path, but this rare Black-tailed Crake finally emerged from the little marsh on Doi Inthanon to give us some great views! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (Oriolus chinensis) – Usually the only oriole that we get in the first half of the tour.
SLENDER-BILLED ORIOLE (Oriolus tenuirostris) – We finally ran into one of these in the pines on Doi Angkhang.
BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus) – Nice looks at Inthanon Nest.
MAROON ORIOLE (Oriolus traillii) – Surprisingly quiet on this trip, but we did have some fine views of a responsive female at Doi Inthanon.
Dicruridae (Drongos)
BLACK DRONGO (Dicrurus macrocercus) – The common drongo of the open country throughout.
ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus) – We had both resident races and the attractive white-faced wintering race along our route.
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus) – The common forest species often found at light gaps in the subcanopy.
LESSER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus remifer) – Very similar to the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, but invariably found at higher elevations than that species on this tour.
HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO (Dicrurus hottentottus) – Almost always found foraging in nectar-producing flowering trees.
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus) – Flashy and common – a nice combo!
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
MALAYSIAN PIED-FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica) – Pied Fantail was recently split into a couple of species, with the Philippine birds being separated from the other races throughout S.E. Asia.
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis) – This one replaces the above species at elevation.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea) – Recorded almost daily.
ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone paradisi) – After teasing us on Doi Inthanon, we all got to enjoy a cooperative male at the temple near Chiang Dao.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
EURASIAN JAY (Garrulus glandarius leucotis) – Excellent studies in the dry forest at the base of Doi Inthanon.
RED-BILLED BLUE-MAGPIE (Urocissa erythrorhyncha) – Inthanon Nest came through again with good views of this spectacular corvid.
COMMON GREEN-MAGPIE (Cissa chinensis) – We found a couple of these out in the open at the top of the road in Khao Yai NP feeding on the moths that had been attracted overnight to the lights at the checkpoint. Spectacular looks!
RUFOUS TREEPIE (Dendrocitta vagabunda) – A regular around our hotel grounds at Doi Inthanon.
GRAY TREEPIE (Dendrocitta formosae) – Uncharacteristically easy to see on this trip this year, including a pair at close range busily building a nest in Kaeng Krachan NP. [N]
RACKET-TAILED TREEPIE (Crypsirina temia) – We found our first birds on our first afternoon at Wat Phai Lom, but our best were seen from the tower at Inthanon Nest.
Another treepie, this one a Racket-tailed, shows off its iridescent green plumage and its beautiful blue eyes! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LARGE-BILLED CROW (Corvus macrorhynchos) – We probably had two races on this tour, nominate macrorhynchos from Bangkok north, and levaillantii south of Bangkok. This species is likely to be split into at least a few, so keep track of where you see them!
Alaudidae (Larks)
INDOCHINESE BUSHLARK (Mirafra erythrocephala) – This one used to be called Rufous-winged Bushlark until it was split into three a while back.
ORIENTAL SKYLARK (Alauda gulgula) [*]
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) [b]
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii) – We finally found them foraging along the canal.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) – Wintering here from n.e. Asia. [b]
STRIATED SWALLOW (Cecropis striolata) – We had some wonderful views of close perched birds at Inthanon Nest, showing off all of the pertinent field marks.
ASIAN HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon dasypus) – The numbers of this migrant species had really dropped off since my last tour here a few weeks prior to this one. [b]
Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
YELLOW-BELLIED FAIRY-FANTAIL (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) – Awfully darned cute!
GRAY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER (Culicicapa ceylonensis) – Another species that we recorded almost daily, at least by voice.
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
JAPANESE TIT (Parus minor nubicolus) – Great Tit was recently split into three species, with this one being found from about c. China eastward and n. of the Himalayas.
YELLOW-CHEEKED TIT (Parus spilonotus) – One of the most common voices at high elevations in the northwest of the country.
YELLOW-BROWED TIT (Sylviparus modestus) – Doi Lang has been very reliable for this one lately. You really have to use your imagination to recognize this drab little bird as a tit!
SULTAN TIT (Melanochlora sultanea) – This striking parid was seen well at Kaeng Krachan - usually our best place for seeing this one.
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BLACK-THROATED TIT (Aegithalos concinnus) – The looks we had on Doi Lang were all too brief.
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
CHESTNUT-VENTED NUTHATCH (Sitta nagaensis) – Typically the most common nuthatch in the mountains of the northwest.
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis) – Quite different from the nuthatches that we know from home.
GIANT NUTHATCH (Sitta magna) – Fabulous scope views of this ne as it sang on a dead snag next to the road on Doi Lang. The tiny World range of this one makes it a very coveted target species on this tour.
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
HUME'S TREECREEPER (Certhia manipurensis shanensis) – Brown-throated Treecreeper was recently split into two species, with this one being the more south-easterly of the two.
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
CRESTED FINCHBILL (Spizixos canifrons) – One of our main targets on Doi lang, we saw this one very well a few times there and on Doi Angkhang.
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps) – A widespread species across all of s.e. Asia.
STRIATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus striatus) – One of the few bulbul species restricted to the highlands on this tour.
BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus flaviventris) – Our most widespread bulbul.
RED-WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus) – This one is getting tougher and tougher to find in Thailand due to the cagebird trade. It appears to be extinct in the wild in the south.
Some careful searching in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon usually turns up one of these -- a Eurasian Woodcock. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SOOTY-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus aurigaster) – We had both yellow-vented birds (in the south) and red-vented birds (in the north).
STRIPE-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus finlaysoni) – Excellent views, especially at Kaeng Krachan NP.
FLAVESCENT BULBUL (Pycnonotus flavescens) – Common throughout the higher elevations on this tour.
YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier) – Like the Streak-eared Bulbul, this one is always in the trashiest of habitats at low elevations.
STREAK-EARED BULBUL (Pycnonotus blanfordi) – A close relative of the Olive-winged Bulbul of the peninsula.
PUFF-THROATED BULBUL (Alophoixus pallidus) – This and the next are very closely related and I'm not sure I could separate them in the field if they occurred together someplace! This is the species that we saw and heard so commonly at Khao Yai NP and in parts of the northwest.
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus) – On this tour, restricted to Kaeng Krachan NP.
GRAY-EYED BULBUL (Iole propinqua) – This and the next pose a similar i.d. problem as the above two species, with this one being found in Khao Yai NP and in the northwest.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea) – This was a common species in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLACK BULBUL (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) – We didn't run into this one until we got to the mountains of the northwest.
ASHY BULBUL (Hemixos flavala) – Surprisingly tough this year at Khao Yai.
MOUNTAIN BULBUL (Ixos mcclellandii) – Another common bulbul species in the highlands of the northwest.
Pnoepygidae (Cupwings)
PYGMY CUPWING (Pnoepyga pusilla) – We had one fantastic look at this tiny skulker in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon. This and the other Phoepyga wren-babblers were recently moved into their own family, the Cupwings.
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
SLATY-BELLIED TESIA (Tesia olivea) – A notoriously difficult species to see well.
CHESTNUT-HEADED TESIA (Cettia castaneocoronata) – I think only one of two folks got a glimpse of this one in the thick understory on Doi Angkhang.
YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris) – This bamboo specialist is visually and vocally very similar to the Mountain Tailorbird, so it makes some sense that these two birds are now in the same family.
MOUNTAIN TAILORBIRD (Phyllergates cucullatus) – We finally caught up with it on Doi Angkhang, but it wasn't easy!
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
DUSKY WARBLER (Phylloscopus fuscatus) – Very few of these were evident on this tour, but we did have some decent looks near Rangsit.
BUFF-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus subaffinis) – The combination of a yellow throat and no wingbars make this one easy to i.d.
RADDE'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus schwarzi) – Similar to the above Dusky Warbler, but this one is notably warmer in plumage with brighter legs and a different call.
BUFF-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus pulcher) – Wintering here from China and not known to breed in Thailand. Formerly called the Orange-barred Warbler.
ASHY-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus maculipennis) – Doi Inthanon is the only spot in the country where this one breeds.
PALLAS'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus proregulus) – This ended up being a very good winter for this species in Thailand. We usually only get one or miss it altogether.
Siamese Crocodile (Crocodilus siamensis) has been wiped out of much of its former extensive range and is now listed as Critically Endangered -- sort of like the Spoon-billed Sandpiper of the crocodilians in that regard. After many tours to Thailand since the mid-90's, this was my first ever! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
HUME'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus humei) – Very closely related to the Yellow-browed (and just as inornate as that one!).
GREENISH WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochiloides) – This form - which may yet prove to be a species distinct from the next taxon - occurs at higher elevations in Thailand during the winter months than the 'Two-barred' form.
GREENISH WARBLER (TWO-BARRED) (Phylloscopus trochiloides plumbeitarsus) – Especially common at Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan NPs.
PALE-LEGGED LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus tenellipes) [*]
BLYTH'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus reguloides assamensis) – This is the form (now a separate species) that breeds in Thailand, and it was quite vocal up in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon.
CLAUDIA'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus claudiae) – A recent split from true Blyth's, this one only winters in the country and behaves more like a Black-and-white Warbler than true Blyth's.
DAVISON'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus davisoni) – There's nothing called a White-tailed Leaf-Warbler any more, since that one was split up into several species. This is the common form of that one that breeds throughout the highlands of n. Thailand.
SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLER (Phylloscopus ricketti) – We had a couple of birds briefly at Khao Yai, where they are wintering.
GRAY-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus tephrocephalus) – This one was more elusive than normal, with most getting just a quick glimpse. This and the next three species were part of the Golden-spectacled Warbler before that one was split into half a dozen species.
PLAIN-TAILED WARBLER (Seicercus soror) – This one probably winters throughout, but it's most easily seen in Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan.
MARTENS'S WARBLER (Seicercus omeiensis) – Like all of these other 'Golden-spectacled' warblers, this is best identified by call. The call of this one sounds quite a bit like our Wilson's Warbler.
BIANCHI'S WARBLER (Seicercus valentini) – This one is probably the scarcest of the four, but we saw it quite well on Doi Lang.
CHESTNUT-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus castaniceps) – That high-pitched song is probably missed entirely by most birders, especially if you have trouble at the high end of the spectrum.
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
THICK-BILLED WARBLER (Iduna aedon) – We managed to find one of these big, plain warblers on the grounds of our resort near Kaeng Krachan.
BLACK-BROWED REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) – Difficult to get a good look at this one while it worked through the cattails near Bangkok.
ORIENTAL REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus orientalis) – A bit bigger and a little less dull than the Thick-billed Warbler.
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER (Locustella certhiola) – Easier to hear this one than it is to see it in the reeds.
S.E. Asian woodpeckers are notoriously shy, but this Streak-breasted Woodpecker at Kaeng Krachan NP bucked that trend. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
RUSSET BUSH-WARBLER (Locustella mandelli idonea) – The briefest of looks for some.
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis) – In Europe, they call this one the Fan-tailed Warbler.
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius) – Common throughout, but we saw very few.
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis) – More of a forest species than the above Common.
HILL PRINIA (Prinia superciliaris) – The only prinia on the tour restricted to the highlands.
RUFESCENT PRINIA (Prinia rufescens) [*]
GRAY-BREASTED PRINIA (Prinia hodgsonii) – Sometimes that gray breast isn't very obvious.
YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris) – Especially abundant in the Rangsit marshes.
PLAIN PRINIA (Prinia inornata)
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
GRAY-HEADED PARROTBILL (Psittiparus gularis) – We ended up seeing this one a couple of times, but most surprising was seeing it joining the other birds in the flowering Erythrina on Doi Lang.
SPOT-BREASTED PARROTBILL (Paradoxornis guttaticollis) – This one, a bigger parrotbill than the Gray-headed, was seen in the Erythrina flowers as well, but in a different tree. I had no idea before this tour that parrotbills would use those flowers!
Zosteropidae (Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies)
STRIATED YUHINA (Yuhina castaniceps) – This is the form that occurs in the western half of the country. The Indochinese Yuhina, recently split from this one, is only found in the east of Thailand.
WHISKERED YUHINA (Yuhina flavicollis) – One of the specialties (within Thailand) that we saw on Doi Lang during our visit there.
CHESTNUT-FLANKED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops erythropleurus) – We saw very few white-eyes well enough to i.d. them, and I thought that their overall numbers were way down (but it was getting late in the season for these). Some finally caught up with this one on Doi Inthanon or on Doi Lang.
ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE (Zosterops palpebrosus) – Again, very few of these on the tour this year. [N]
JAPANESE WHITE-EYE (Zosterops japonicus) – This one lacks the yellow belly stripe that you see on the Oriental W.E.
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)
CHESTNUT-CAPPED BABBLER (Timalia pileata) – Most had to piece this one together after multiple glimpses. One of the more difficult of the babblers to see well.
PIN-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Mixornis gularis) – Called Striped Tit-Babbler in the field guides (it was recently split into two).
GOLDEN BABBLER (Cyanoderma chrysaeum) – After hearing quite a few earlier in the tour, we finally caught up nicely with it on Doi Lang.
RUFOUS-FRONTED BABBLER (Cyanoderma rufifrons) – This one sounds almost exactly like the above Golden Babbler, but occurs in a different habitat.
WHITE-BROWED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus schisticeps) – It was tough to pull this one out this year, for some reason.
LARGE SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos) – Nice looks on our first full day at Khao Yai NP.
RUSTY-CHEEKED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys) – Great views at the photographer hides on Doi Lang. Normally, a bit of a pain to try to see.
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps) – Another skulking species that's very difficult to get a good look at.
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
COLLARED BABBLER (Gampsorhynchus torquatus) – The book calls this one the White-hooded Babbler, but it's since been split into two species.
The Thailand tour has always been fantastic for butterflies, not just for birds. "Puddle parties," like this one, are a pretty typical sight along the roadside at Kaeng Krachan NP. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
PUFF-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps) – We hear this one a lot more often than we see it. Still, it's probably the easiest of the Pellorneum to see!
SPOT-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum albiventre) – Certainly one of the toughest birds to see on this itinerary.
BUFF-BREASTED BABBLER (Pellorneum tickelli) – This shy species came in nicely on Doi Inthanon.
EYEBROWED WREN-BABBLER (Napothera epilepidota) – Our prize at the final hour of the tour on Doi Suthep!
ABBOTT'S BABBLER (Turdinus abbotti) – We watched in amazement as a very curious and unwary bird came in to investigate us along the paved path to the waterfall on our last day at Khao Yai.
LIMESTONE WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus crispifrons calcicola) – This was the first of our many "babblers" on this tour.
STREAKED WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus brevicaudatus) [*]
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
BROWN-CHEEKED FULVETTA (Alcippe poioicephala) – We had both the southern A.p. davisoni at Kaeng Krachan and the more northerly A.p. haringtoniae at Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep. The voices of these two races are notably different and the davisoni completely lacks the black supercilium found on haringtoniae. Hmmm....
YUNNAN FULVETTA (Alcippe fratercula) – This is what's called Gray-cheeked Fulvetta in the field guide. This one was recently split into four species and the real Gray-cheeked Fulvetta is now confined to Taiwan.
WHITE-CRESTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax leucolophus) – There aren't many laughingthrushes fancier than this one!
LESSER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax monileger) – These never really gave us a 'clean' look at Khao Yai NP.
WHITE-NECKED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax strepitans) – We had surprisingly good views of a group of these shy birds on Doi Inthanon one afternoon.
GREATER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla pectoralis) [*]
BLACK-THROATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla chinensis) – Seeing a few of these completely out in the open and going after the moths attracted to the lights at the military checkpoint just blew me away!
WHITE-BROWED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla sannio) – I've never seen these normally shy laughingthrushes feeding in the open at Erythrina flowers before!
SILVER-EARED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Trochalopteron melanostigma) – This one's called Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush in the field guide. It was recently split into four species.
BLACK-BACKED SIBIA (Heterophasia melanoleuca) – Called Dark-backed Sibia in the field guide - a better name since the back isn't black!
SILVER-EARED MESIA (Leiothrix argentauris) – We had several great views of this lovely babbler.
RUFOUS-BACKED SIBIA (Minla annectens) – This one was a little more evident this trip than it was on my last tour here.
SCARLET-FACED LIOCICHLA (Liocichla ripponi) – Called Red-faced Liocichla in the field guide. We enjoyed fantastic views at the photographers' feeding stations again on this tour.
SPECTACLED BARWING (Actinodura ramsayi) – Another beauty in the mountains of the northwest! This one shared the feeding station with the above Liocichla.
These Silver-eared Laughingthrushes on Doi Inthanon are some of the easiest laughingthrushes to see in the entire country! Ah, if they could all be that easy... (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
CHESTNUT-TAILED MINLA (Actinodura strigula) – Spectacular! And so confiding!
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella) – That blue plumage looks completely unnatural!
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa sibirica) – Variously called the Siberian or Sooty Flycatcher in some guides, these were staked out on nearly every exposed snag at the upper reaches of the road in Kaeng Krachan.
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa latirostris) – A widespread wintering species here.
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis) – Just about everywhere in open or disturbed habitats.
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (Copsychus malabaricus) – Most were seen in either Khao Yai or Kaeng Krachan NP.
WHITE-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Anthipes monileger) – Frequenting one of the photographers' feeding stations on Doi Lang, giving all superb views of this shy species.
HAINAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis hainanus) – All of the birds that we saw on the first half of the tour were nice adult males.
PALE BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis unicolor) – Excellent views of this uncommon species along the roadside at Doi Lang.
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (BLUE-THROATED) (Cyornis rubeculoides dialilaemus) – We had an adult male come in to my Collared Owlet imitation on Doi Inthanon.
HILL BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis banyumas) – Easily the most common and widespread of the five species of blue-flycatchers on this tour.
TICKELL'S BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis tickelliae) – Decent looks, with a little work, on our final morning near Chiang Mai.
LARGE NILTAVA (Niltava grandis) – Typically the most common and widespread of the niltavas seen on this tour.
SMALL NILTAVA (Niltava macgrigoriae) – A cooperative male came in for a look on Doi Inthanon. A miniature replica of the above species!
RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA (Niltava sundara) – With a little patience, this stakeout adult male came in for great views on Doi Angkhang. We don't usually get this one quite so well!
BLUE-AND-WHITE FLYCATCHER (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) – An adult male was a very nice surprise for us as we waited for the Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo to make an appearance at Khao Yai.
VERDITER FLYCATCHER (Eumyias thalassinus) – That color is a little hard to describe.
WHITE-BROWED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx montana) – We all saw a very cooperative male in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon. This widespread species is found in the highlands across s. Asia and in the Philippines and Greater and Lesser Sundas. This is one that probably needs to be reevaluated taxonomically and split into at least several species.
SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora cyane) – That male at the wet spot behind the campground at Khao Yai was really something!
WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART (Luscinia phaenicuroides) – Doi Lang seems to be the best spot for this one along our route.
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus caeruleus eugenei) – This was the breeding race with the yellow bill, and was the most common race that we encountered.
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus caeruleus caeruleus) – This was the black-billed migrant race that we saw up north. The calls of these two races are very different and I wouldn't be at all surprised if these two get split in the future.
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (Enicurus leschenaulti) – Rob & Rita spotted a pair of these along the little stream at Doi Inthanon - a stream normally occupied by Slaty-backed Forktail - and all present ended up with super views in the scope.
BLACK-BACKED FORKTAIL (Enicurus immaculatus) – This one gave us fits at the bottom of Doi Inthanon.
Thailand is a terrific tour for barbets, too! We found this Green-eared Barbet working on a nest hole in a dead snag at eye-level along the main road through Kaeng Krachan this year, reminding us that these Asian barbets are indeed very closely related to woodpeckers. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT (Calliope calliope) – Great views at one of the photographers' feeding stations on Doi Lang.
WHITE-TAILED ROBIN (Cinclidium leucurum) – We hardly ever encounter this species on this tour, so it was great to get multiples again on this trip (like my last tour).
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (Tarsiger cyanurus) – This was the male that we saw so well on Doi Lang. The very similar, and recently split, Himalayan Bluetail, occupied this same territory only a couple of weeks earlier on my first tour here.
LITTLE PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula westermanni) – #2000 for Deb!!!
TAIGA FLYCATCHER (Ficedula albicilla) – Almost daily, but we actually saw very few. A recent split from Red-breasted Flycatcher of the W. Palearctic.
ULTRAMARINE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula superciliaris) – Three individual adult males was my best ever tally on this tour!
RUFOUS-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula strophiata) – Memorable views of an adult male on Doi Lang.
MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER (Ficedula mugimaki) – Talk about a cooperative bird! Fantastic looks of this adult male at Khao Yai.
SLATY-BACKED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hodgsonii) – A rather common wintering bird in the pine and mixed woodlands of the mountains in the northwest.
SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hyperythra) – The summit bog on Doi Inthanon is usually the place where we find this widespread species.
SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula tricolor) – A couple of skulky females were glimpsed by most.
SAPPHIRE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula sapphira) – A winter-plumaged male on Doi Lang capped off our brilliant array of Asian flycatchers on this tour.
PLUMBEOUS REDSTART (Phoenicurus fuliginosus) – A male for some on Doi Inthanon. Curiously absent from the usual places on this tour.
WHITE-CAPPED REDSTART (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) – A stunning bird in a stunning setting!
DAURIAN REDSTART (Phoenicurus auroreus) – This cooperative male stuck around at the Myanmar border all winter, allowing nice views of this migrant from China.
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius pandoo) – The males that we saw were clearly this all-blue race.
SIBERIAN STONECHAT (Saxicola maurus) – Common in the abundant agriculture throughout. Split from Common Stonechat to the west.
PIED BUSHCHAT (Saxicola caprata) – The name "Pied" doesn't really make sense until you see the male fly.
GRAY BUSHCHAT (Saxicola ferreus) – A bit shrike-like in appearance.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH (Geokichla citrina) – 'Rusty' gave us our best look at Khao Yai NP. That was one habituated bird!
DARK-SIDED THRUSH (Zoothera marginata) – Careful searching usually turns up this retiring species digging around in the mud of the Doi Inthanon summit bog.
EYEBROWED THRUSH (Turdus obscurus) – Nicely seen in the scope in the flowering Erythrinas on Doi Lang.
GREEN COCHOA (Cochoa viridis) [*]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA (Ampeliceps coronatus) – Some got a quick glimpse of a pair flying away from us at Kaeng Krachan NP.
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) – A wonderful species that most N. American birders have only seen in a cage or flying around in Greater Miami before doing this tour.
GREAT MYNA (Acridotheres grandis) – Called White-vented Myna in the field guide. "Great" is a pretty charitable name for this one.
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)
VINOUS-BREASTED STARLING (Acridotheres burmannicus) – A couple of pairs on our final day at the Kaeng Krachan NP headquarters.
BLACK-COLLARED STARLING (Gracupica nigricollis) – One of the largest of the Asian starlings.
ASIAN PIED STARLING (Gracupica contra) – Easily found out in the rice paddies of the south and north.
WHITE-SHOULDERED STARLING (Sturnia sinensis) – A couple of surprise flyby flocks out at Rangsit before we drove north to Khao Yai.
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati) – Kaeng Krachan is the only spot for this one along our route.
BLUE-WINGED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) – Our most common leafbird on the first half of the tour.
GOLDEN-FRONTED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis aurifrons) – Our best were probably at Inthanon Nest near our resort. This one favors drier habitats than the others.
ORANGE-BELLIED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis hardwickii) – Fantastic looks in the scope on Doi Angkhang!
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
THICK-BILLED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum agile) – That orange eye and the wagging tail help i.d. this one.
YELLOW-VENTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum chrysorrheum) – Nicely at the campground at Khao Yai.
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) – This one's rarely seen on this tour, but it's dirt common in the south on the peninsula.
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus ignipectus) – This was the race that we saw in the northwest that actually has some 'fire' on the breast.
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus cambodianum) – The race at Khao Yai that lacks all of that 'fire' on the underparts.
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum) – The common flowerpecker of the lowlands and the cities.
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis) – This one reminds me of one of our American wood-warblers.
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis) – Also called Brown-throated Sunbird (something to keep in mind if the gray-throated birds in the Philippines are split out).
PURPLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris asiaticus) – We saw plenty of these at Inthanon Nest near our resort.
OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris jugularis) – The common sunbird of the disturbed lowlands. [N]
BLACK-THROATED SUNBIRD (Aethopyga saturata) – This one shows quite a bit of elevational range with birds at Khao Yai and then again up on the slopes of Doi Inthanon.
GOULD'S SUNBIRD (Aethopyga gouldiae) – Pretty shocking when you first see an adult male!
GREEN-TAILED SUNBIRD (Aethopyga nipalensis) – The race here, A.n. angkanensis, is endemic to n.w. Thailand.
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja) – A few vibrant males at Kaeng Krachan.
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra) – The most widespread spiderhunter on the tour.
STREAKED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera magna) – Unmistakable!
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla tschutschensis) – I think that the race we saw was mostly M.t. macronyx.
CITRINE WAGTAIL (Motacilla citreola) – Including one far to the south at Rangsit.
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea) – Our most common wagtail, with all of our sightings away from agriculture and the lowlands.
WHITE WAGTAIL (CHINESE) (Motacilla alba leucopsis) – Very few of these this year, with just a couple on our travel day from Doi Inthanon to Thaton.
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus) – Also called the Paddyfield Pipit. Formerly lumped with Richard's Pipit.
OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT (Anthus hodgsoni) – A few in the highlands of the northwest. A bird of forest edge, not of agricultural areas (in general).
FOREST WAGTAIL (Dendronanthus indicus) – A surprise find near Wat Phai Lom on our first afternoon out of Bangkok.
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
CRESTED BUNTING (Melophus lathami) – One of the many and varied species that visited the highly attractive Erythrina flowers on Doi Lang.
CHESTNUT BUNTING (Emberiza rutila) – A few distant flybys at Doi Angkhang for some.
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
COMMON ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus erythrinus) – Pretty widespread this year in the northwest.
SPOT-WINGED GROSBEAK (Mycerobas melanozanthos) – A flyover flock in the parking lot of our resort on Doi Angkhang was a very nice surprise there.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus indicus) – A recent invader from the west.
PLAIN-BACKED SPARROW (Passer flaveolus) – Quite attractive for a Passer!
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus)
Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies)
BAYA WEAVER (Ploceus philippinus) – It was nice to see a couple of males on the last morning near Chiang Mai.
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
WHITE-RUMPED MUNIA (Lonchura striata) – It's easy to separate these from the next two in flight - if you can see the rump and tail!
NUTMEG MANNIKIN (Lonchura punctulata) – Also called the Scaly-breasted Munia.
CHESTNUT MUNIA (Lonchura atricapilla) – A few in the marshes at Rangsit.
MAMMALS
WRINKLE-LIPPED FREE-TAILED BAT (Chaerephon plicatus) – These waited FOREVER to emerge on this trip, foiling the plans of the waiting raptors perched nearby.
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis) – Also called the Long-tailed Macaque.
PIGTAIL MACAQUE (Macaca nemestrina) – These primates have become a real problem at Khao Yai and no tent there is safe.
DUSKY LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis obscura) – Lots of great views at Kaeng Krachan NP.
PILEATED GIBBON (Hylobates pileatus) [*]
WHITE-HANDED GIBBON (Hylobates lar) – A couple of fine looks at this one at Khao Yai. That voice is really something!
BLACK GIANT SQUIRREL (Ratufa bicolor) – It often looks like a big black primate up in the tree with that long tail hanging down.
MOUNTAIN RED-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus flavimanus) – A few close animals on Doi Inthanon. That red belly was very evident.
FINLAYSON'S SQUIRREL (Callosciurus finlaysoni) – Also called the Variable Squirrel, this is the common tree squirrel in the lowlands and in the cities (even at our Bangkok hotel).
GRAY-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus caniceps) – Widespread, this one looks pretty different from place to place, but it always has that black tail tip.
HIMALAYAN STRIPED SQUIRREL (Tamiops macclellandi) – This was the little 'chipmunk' that we encountered so often throughout the tour.
INDOCHINESE GROUND SQUIRREL (Menetes berdmorei) – A couple of these in Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan.
SMALL ASIAN MONGOOSE (Herpestes javanicus) – Glimpsed a couple of times at Khao Yai.
MUNTJAC (BARKING DEER) (Muntiacus muntjak) – A 'regular' at Khao Yai along the roadsides there.
FEA'S MUNTJAC (Muntiacus feae) – Heard at Kaeng Krachan. [*]
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor) – Very habituated at Khao Yai.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 463 bird taxa and 16 mammal taxa