There’s something deeply rewarding about chasing birds through ever-changing habitats—each turn in the trail holds the promise of a lifer, a surprise call, or a flash of wings. This time, our birding adventure took us across some of Peninsular Malaysia’s most spectacular ecosystems—from mangrove swamps to the ancient lowland forests of Taman Negara, and up to the cool montane mist of Fraser’s Hill and Bukit Tinggi.
Joining me on this 9-day journey was Nevin, who not only assisted throughout the trip but also gained first-hand experience with several key birding hotspots in Peninsular Malaysia. This wasn't just a typical tour—it was an immersive dive into the rich avifauna these habitats have to offer, and a chance to showcase Malaysia’s incredible biodiversity.
Together, we recorded over 240 bird species—a remarkable feat in just over a week. Highlights included a colorful array of broadbills, trogons, hornbills, babblers, and lowland endemics. And it wasn’t just birds; we also encountered a handful of squirrels and primates, adding more excitement to the forest walks and roadside stops.
From sunrise chorus in the mangroves to night birding in the rainforest, every day offered a new kind of thrill and wonder.
Grouse, Quails and Allies: Ferruginous Partridge, Malayan Partridge, Malayan Crested Partridge, Great Argus, Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, Mountain Peacock-Pheasant, Red Junglefowl
Pigeons and Doves: Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Little Cuckoo-Dove, Asian Emerald Dove, Zebra Dove, Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, Large Green Pigeon, Jambu Fruit Dove, Mountain Imperial-Pigeon
Cuckoos: Greater Coucal, Raffles's Malkoha, Red-billed Malkoha, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Black-bellied Malkoha, Green-billed Malkoha, Asian Koel, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Plaintive Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Nightjars: Large-tailed Nightjar
Swifts: Silver-rumped Spinetail, Plume-toed Swiftlet
Treeswifts: Grey-rumped Treeswift, Whiskered Treeswift
Rails, Gallinules, and Allies: White-breasted Waterhen
Shorebirds: Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Barred Buttonquail
Storks: Asian Openbill
Herons, Ibis, and Allies: Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Striated Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Medium Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron
Vultures, Hawks, and Allies: Black-winged Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Blyth's Hawk-Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Owls: Eastern Barn Owl, Collared Scops Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Dusky Eagle Owl, Brown Wood Owl,
Trogons and Quetzals: Orange-breasted Trogon, Diard's Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Red-headed Trogon
Hornbills: Rhinoceros Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Wrinkled Hornbill
Bee-eaters: Red-bearded Bee-eater
Kingfishers: Banded Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Rufous-collared Kingfisher
Rollers and Allies: Dollarbird
Barbets and Toucans: Sooty Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Black-eared Barbet, Fire-tufted Barbet, Red-throated Barbet, Yellow-crowned Barbet, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Black-browed Barbet
Woodpeckers: Rufous Piculet, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Maroon Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Bamboo Woodpecker, Olive-backed Woodpecker, Common Flameback, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Laced Woodpecker, Banded Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras: Black-thighed Falconet
Parrots, Parakeets, and Allies: Blue-rumped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot
African and Green Broadbills: Green Broadbill
Asian and Grauer's Broadbills: Long-tailed Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Black-and-red Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Old World Pittas: Rusty-naped Pitta, Malayan Banded Pitta,
Thornbills and Allies: Golden-bellied Gerygone
Cuckooshrikes: Grey-chinned Minivet, Malayan Cuckooshrike, Lesser Cuckooshrike
Shrike-Babblers and Erpornis: White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, White-bellied Erpornis
Whistlers and Allies: Mangrove Whistler
Old World Orioles: Black-naped Oriole, Black-and-Crimson Oriole
Woodswallows: White-breasted Woodswallow
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Rufous-winged Philentoma
Monarch Flycatchers: Black-naped Monarch
Jays, Magpies, Crows and Ravens: Malayan Black Magpie, House Crow, Sunda Crow, Large-billed Crow
Fairy Flycatchers: Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Tits, Chickadees and Titmice: Sultan Tit
Cisticolas and Allies: Common Tailorbird, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Ashy Tailorbird, Rufescent Prinia, Yellow-bellied Prinia
Cupwings: Pygmy Cupwing
Martins and Swallows: Pacific Swallow, Rufous-bellied Swallow
Bulbuls: Hairy-backed Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Finsch's Bulbul, Buff-vented Bulbul, Cinereous Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Black-headed Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Red-eyed Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul
Leaf Warblers: Chestnut-crowned Warbler
Bush Warblers and Allies: Yellow-bellied Warbler, Mountain Tailorbird
White-eyes, Yuhinas and Allies: Swinhoe's White-eye, Hume's White-eye
Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies: Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Golden Babbler, Chestnut-winged Babbler, Black Laughingthrush, Black-throated Babbler, Chestnut-rumped Babbler
Ground Babblers and Allies: Sooty-capped Babbler, Scaly-crowned Babbler, Rufous-crowned Babbler, Moustached Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler, Malayan Black-capped Babbler, Short-tailed Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, White-chested Babbler, Ferruginous Babbler, Abbott's Babbler, Streaked Wren-Babbler
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Mountain Fulvetta, Malayan Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Sibia, Blue-winged Minla, Silver-eared Mesia, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
Nuthatches: Blue Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Starlings and Mynas: Asian Glossy Starling, Common Hill Myna, Common Myna, Javan Myna
Old World Flycatchers: Oriental Magpie Robin, White-rumped Shama, Large Niltava, Verditer Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Malaysian Blue Flycatcher, Lesser Shortwing, Slaty-backed Forktail, White-tailed Robin, Little Pied Flycatcher, Rufous-chested Flycatcher
Flowerpeckers: Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Plain Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Ornate Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Purple-naped Spiderhunter, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Little Spiderhunter, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter
Fairy-bluebirds: Asian Fairy-bluebird
Leafbirds: Greater Green Leafbird, Lesser Green Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Orange-bellied Leafbird
Weavers and Allies: Baya Weaver
Estrildids: Scaly-breasted Munia, White-rumped Munia, Pin-tailed Parrotfinch
Old World Sparrows: Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Other Wildlife: Long-tailed Macaque, Pig-tailed Macaque, Silvered Langur, White-thighed Surili, Dusky Langur, Siamang, Prevost's Squirrel, Himalayan Striped Squirrel, Red-cheeked Squirrel, Pallas's Squirrel, Grey-bellied Squirrel, Plantain Squirrel, Short-tailed Gymnure, Slow Loris
*UPDATE: After a series of consultations, the issue affecting my mobility has been identified. As a result, I will need to attend therapy. My travel plans must be tailored to minimize the amount of time spent walking, trekking on uneven terrain, and to avoid prolonged periods of standing or sitting.*
