Birdlife on Thai tours
With an impressive 1000 plus confirmed bird species, Thailand is something of a birding hotspot, and there are plenty of specialist sites and posts on the subject so our birdlife on Thai tours post merely describes the more common species that the casual visitor is likely to come across. Having said that, cities such as Chiang Mai and even downtown Bangkok are home to a surprising variety and factoring in our featured national park visits to Khao Yai, Khao Sok, Thale Noi bird sanctuary etcetera, this can amount to a impressive array of sightings.
Thailand too has tree sparrows and pigeons although dove species, (zebra and spotted), are ubiquitous while common and white-vented mynas replace the European starling. (They’re in the same family.) Equally ubiquitous in parks and gardens and often heard rather than seen are greater coucals and Asian koels. (That’s an Australian link but we liked the birds behaving badly tag.) The former is a large black and brick red bird that makes a loud, deep whooping noise that visitors often confuse with monkeys while the onomatopoeic koel makes an equally loud koo-el kind of sound. (See side image.) Striking males are jet black with bright red eyes and females speckled brown and white although they are often described as Thailand’s most annoying bird. They never seem to sleep and if you’re unlucky enough to have one perched in a tree outside your room at 5.00 in the morning you’ll quickly understand the annoying tag.
Spotted and zebra doves are more common than pigeons in many areas Perhaps more exotic and certainly less annoying species commonly seen in urban parks and gardens include several members of the bulbul family – yellow-vented, streak-eared and red-whiskered (featured image) are all common – the black and white, magpie robin and beautifully coloured, coppersmith barbets. Orioles, drongos (black and ashy) and starlings, (namely the black-collared) also feature as do certain smaller, hard to spot species such as tailor birds, olive-backed sunbirds and the tiny scarlet-backed flower peckers. Sunbirds being the Old World equivalent of hummingbirds. All are common but the size means they’re often overlooked.
Yellow-vented bulbul in a Samui garden Pond herons, night herons, little egrets and white-throated kingfishers are commonly seen birdlife on Thai tours in city ponds and Bangkok’s canals with great egrets and Asian openbill storks in larger ponds and suburban areas.
Heading out of the towns, egrets and openbill storks are a frequent paddyfield sight, although smaller species such as pipits and warblers may also go under the radar, whilst roadside cables provide lookouts for insectivores such as drongos, kingfishers and if you’re lucky the stunning electric blue wings of the Indian/Indochinese Roller or the turquoise-winged bee-eaters. Regularly spotted raptors include brahminy kites, crested serpent eagles and changeable hawk eagles.
Islands
The numerous Gulf and Andaman Sea islands also present great opportunities for spotting birdlife on Thai tours as the geography of Koh Chang, Koh Lanta and Koh Kut for example features developed coastal areas but often well-preserved, tracts of forest interiors as well as mangroves. Reef egrets, sea eagles and the aforementioned brahminy kites are regularly seen along beaches while Andaman coast islands are particularly popular with oriental pied and great hornbills. The latter in particular are clearly very intelligent birds and have long since worked out that tourists pose no threat and indeed tourist resorts represent safe havens with plenty of food opportunities.
Birdlife on Thai tours. 1 of a pair of hornbills nesting in a Koh Lanta resort garden The prevalent bulbul species on several of the Gulf islands is the attractive black-headed bulbul while hill mynas often venture down into resort gardens. Distinctive pigeon silhouettes are worth checking out as they may hide the stunning plumage of pink-necked or thick-billed pigeons.
Khao Yai
In addition to several hornbill species, Khao Yai National Park is a great spot to see some of the rarer forest birds such as trogons and broadbills. Although elusive, the expert local guides will do their best to find orange-breasted and red-headed trogons as well as the stunning long-tailed broadbill.
Nesting broadbill in Khao Yai Khao Sok
Another great spot for birdlife on Thai tours with Khao Sok National Park laying claim to no less than 9 species of hornbills. You’re not going to see them all but Asian pied, great and wreathed hornbills are regular sightings.
Wreathed and great hornbills. (We confess this was taken in a park in Phnom Penh but Khao Sok ones look the same Thale Noi
Phattalung Province’s Thale Noi Non-hunting Area is one of south Thailand’s best spots for water birds with common residents including the unusual purple swamp hen, pheasant-tailed jacanas and cotton pygmy geese along with a range of egrets, cormorants, herons and storks. Raptors include kites and white-bellied sea eagles while stilts, terns and needless to say kingfishers are ubiquitous.
Early morning on Thale Noi We repeat, if you keep your eyes pealed in a hotel garden you’ll spot a surprising number of common and exotic birdlife while if you’re at a loose end on a minibus journey just scan the roadside cables and fields. Otherwise, a dawn boat trip on Thale Noi is included on our Mountains and Rainforests South Thai tour, along with a 2-day exploration of Khao Sok National Park with the latter also featuring on our Thailand family tours, Jungles and Islands and Reefs and Rainforests. A one day jeep and hiking tour of Khao Yai is included on both our Thailand World Heritage and Thailand and Laos Emerald Triangle tour.
Surprising the number of guests who arrive expressing no particular interest in birdwatching but by the end of the tour are compiling bird lists or purchasing a birds of Thailand guide so, even if you’re not a regular twitcher, we’d say it is worth finding room in your bag for a small pair of binoculars.
