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The magnificent (and very great!) Great Hornbill (Photo by participant Bill Fraser)
We sure packed a lot into our three weeks in beautiful and birdy Thailand, but I wouldn't have taken anything out of our busy days there! We had no trouble with the weather, as is the norm at this season in Thailand, and the temps were just about right everywhere we went.
This really is the perfect introductory tour to birding in Southeast Asia. Just about every family that you could want to see here is represented on this tour, and every habitat that we visited had loads of residents and migrants alike to watch and enjoy. And to be comfortable and well-fed and be pampered by our top-notch crew of Wat & Co. only added to our enjoyment.
Our list of 450+ birds certainly had some diversity to it! From the shorebirds on the coast to the babblers and sunbirds at the top of Doi Inthanon, this tour really had it all. We always start off the tour with a concerted search for the Critically Endangerd Spoon-billed Sandpiper on the coast south of Bangkok, and this rare shorebird again did not disappoint. To look through thousands of shorebirds for this one rarity is a little daunting, but we usually find it among the throngs of more common species.
Khao Yai, our first forested venue, laid the groundwork for what was to come later in the trip. We were introduced to our first babblers, leafbirds, bulbuls, tailorbirds, hornbills, drongos, fairy-bluebirds, bee-eaters, etc., and mixed in some pretty special things, too, like Thailand's national bird -- the stunning Siamese Fireback. Kaeng Krachan NP, our next stop on our route, produced even more than Khao Yai did, mostly because it lies at the confluence of a few major avifaunal regions. I'll not soon forget our gaudy Banded and Black-and-yellow broadbills, our magnificent Great Hornbills, bizarre Red-bearded Bee-eaters, that one-of-a-kind Crested Jay, and that surprise Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl! It's always been my favorite place to bird in Thailand, and I always hate to leave -- but we pushed on to the high mountains of the northwest.
We couldn't have asked for better weather on Doi Inthanon, and we were invigorated by the cool mountain mornings there as we began our search for a completely new slice of the Thai birdlist. The Himalayas have a big influence on the avifauna here in northwest Thailand, and we saw many birds widespread in the Himalayan region -- brand new to those of us who'd never visited Asia before. Our first birds were in the intimate setting of the summit bog on the mountain, where we found electric male Gould's and Green-tailed sunbirds, the tiny Pygmy Cupwing, hyperactive Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantails, skulking White-browed Shortwings, and more among the towering trees and Rhododendron blossoms. Other areas on this mountain produced a long list of additional goodies including Spectacled Barwing, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Golden-throated Barbet, White-capped Redstart, Black-backed Forktail, Collared Falconet, and so many more.
Our two other mountain venues held their own treasures. A Giant Nuthatch on Doi Lang gave us a thrill, as did that confiding pair of Spot-breasted Parrotbills, a noisy group of Coral-billed Scimitar-Babblers, and a stunning male Himalayan Bluetail. Doi Angkhang treated us to one of the most striking birds of the tour -- the Scarlet-faced Liocichla -- as well as a fabulous male Rufous-bellied Niltava, a dapper male Daurian Redstart, multiple male White-tailed Robins, the shy White-browed Laughingthrush, and a surprise Jerdon's Bushchat. Finishing up the tour with a wonderful encounter with multiple Green Peafowl near Chiang Mai and Long-tailed Broadbill on Doi Suthep made the trip complete.
As with every year I guide this tour, I need to thank our ground agent, Wat, for his flawless orchestration of the tour's logistics and meals. I certainly couldn't do this tour without him and his superstar crew! Thanks to all of them! And thanks to all of you for joining me on this truly superb tour to the heart of Southeast Asia. I couldn't have done it without all of YOU! We all shared some wonderful moments together during our three weeks in Thailand, and I hope we can do it again someplace new in the coming years!
--Dave
This year's tour also featured a Peninsular Thailand & Nicobar Pigeon Extension -- you can see its bird list at this link.
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)
Our tableau of Lesser Whistling-Ducks (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE (Nettapus coromandelianus) – Just a few this year in and around Bangkok.
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata) – A few of these, along with several N. Pintail and several Garganey, with the above congregation of Lesser Whistling-Ducks.
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GARGANEY (Anas querquedula)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
CHINESE FRANCOLIN (Francolinus pintadeanus) [*]
RUFOUS-THROATED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila rufogularis) – Excellent views of one of these ornate partridges calling near the steps in the summit bog atop Doi Inthanon.
BAR-BACKED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila brunneopectus) [*]
SCALY-BREASTED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila chloropus) [*]
FERRUGINOUS PARTRIDGE (Caloperdix oculeus) [*]
MOUNTAIN BAMBOO-PARTRIDGE (Bambusicola fytchii) – Excellent views from the van along the road ascending Doi Lang.
RED JUNGLEFOWL (Gallus gallus) – After seeing a few females, we finally caught sight of a fancy male at Kaeng Krachan. Everybody wants to see this wild ancestor of our modern day domestic chicken!
Crimson-winged Woodpecker at Kaeng Krachan -- a very fancy woodpecker on a tour that has some beauties! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SILVER PHEASANT (Lophura nycthemera) – A late afternoon visit to the boardwalk in Khao Yai NP paid off with looks at a couple of wary female birds.
SIAMESE FIREBACK (Lophura diardi) – We had to peer through the undergrowth from the van, but we all came away with nice views of this fancy pheasant at Khao Yai NP.
GRAY PEACOCK-PHEASANT (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) – It took forever for this bird to respond, but he did come walking in below our perch up in the edge of the road and gave some folks a decent to great view. It was really tough for the group to stay still and quiet for such a long time, but anything short of that and this shy pheasant will turn and walk away, never to be seen!
GREEN PEAFOWL (Pavo muticus) – I thought that those few females down the road would be all that we would see this year, but we ended up with stunning views of a couple of males with long trains across the lake from our vantage point. Very scarce now throughout its range in SE Asia.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Ciconiidae (Storks)
ASIAN OPENBILL (Anastomus oscitans) – Good numbers of this distinctive stork around Bangkok, as usual.
PAINTED STORK (Mycteria leucocephala) – A single flyover at the Rangsit marsh on the morning that we traveled from Bangkok to Khao Yai. This one is becoming more regular on this tour.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
INDIAN CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) – We had several of thes on the first two days of the tour in direct comparison with the smaller Little Cormorant.
LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
YELLOW BITTERN (Ixobrychus sinensis) – You really couldn't beat that look we had on our first afternoon together at Wat Tian Thawai.
CINNAMON BITTERN (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) – We all happened to be looking up and in the same direction when this striking bittern flew up from the marsh.
BLACK BITTERN (Ixobrychus flavicollis) – Briefly by some at Wat Phai Lom on the first afternoon.
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)
GREAT EGRET (AUSTRALASIAN) (Ardea alba modesta)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia)
CHINESE EGRET (Egretta eulophotes) – We couldn't quite get everyone on this rarity before it disappeared into the mangroves at Laem Phak Bia.
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
PACIFIC REEF-HERON (Egretta sacra) – All of ours were dark-morph birds at Laem Phak Bia.
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – The American taxonomists don't yet split this eastern form from the western Cattle Egret.
Red-breasted Parakeet at Khao Yai (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
STRIATED HERON (OLD WORLD) (Butorides striata javanica)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus)
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus) – A single bird soaring above the lower road at Kaeng Krachan NP was the only one seen on the main tour.
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela) – Great looks, especially at Kaeng Krachan.
GRAY-FACED BUZZARD (Butastur indicus) – The only birds that we saw the entire trip were those two young birds on our way up to Doi Lang on our second day there.
PIED HARRIER (Circus melanoleucos) – It was quite a shock to see this gorgeous adult male bird fly over our parked van just as we were about to leave! What a beauty!
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus) – We saw the fewest of this normally uncommon species this year than I've ever encountered on this tour before. Where the heck were they?!
SHIKRA (Accipiter badius) – This one is typically the most common Accipiter on the tour, but numbers of these were down, too.
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans)
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
COMMON BUZZARD (JAPONICUS) (Buteo buteo japonicus) – We almost dipped on this one, getting our first on Doi Angkhang. Most Old World taxonomists now split this eastern form from the Common Buzzard farther to the west in the Palearctic.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – Plenty in the Bangkok area.
BLACK-TAILED CRAKE (Amaurornis bicolor) [*]
The beautiful Orange-headed Thrush at Khao Yai (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHITE-BROWED CRAKE (Porzana cinerea) – Several in the first marsh that we stopped at after lunch on our way to Kaeng Krachan from Khao Yai.
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (BLACK-BACKED) (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis) [*]
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) – Now split from our own Common Gallinule in the New World.
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
INDIAN THICK-KNEE (Burhinus indicus) – We ended up with a nice encounter with this one late in the afternoon at Kaeng Krachan. This eastern form is now split from the birds farther to the west.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) – Just a few of these around this year; thought to be a real vagrant to Thailand until just a few years ago when they started showing up in moderate numbers along the coast.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva)
GRAY-HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus cinereus) – Great views of a decent-sized flock near Mae Taeng on our way to Thaton.
RED-WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus atronuchalis) – Some taxonomists now split this eastern form from the Indian birds.
LESSER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius mongolus) – If you've been birding for a while, you learned this one as the Mongolian Plover. Most of the sand-plovers south of Bangkok were this species and most of these were likely birds wintering here from the Tibetan Plateau (the 'atrifrons' group of subspecies), but I'm not sure how to i.d. them in basic plumage from the very similar 'mongolus' group of NE Asia.
GREATER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius leschenaultii) – Far outnumbered by the above sand-plover, but relatively easy to pick out with their larger bills and longer legs.
MALAYSIAN PLOVER (Charadrius peronii) – Once we got out to the spit, these were relatively easy to find. Like our Piping Plover, which also needs undisturbed sand beaches on which to breed, this one is in serious trouble due to the development of coastline within its range.
Gray-headed Lapwings at Mae Taeng (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
KENTISH PLOVER (WHITE-FACED) (Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus) – Some folks saw this female bird on the same beach as the above Malaysian Plovers. It's still undetermined exactly what these birds represent - a localized morph of the widespread Kentish Plover? Or a species distinct from that one? Stay tuned.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius) – We saw a mix of wintering birds from farther north (coastal birds) and birds that are breeding locally (north of Chiang Mai).
Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes)
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE (Rostratula benghalensis) – A quick walk down the dike put up this colorful species, as well as a few Common and Pin-tailed snipes.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) – Although they lack the long plumes of breeding plumage, these are still a breeze to i.d. when seen at this season, especially in flight.
BRONZE-WINGED JACANA (Metopidius indicus) – Nicely in the marsh on our way to Kaeng Krachan.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
TEREK SANDPIPER (Xenus cinereus) – A single bird was spied as we searched for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Pak Thale.
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus) – A little trickier to i.d. in this plumage, but really only confused with the similar Common Redshank.
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) – We looked through a lot of these to find the next species.
NORDMANN'S GREENSHANK (Tringa guttifer) – Woo Hoo!!! A lot of searching finally produced a little group of these hanging out with the Great Knots near Laem Phak Bia. One of the rarest of all shorebirds in the world.
MARSH SANDPIPER (Tringa stagnatilis) – Very 'phalaropish' in appearance at this season.
Coppersmith Barbet is a common sound in the lowlands. (Photo by participant Bill Fraser)
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)
FAR EASTERN CURLEW (Numenius madagascariensis) – Watching birds fly from that big flock of Eurasian Curlews at Phak Thale paid off with at least four of these scarce (in Thailand) birds readily i.d.'d in flight.
EURASIAN CURLEW (Numenius arquata)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa limosa melanuroides) – There's a move afoot to split these smaller Siberian bird from the larger birds that breed in the Western Palearctic (nominate limosa and islandica).
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa lapponica baueri) – Near the Nordmann's Greenshanks on our second visit to Laem Phak Bia.
GREAT KNOT (Calidris tenuirostris) – We found 100's of these wintering along the coast on our two visits there.
RED KNOT (Calidris canutus) – This was, by far, the largest number of Red Knots that I've ever seen in Thailand.
RUFF (Calidris pugnax)
BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris falcinellus) – This coastline is probably the best place to see this mostly uncommon shorebird.
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea)
TEMMINCK'S STINT (Calidris temminckii) – It took a lot of searching, but we finally found a single Temminck's at our last stop before heading to Kaeng Krachan.
LONG-TOED STINT (Calidris subminuta) – Very much like our Least Sandpiper in all regards.
SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER (Calidris pygmea) – YESSSSS!!!!! We had a bunch of shorebirds to sift through until this vanishing species materialized across a pond. A bit of walking got us closer to where it was feeding, allowing all an identifiable look in the scope. There may be as few as a couple hundred birds left on our planet.
RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis) – The most common 'stint' in the area.
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago) – Good looks in flight in near direct comparison with the similar Pin-tailed Snipe. Now split from our own Wilson's Snipe.
PIN-TAILED SNIPE (Gallinago stenura) – The dark underwings and lack of a white trailing edge to the secondaries help to i.d. this one in flight. On the ground, it seems to be pretty consistently shorter-tailed/longer-winged than the Common Snipe.
EURASIAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola) – Outstanding looks at this massive shorebird in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus) – A flock of 20 birds at Pak Thale was a surprise.
Turnicidae (Buttonquail)
YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAIL (Turnix tanki) – Seen in flight by some at Kaeng Krachan Country Club on our final morning there.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BROWN-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) – Easily the most common gull species along the coast of Thailand at any season.
PALLAS'S GULL (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) – Several of these were seen quite well at the spit at Laem Phak Bia. Also called the Great Black-headed Gull.
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
WHITE-WINGED TERN (Chlidonias leucopterus) – One perched bird in basic plumage seen well in the scope.
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida) – This and the Little Tern seemed to be the most abundant tern species along the coast.
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
GREAT CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bergii) – A few dozen of these, all in very worn plumage, were on the beach at the Laem Phak Bia spit.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
Red-bearded Bee-eater (Photo by participant Joe Wunderle)
RED COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)
BARRED CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia unchall) – A couple of quick flybys at Khao Yai NP showing that very distinctive flight profile.
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica) – Quite a few of these were spotted walking in the road at Kaeng Krachan NP.
ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) – It's thought that the birds north of the Peninsula are the descendants of introduced birds from many years ago.
PINK-NECKED PIGEON (Treron vernans) – A couple of flybys at Rangsit were seen pretty well.
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra) – Find a fruiting fig tree in either Khao Yai or Kaeng Krachan NP and you're pretty much guaranteed to find this attractive species.
YELLOW-VENTED PIGEON (Treron seimundi) – Very close... [*]
PIN-TAILED PIGEON (Treron apicauda) – A pair of these distinctive green-pigeons was scoped from the parking lot of the temple near Chiang Dao.
WEDGE-TAILED PIGEON (Treron sphenurus) – Great views in the scopes of a couple of birds perched low down in Kaeng Krachan NP.
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia) – You really don't get a feel for the size of this one until you get close - and we did get close!
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx sparverioides) [*]
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) – After hearing quite a few of these calling in the canopy, we finally got a great scope view of a singing bird at the Kaeng Krachan NP headquarters.
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus) – In the Bangkok area only this year.
ASIAN EMERALD CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx maculatus) – We only saw two of these, but they were both stunning adult males!
VIOLET CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) – We were able to scope a wonderful adult male in the canopy at Kaeng Krachan NP. This is often a bird that we hear, but never see well.
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris) [*]
ASIAN KOEL (Eudynamys scolopaceus) – Heard almost every day on this tour, but it was rarely seen by the group.
Green-billed Malkoha at Khao Yai (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
RAFFLES'S MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus) [*]
CHESTNUT-BREASTED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) – Unmistakable with its bright white eyes and its long, chestnut-tipped tail.
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis) – One of the only non-parasitic cuckoos that we saw on this tour (the only others were the malkohas).
Strigidae (Owls)
MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL (Otus spilocephalus) [*]
COLLARED SCOPS-OWL (Otus lettia) [*]
ORIENTAL SCOPS-OWL (Otus sunia modestus) – This bird came in very close and low for some astounding looks!
SPOT-BELLIED EAGLE-OWL (Bubo nipalensis) – WOWWWW!!! We were happily watching the Brown Boobook that had perched in view for us when this big guy flew in silently and landed in the open in a nearby tree! What a look!!
COLLARED OWLET (Glaucidium brodiei brodiei) – We tracked down a calling bird at Khao Yai NP for some super views in the scope. Heard nearly throughout the tour in a variety of forested habitats.
ASIAN BARRED OWLET (Glaucidium cuculoides) – Like the above Collared Owlet, this one is diurnal and can be tracked down if you know where it's calling from.
SPOTTED OWLET (Athene brama) – We found a responsive pair of these birds - close relatives of Little and Burrowing owls - in the plantings around the buildings at Kaeng Krachan Country Club.
BROWN BOOBOOK (Ninox scutulata) – Called Brown Hawk-Owl in the guides, we ended up with super views of a bird perched next to the lake at dusk. Brown Hawk-Owl has been recently split into three species and ours is the widespread resident bird of much of SE Asia.
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
Magically, this Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl appeared at Kaeng Krachan as we were watching a Brown Boobook! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus macrurus) – All of our sightings were at Kaeng Krachan.
INDIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus asiaticus) – This small nightjar nearly landed on my head! Great views in the lights!
Apodidae (Swifts)
HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET (Aerodramus brevirostris) – We had a few of these in Khao Yai, in Kaeng Krachan, and up in Chiang Mai province. Usually the only Aerodramus north of the Peninsula and away from the immediate coast.
GERMAIN'S SWIFTLET (Aerodramus germani) – Quite numerous in the coastal lowlands from Bangkok south. Formerly lumped with White-nest (Edible-nest) Swiftlet.
COOK'S SWIFT (Apus cooki) – Since Pacific Swift doesn't seem to winter in northern Thailand it looks like these big "Fork-tailed" Swifts in the mountains of the northwest are all Cook's Swift (a recent split from what was once Fork-tailed Swift).
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus balasiensis) – Our most common and widespread swift on the tour.
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
CRESTED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne coronata) – This species replaces the similar Gray-rumped Treeswift in northern Thailand.
GRAY-RUMPED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne longipennis) – This species has been getting difficult in Kaeng Krachan NP in recent years, so I was pleased that we did so well with this bird above the upper campground.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RED-HEADED TROGON (Harpactes erythrocephalus) – This trogon seems to be quite a bit more timid than other trogons. Just a few of us got a look at one on our first morning at Khao Yai NP.
ORANGE-BREASTED TROGON (Harpactes oreskios) – We found some very cooperative birds along the roadside at Kaeng Krachan NP. Certainly bolder than the above species!
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella) [*]
WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER (Halcyon smyrnensis) – Very few this year on the tour.
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata) – The bird on the first afternoon at Wat Phai Lom was our best. Wintering here from China.
COLLARED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus chloris) – Primarily a coastal species here, we had some fabulous looks on the wires on our way to Kaeng Krachan NP.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) – We tried so hard to see that first bird along the roadside at Kaeng Krachan - then we had them in our faces a little while later down the road! What a bird!
BLUE-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis athertoni) – I was a little surprised that we recorded as many as we did in Kaeng Krachan NP, where it's normally quite scarce.
GREEN BEE-EATER (Merops orientalis) – Very few this year and only at Kaeng Krachan Country Club.
BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus) – One of the first birds of the tour at Wat Tian Thawai.
CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops leschenaulti) – Unlike the other Merops bee-eaters on this tour, this species lacks the elongated central tail feathers.
Coraciidae (Rollers)
INDIAN ROLLER (Coracias benghalensis) – This one takes your breath away when it takes flight.
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops) – No mistaking this one!
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
Silver-eared Laughingthrush at Doi Lang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
GREAT HORNBILL (Buceros bicornis) – Absolutely astounding!! Even after you've studied this one in the field guide, you're never really quite prepared for that first view of this massive hornbill.
RUSTY-CHEEKED HORNBILL (Anorrhinus tickelli) – A split from the Brown Hornbill, this bird has a very restricted world range, being found only in far southwestern Thailand and in s.e. Myanmar.
WREATHED HORNBILL (Aceros undulatus) – The flock of twelve birds overhead at Kaeng Krachan was really something!
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
COPPERSMITH BARBET (Psilopogon haemacephalus) – Always calling in the background throughout the disturbed lowlands.
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Psilopogon duvaucelii) – This and the Coppersmith are the smallest of the many barbets that we saw on this tour.
GREAT BARBET (Psilopogon virens) – We all finally caught up with this big one on Doi Angkhang on our last morning there.
GREEN-EARED BARBET (Psilopogon faiostrictus) – We heard this one and the Moustached just about everywhere we went in both Khao Yai and at Kaeng Krachan. We did see it very well in Khao Yai, too.
LINEATED BARBET (Psilopogon lineatus) – This big species favors the driest forest types along our route in the country, but we didn't catch sight of it until we ascended the tower at Mr. T's house.
GOLDEN-THROATED BARBET (Psilopogon franklinii) – Often the last barbet that we see on this tour, this bird is restricted to the highest mountains in the north. We enjoyed our best looks during one of our picnic lunches on Doi Inthanon.
MOUSTACHED BARBET (Psilopogon incognitus) – Quite common in Khao Yai NP, but rather scarce at Kaeng Krachan.
BLUE-THROATED BARBET (Psilopogon asiaticus) – You first encounter this one when you start to climb to the middle elevations in the mountains. Quite widespread in Thailand.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
A welcome ice cream break at Doi Inthanon (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus) – Not much bigger than a piculet, we scoped these from afar at Kaeng Krachan.
STRIPE-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos atratus) – We finally tracked one down for good looks on Doi Inthanon.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus javensis) [*]
LESSER YELLOWNAPE (Picus chlorolophus) – Excellent scope studies of a calling bird along the road on Doi Inthanon.
CRIMSON-WINGED WOODPECKER (Picus puniceus) – I think Jiang spotted this stunner feeding right above our heads as we strained to get a look at the Crested Jay at Kaeng Krachan. Certainly one of the fanciest of the woodpeckers on this tour full of fancy woodpeckers!
GREATER YELLOWNAPE (Picus flavinucha) – Nicely along the entrance road on our first morning at Kaeng Krachan NP.
STREAK-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Picus viridanus) [*]
LACED WOODPECKER (Picus vittatus) – Folks got a feel for how shy these Asian woodpeckers can really be when we first encountered this one at Khao Yai NP.
BLACK-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picus erythropygius) – Another shy one, we did really well this year with this beautiful woodpecker in the dry forest at Doi Inthanon NP. I think the ice cream helped us to spot him!
GRAY-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picus canus hessei) – Called Gray-faced Woodpecker in some books.
COMMON FLAMEBACK (Dinopium javanense) – High in the canopy at Kaeng Krachan NP.
BAMBOO WOODPECKER (Gecinulus viridis) – We got lucky with this shy one at Kaeng Krachan when he stopped long enough to give us all a good look in the bamboo stand.
RUFOUS WOODPECKER (Micropternus brachyurus) – This may have been the most well-behaved Rufous Woodpecker that I've ever seen! Great scope looks at the high point in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BUFF-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tristis) – Not the longest looks, but we did see it quite well in Kaeng Krachan. This seems to be a very reliable territory for this one.
BLACK-AND-BUFF WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes jugularis) – A quick flyby only at Khao Yai on our last morning there.
GREATER FLAMEBACK (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus) – Our most common and widespread woodpecker on the tour.
BAY WOODPECKER (Blythipicus pyrrhotis) [*]
HEART-SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Hemicircus canente) – These were quite a ways off, but we still managed good scope views of an interested pair at Kaeng Krachan. What a weird shape for a woodpecker!
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
COLLARED FALCONET (Microhierax caerulescens) – Scanning the distant ridge tops paid off with our first looks of a group of these (including a pair copulating!). We found another bird at our ice cream interlude farther up the road for some super views!
BLACK-THIGHED FALCONET (Microhierax fringillarius) – I thought that it was great that we were able to find a couple of distant perched birds at Kaeng Krachan, but I wasn't expecting a nesting pair (with a nest helper?) right next to the road. Fantastic! [N]
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET (Psittacula eupatria) – A couple of distant birds only on our first afternoon together.
Another common voice in the lowlands is Collared Owlet. (Photo by participant Bill Fraser)
GRAY-HEADED PARAKEET (Psittacula finschii) – Finding this one at Khao Yai NP was one of the biggest surprises of the trip for me. We usually only get it at Doi Inthanon in the dry forest there, and it's been really difficult to find there in recent years, too.
BLOSSOM-HEADED PARAKEET (Psittacula roseata) – An early morning stop at Mr. T's near our accommodations yielded super views of this pretty parakeet. Like all of the Psittaculas in Thailand, numbers are declining.
RED-BREASTED PARAKEET (Psittacula alexandri) – Excellent views of several nesting pairs near our lodge at Khao Yai.
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis) – We finally got a pair of these little guys to perch!
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
LONG-TAILED BROADBILL (Psarisomus dalhousiae) – Not until we hiked our final trail on this tour did we encounter this gaudy broadbill. Strangely quiet throughout the trip.
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) – This one came in just far enough to get a look at us, giving all a wonderful view before it disappeared back down the hill at Kaeng Krachan.
BLACK-AND-YELLOW BROADBILL (Eurylaimus ochromalus) – This little gem of a bird performed very well for us at the end of the road at Kaeng Krachan. This park seems to be the northern limit for this species in Thailand.
Pittidae (Pittas)
RUSTY-NAPED PITTA (Hydrornis oatesi) [*]
BLUE PITTA (Hydrornis cyanea) [*]
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) – Nicely in the mangroves near Laem Phak Bia. Formerly called the Flyeater.
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
LARGE WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis gularis) – We heard more of these than we saw.
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus) – I'm amazed that we saw so few of these birds - we usually get them at nearly every forested venue below about 1500m elevation.
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
ASHY WOODSWALLOW (Artamus fuscus) – A common sight along the roadside wires.
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia) – Most of ours were in the disturbed habitats of the lowlands. Very vireo-like in its behavior.
GREAT IORA (Aegithina lafresnayei) – Easily told from the above by the plain wings. This bird also seems to require good forest.
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
SMALL MINIVET (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) – A very brief look for some behind our lodging at Doi Inthanon.
GRAY-CHINNED MINIVET (Pericrocotus solaris) – Our best looks were on Doi Lang on our first day there.
SHORT-BILLED MINIVET (Pericrocotus brevirostris) – Very similar to the Long-tailed Minivet, but voice and habitat are the best clues to i.d. this one.
LONG-TAILED MINIVET (Pericrocotus ethologus) – This bird prefers pine forest, while the Short-billed like the evergreen broadleaf forest. It was fun to watch one of our first pairs building a nest in a pine right over the road on Doi Inthanon. [N]
SCARLET MINIVET (Pericrocotus speciosus) – Our most common and widespread minivet. That isolated patch of color (orange in males, yellow in females) on the folded wing help to separate it from the similars.
ASHY MINIVET (Pericrocotus divaricatus) – We typically see more mixed flocks of this one and both Rosy and Brown-rumped minivets throughout our route, but they seemed to be AWOL this year.
BROWN-RUMPED MINIVET (Pericrocotus cantonensis) – Also called Swinhoe's Minivet and once lumped with Rosy Minivet.
LARGE CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina macei) – A couple of birds in flight on Doi Lang were all that we could find this year. Quite a bit larger than the Black-winged Cuckooshrike.
BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Lalage melaschistos) – We had some great looks at this one, some only a few feet away. These smaller cuckooshrikes have been taken out of the genus Coracina and lumped with the Triller genus Lalage, which makes some sense.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
Khao Yai vista (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach) – A few great looks at the end of the tour, including one very dark immature bird alongside the road on Doi Angkhang.
GRAY-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius tephronotus) – Tim spotted our best one next to the road on Doi Angkhang.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BLYTH'S SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius aeralatus) – Called White-browed Shrike-Babbler in the field guide, this bird has since been split into four species. Great views of a pair on Doi Inthanon.
BLACK-EARED SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius melanotis) [*]
CLICKING SHRIKE-BABBLER (Pteruthius intermedius) – The book calls this one Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler, but it, too, has been split. These fancy shrike-babblers have been transferred out of the Babblers (whatever those are now!) and into the Vireos of the New World.
WHITE-BELLIED ERPORNIS (Erpornis zantholeuca) – Called White-bellied Yuhina in the field guide.
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (Oriolus chinensis) – Some great views early on in the tour.
SLENDER-BILLED ORIOLE (Oriolus tenuirostris) [*]
BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus) – We caught up with this one at Mr. T's tower at Inthanon Nest.
MAROON ORIOLE (Oriolus traillii) – We finally got one of these in the scope on Doi Angkhang at the Royal Agricultural Project.
Dicruridae (Drongos)
BLACK DRONGO (Dicrurus macrocercus) – Common in open country.
ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus) – Recorded almost daily on the tour, we had both residents (all dark gray birds) and migrants from the north (paler gray with variable amounts of white in the face).
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus) – This forest-based species is always around light gaps flycatching from exposed perches.
LESSER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus remifer) – After hearing a few early one, we all caught up with it on Doi Angkhang.
HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO (Dicrurus hottentottus) – Sometimes lumped with Spangled Drongo, this highly migratory species is drawn to the nectar-producing flowers that are so common at this season in Thailand.
Yellow Bittern near Bangkok (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
MALAYSIAN PIED-FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica) – Pied Fantail was recently split into this species and the Philippine Pied-Fantail.
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis) – This species occurs at higher elevations than the above species and is a common flock component in the mid-storey of the forest in the highlands.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea) – Often heard, but relatively few of these were seen this year.
ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone paradisi) [*]
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CRESTED JAY (Platylophus galericulatus) – I'm always thrilled to get a look at this fancy tropical jay! There's just nothing else like it anywhere!
EURASIAN JAY (WHITE-FACED) (Garrulus glandarius leucotis) – Mostly in the dry dipterocarp forest on this year's tour.
RED-BILLED BLUE-MAGPIE (Urocissa erythrorhyncha) – Joe may have been the only one to glimpse this bird in the dry forest on Doi Inthanon.
COMMON GREEN-MAGPIE (Cissa chinensis) – This one just doesn't sit still long enough to give you a very satisfying look, but we all saw it very well in flight on several occasions.
RUFOUS TREEPIE (Dendrocitta vagabunda) – Nicely on our final morning at Doi Inthanon.
GRAY TREEPIE (Dendrocitta formosae) – These are real suckers for those sweet Erythrina blossoms, so if you can find one of those trees in bloom in the mountains, chances are good that you'll see this normally shy species.
RACKET-TAILED TREEPIE (Crypsirina temia) – The briefest of looks at Inthanon Nest.
RATCHET-TAILED TREEPIE (Temnurus temnurus) – Thankfully, we found this one right away high on the road to the upper camp at Kaeng Krachan NP. The birds here sound notably different than birds in Vietnam and no one's ever collected a specimen from this population (we don't even know if these birds here are racially different or not - I'm sure they are, though). Seems like it would be worthwhile to collect a series and describe a new subspecies, at least!
Spectacled Barwing at Doi Lang -- certainly one of the most elegant birds on the tour (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Alaudidae (Larks)
INDOCHINESE BUSHLARK (Mirafra erythrocephala) – Super scope looks at a singing bird near our bungalows at Kaeng Krachan.
ORIENTAL SKYLARK (Alauda gulgula) – We spotted that singing & dispalying male high in the sky above the paddies near Mae Taeng.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii) – Fantastic looks at the irrigation project.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) – Very similar to the next species, but less boldly marked below than that one and with much more rusty on the ear coverts and nape than the Striated.
STRIATED SWALLOW (Cecropis striolata) – Close flyby looks from the tower at Mr. T's.
ASIAN HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon dasypus) – We encountered very few of these foraging above the mountain forests of the north this year.
Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
YELLOW-BELLIED FAIRY-FANTAIL (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) – Simply one of the cutest birds on the entire tour! Superficially very similar to the other fantails in the family Rhipiduridae, but the genetics of this one argue to place it elsewhere.
GRAY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER (Culicicapa ceylonensis) – Lots of great looks and recorded almost daily on this tour (mostly heard).
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
JAPANESE TIT (Parus minor nubicolus) – Great Tit was recently split into three with this race being most closely aligned with P. minor instead of P. major.
YELLOW-CHEEKED TIT (Parus spilonotus) – It took until our second day on Doi Lang to finally nail this one for the group. A real stunner!
Rufous-backed Sibia at Doi Lang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
BURMESE NUTHATCH (Sitta neglecta) – Called Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch in the field guide, this one has since been split into a couple of species. Great looks in the dry forest on Doi Inthanon!
CHESTNUT-VENTED NUTHATCH (Sitta nagaensis) – Like a small version of the Giant Nuthatch, this one is usually the most common nuthatch species found in the mountains of the northwest. Sometimes called Naga Nuthatch.
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis) – Quite unlike any nuthatch that North American or European birders know, this odd-looking fellow gave us some great looks at Kaeng Krachan, mostly, but was recorded in the northwest as well.
GIANT NUTHATCH (Sitta magna) – We cut it pretty close with this one, scoping a distant bird in a pine late in the afternoon just before leaving the mountain. Still, it was fantastic to see this local specialty, the largest nuthatch in the world!
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
HUME'S TREECREEPER (Certhia manipurensis shanensis) – This one's called the Brown-throated Treecreeper in the field guides but, you guessed it, this one's been split into a couple of species, too. Great looks on Doi Inthanon! And how about that song!
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
CRESTED FINCHBILL (Spizixos canifrons) – We stumbled onto a big group of these very distinctive bulbuls chowing down on some tiny fruits right next to the road on Doi Lang.
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps) – Common and widespread from Kaeng Krachan north.
STRIATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus striatus) – Great views in the far northwest and first spotted for us by Rick. This one's restricted to the highlands.
BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus flaviventris) – The ol' "BCB" was recorded almost daily on this tour.
RED-WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus) – It was interesting to see such a large group of these roosting in the marsh at Rangsit just as we arrived there. Insanely popular as a cagebird, this one's in real trouble from Bangkok south.
Dusky Leaf-Monkey at Kaeng Krachan (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SOOTY-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus aurigaster) – We had both yellow-vented birds (at Kaeng Krachan) and red-vented birds (elsewhere).
STRIPE-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus finlaysoni) – Fine looks at this attractive bulbul in both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NP.
FLAVESCENT BULBUL (Pycnonotus flavescens) – Restricted to the upper foothills and mountains.
YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier) – Widespread in the lowlands in all of the disturbed habitats there. That contrasting face pattern is the best mark to i.d. this one.
STREAK-EARED BULBUL (Pycnonotus blanfordi) – Easily seen on the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
PUFF-THROATED BULBUL (Alophoixus pallidus) – We had a couple of species of bulbuls with crests and puffy white throats. This is the one that occupies the forests in Khao Yai NP and the foothill forests of the northwest.
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus) – This one is found in Kaeng Krachan NP only along our route.
GRAY-EYED BULBUL (Iole propinqua) – There's a similar allocation of species in this genus along our route as with the above Alophoixus bulbuls. This one is what we found in the forest at Khao Yai and in the northwest.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea) – This Iole was the one that we found at Kaeng Krachan (it has more of a Sundaic distribution, like the Ochraceous Bulbul).
BLACK BULBUL (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) – This noisy bulbul was common in the mountain forest of the northwest. All of our birds were residents and had black heads.
ASHY BULBUL (Hemixos flavala) – We had three different races of this one along our route this year. The birds in Kaeng Krachan NP, H.f. davisoni, are the most different in that they are extremely washed out and pale. They all sound the same, though.
MOUNTAIN BULBUL (Ixos mcclellandii) – Another noisy one, we encountered this species from Kaeng Krachan north to Doi Lang. That shaggy crest and long bill help i.d. this one.
Pnoepygidae (Cupwings)
PYGMY CUPWING (Pnoepyga pusilla) – Maybe a good candidate, along with that Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, as cutest bird of the trip! We ended up with two excellent views of this skulking species, which is now in a separate family along with four of its congeners.
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
SLATY-BELLIED TESIA (Tesia olivea) [*]
CHESTNUT-HEADED TESIA (Cettia castaneocoronata) – Glimpsed by Jean only on Doi Angkhang.
YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris) – Excellent views in the bamboo at Kaeng Krachan NP. Except for the crown color and the bill length, this and the Mountain Tailorbird are actually very similar!
MOUNTAIN TAILORBIRD (Phyllergates cucullatus) – We finally caught up with this skulker on the Doi Inthanon summit.
ABERRANT BUSH-WARBLER (Horornis flavolivaceus) – Compared to how we typically do with this one, I'd say that our views on Doi Lang were exceptional!
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
DUSKY WARBLER (Phylloscopus fuscatus) – Our look on the drive up Doi Lang on our second morning there was our best. The lack of wingbars and the skulking nature of this one rule out a bunch of Phylloscopus from contention.
BUFF-THROATED WARBLER (Phylloscopus subaffinis) – One bird only on Doi Angkhang this year. Similar to the above, but yellower and with a different call note.
YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER (Phylloscopus armandii) – Briefly for some on Doi Angkhang.
RADDE'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus schwarzi) – We recorded this one every day at Khao Yai this year. It's a little bigger and brighter than Dusky and is often found foraging in the open, unlike that species.
BUFF-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus pulcher) – Sometimes called the Orange-barred Leaf Warbler, we had a few of these dull highland Phylloscopus actually singing on that beautiful last morning on Doi Lang!
Cutest bird of the trip? Pygmy Cupwing at Doi Inthanon (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
PALLAS'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus proregulus) – Another tiny one, Doi Lang was the place for this one this year. Knowing that distinctive call note really helps with the i.d. of this one.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) – Easily the most common and widespread of the many Phylloscopus on this tour. Recorded daily throughout. Sometimes called the Inornate Warbler (Yellow-browed sounds so much better!).
HUME'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus humei) – A real Yellow-browed Warbler look-alike, the calls of this one are the best field mark to separate them.
GREENISH WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochiloides) [*]
TWO-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus) – Now split from Greenish Warbler, this is the species that occurs throughout the lowlands and foothills in much of Thailand, while Greenish winters at higher elevations.
PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus tenellipes) – We actually got a look at this shy winterer at Khao Yai NP on our final morning there.
EASTERN CROWNED LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus coronatus) – Only a few of these winter as far north as Kaeng Krachan (it's mostly a Peninsula, Greater Sundas winterer). Good looks while we searched in vain for the Black-and-red Broadbill.
BLYTH'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus reguloides assamensis) – Blyth's Leaf Warbler was recently split into a few species. This is the one that breeds in the mountains of the northwest and has that strident yellowthroat-like song.
CLAUDIA'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus claudiae) – Split from Blyth's, this one breeds in China and winters here. It often creeps along larger branches a la Black-and-white Warbler.
DAVISON'S LEAF WARBLER (Phylloscopus davisoni) – Like Blyth's, the old White-tailed Leaf Warbler has been re-worked into a few species. Davison's is common throughout the mountains of the north.
SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLER (Phylloscopus ricketti) – We usually get a few of these wintering with mixed species flocks in either Khao Yai or at Kaeng Krachan NP. The all-yellow underparts are the key to this one.
GRAY-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus tephrocephalus) [*]
PLAIN-TAILED WARBLER (Seicercus soror) – This was one of the four Golden-spectacled Warbler splits that we encountered ended on the tour and the only one that we saw well (at that great spot down the hill from the campground at Khao Yai). The other three - Gray-crowned, Martens's, and Bianchi's - not so much.
Cycads on the karst landscape (Photo by participant Joe Wunderle)
BIANCHI'S WARBLER (Seicercus valentini) [*]
CHESTNUT-CROWNED WARBLER (Seicercus castaniceps) – Nicely on Doi Angkhang after our picnic lunch there. It takes a good ear to hear that high-pitched song!
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
THICK-BILLED WARBLER (Iduna aedon) – Excellent views of one foraging in the open at the little bridge in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLACK-BROWED REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) – After a little work and some patience, we all got a look at this skulker in the reeds at Rangsit.
ORIENTAL REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus orientalis) – Briefly at the King's Project at Laem Phak Bia. Really big for a 'warbler'.
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER (Locustella certhiola) [*]
LANCEOLATED WARBLER (Locustella lanceolata) – So close! [*]
BAIKAL BUSH-WARBLER (Locustella davidi) – Perhaps glimpsed only by Chris at the Rangsit marsh. A recent split from the Spotted Bush-Warbler.
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis)
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis) – Several good looks in both Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NP. More of a forest bird than the similar Common Tailorbird.
HILL PRINIA (Prinia superciliaris) – Decent views on Doi Angkhang after hearing a bunch of these in the mountains of the north.
RUFESCENT PRINIA (Prinia rufescens) – We found a very cooperative pair at our picnic lunch spot on Doi Angkhang. Quite common overall, but a bear to try and see well.
GRAY-BREASTED PRINIA (Prinia hodgsonii) – Nicely from the tower at Mr. T's (Inthanon Nest).
YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris) – This was one of the most common birds out in the Rangsit marshes.
PLAIN PRINIA (Prinia inornata) – Common in most disturbed habitats, especially around Bangkok.
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
SPOT-BREASTED PARROTBILL (Paradoxornis guttaticollis) – WOWWW!!! How could you ask for a better look than what we had on Doi Lang?!? What an incredible bird!
Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies)
STRIATED YUHINA (Yuhina castaniceps) – We enjoyed some good scope views of a big flock of these feeding on the roadside. Most of the yuhinas are now aligned with the white-eyes, which makes some sense.
WHISKERED YUHINA (Yuhina flavicollis) – This was one of our targets on Doi Lang and it didn't disappoint.
CHESTNUT-FLANKED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops erythropleurus) – We saw a bunch of unidentified white-eyes throughout the tour, and my guess is that most of them were this migrant species. We did see it very well on Doi Inthanon.
ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE (Zosterops palpebrosus) – Seen by some on Doi Inthanon. This one is the only breeding white-eye in n. Thailand.
JAPANESE WHITE-EYE (Zosterops japonicus) – We had a couple of sightings of this one in the north, but there were no flocks of these wintering birds to speak of.
EVERETT'S WHITE-EYE (Zosterops everetti) – This was the first white-eye that we saw well enough to i.d. at Khao Yai NP.
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)
Mountain Bamboo-Partridge gave us good views along the roadside as we ascended at Doi Lang. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
GOLDEN BABBLER (Cyanoderma chrysaeum) – Jean probably came away with the best look of this one on Doi Lang. Strangely uncooperative this year.
RUFOUS-FRONTED BABBLER (Cyanoderma rufifrons) – Tis one sounds almost identical to the Golden Babbler, but it's in generally scrubbier habitat at lower elevations.
CORAL-BILLED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus ferruginosus) – One of the highlights of our visits to Doi Lang was coming across a noisy group of these scimitar-babblers near the upper checkpoint. This one seems to be very local within Thailand.
WHITE-BROWED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus schisticeps) – This one was particularly uncooperative this year. Maybe glimpsed by a few folks early on at Khao Yai.
LARGE SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos) [*]
RUSTY-CHEEKED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys) – Great views of this skulker on Doi Lang.
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps) [*]
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
COLLARED BABBLER (Gampsorhynchus torquatus) – This distinctive babbler is called the White-hooded Babbler in the field guides but it has since been split into two.
RUFOUS-WINGED FULVETTA (Schoeniparus castaneceps) – All of the fulvettas were split up and re-assigned to different families. This one was taken out of Alcippe and put into Schoeniparus along with five others. Most of the other fulvettas are now aligned with the laughingthrushes.
PUFF-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps) – Our best was at the photogtraphers' spot below the campground in Khao Yai NP.
SPOT-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum albiventre) [*]
EYEBROWED WREN-BABBLER (Napothera epilepidota) – We had no luck on our first attempt, but we found the right bird a little farther down the trail for some great looks on Doi Inthanon.
ABBOTT'S BABBLER (Turdinus abbotti) – This drab babbler just wouldn't sit out like I wanted him to, but, with a little bit of contortion, we all got a decent view along the creek trail at Khao Yai NP.
Puff-throated Babbler at Khao Yai (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
STREAKED WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus brevicaudatus) – It was great to get that responsive bird at the Chiang Dao temple, but the one coming to the feeder on Doi Angkhang was overkill!
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
BROWN-CHEEKED FULVETTA (Alcippe poioicephala) – The easier place to see this one is in Kaeng Krachan NP, but we didn't really score on a super view of it for the whole group until we got to the temple at Chiang Dao. The two races involved (haringtoniae in the n.w and karenni at Kaeng Krachan) look and sound very different from one another, so maybe there will be some taxonomic revision in this bird's future.
YUNNAN FULVETTA (Alcippe fratercula) – One of the most common understory birds in the mountains of the northwest. Called Gray-cheeked Fulvetta in the field guide, but it's since been split up, too.
WHITE-CRESTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax leucolophus) – We had nice looks of this distinctive species along the roadside in Khao Yai NP.
LESSER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax monileger) – There were a few of these in with the above White-cresteds at Khao Yai, but we ran into many more on the grounds of the park headquarters at Kaeng Krachan NP (though they didn't stick around for long!).
GREATER NECKLACED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla pectoralis) – There were plenty of these mixed in with the above Lessers at Kaeng Krachan, but trying to get a definitive look at one proved difficult with this fast-moving flock.
BLACK-THROATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla chinensis) – This was our first laughingthrush of the tour and one of the laughingthrushes that we saw best on the entire tour (they can really be tough!).
WHITE-BROWED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla sannio) – Our best looks of this shy one were on Doi Angkhang.
SILVER-EARED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Trochalopteron melanostigma) – This one is usually the easiest of all of the laughingthrushes on this tour to see well because the birds at the summit of Doi Inthanon are so acclimated to all of the people there. Formerly called the Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, this bird is the result of a split of that species.
BLACK-BACKED SIBIA (Heterophasia melanoleuca) – Common and conspicuous on the high mountains of the northwest. Called Dark-backed Sibia in the field guide.
Siberian Blue Robin at Khao Yai (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SILVER-EARED MESIA (Leiothrix argentauris) – Very few of these fancy babblers were encountered this year, and none of them were seen very well.
RUFOUS-BACKED SIBIA (Minla annectens) – We had a couple of really fine looks at this one. Note that this was taken out of the genus Heterophasia (the true sibias) and placed in the genus Minla - while the minlas are all now in the genus Actinodura with the barwings. It's so confusing!
SCARLET-FACED LIOCICHLA (Liocichla ripponi) – Our looks were pretty good that first morning on Doi Angkhang but we actually improved on those looks the following day! Red-faced Liocichla was split into two species, hence the name change.
SPECTACLED BARWING (Actinodura ramsayi) – That last pair on Doi Lang really performed well for us. What an elegant bird!
BLUE-WINGED MINLA (Actinodura cyanouroptera) – Excellent views along the roadside on Doi Lang on our first day there.
CHESTNUT-TAILED MINLA (Actinodura strigula) – It took a couple of trips to the summit of Doi Inthanon, but it was worth it! Super views!
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella) – Seeing the males of this species blows me away every year.
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa sibirica) – Also called Siberian Flycatcher, this one is a common wintering species in the canopy at Kaeng Krachan NP.
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa latirostris) – Reminiscent of our Empidonax flycatchers, but with extremely long wings.
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis) – Common and conspicuous on the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (Copsychus malabaricus) – Several great views, especially at the campground in Khao Yai NP.
WHITE-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Anthipes monileger) – A pair of these normally shy birds came in to check for food at one of the photography spots on Doi Lang. Great looks!
HAINAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis hainanus) – The only one that we had on the tour was that adult male below the campground at Khao Yai - but what a look!
We had fabulous views of this Spot-breasted Parrotbill! (Photo by participant Bill Fraser)
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (BLUE-THROATED) (Cyornis rubeculoides dialilaemus) – We found a couple of males of this race along the roads in Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (CHINESE) (Cyornis rubeculoides glaucicomans) – We eventually did find one male of this distinctive race, which may yet be split from Blue-throated, at Kaeng Krachan NP.
HILL BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis banyumas) – We detected more of these on this tour than any other Cyornis; most of these were heard only, however.
TICKELL'S BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis tickelliae) [*]
LARGE NILTAVA (Niltava grandis) – Oddly enough, this is the one species of niltava that we really didn't nail down very well, when it's very often the only niltava that you see well on this tour.
SMALL NILTAVA (Niltava macgrigoriae) – We found a responsive, close adult male at the start of the trail at Doi Inthanon. A miniature version of the Large Niltava.
RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA (Niltava sundara) – Stupendous views of an adult male coming to the feeding station at Doi Angkhang. This species is certainly more 'vivid' than the Vivid Niltava!
VIVID NILTAVA (Niltava vivida) – We found a pair of these in the canopy along the jeep track on Doi Inthanon. Only a couple of folks got onto the male before he was replaced by a female (which everyone saw).
VERDITER FLYCATCHER (Eumyias thalassinus) – Several fine looks at this beautiful flycatcher.
WHITE-BROWED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx montana) – Great looks in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon!
SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora cyane) – That adult male at Khao Yai was breathtakingly beautiful!
WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART (Luscinia phaenicuroides) [*]
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus caeruleus eugenei) – This race is the resident race and it has a yellow bill. The call note of this and the next race are very different. A potential split?
BLUE WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus caeruleus caeruleus) – These black-billed birds are wintering here from China. This one is usually a bit duller in plumage than the above eugenei.
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (Enicurus leschenaulti) [*]
BLACK-BACKED FORKTAIL (Enicurus immaculatus) – We were all positioned well to see this one in the stream at Doi Inthanon. This one occurs at lower elevations than the White-crowned or the Slaty-backed forktails in this part of Thailand.
SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT (Calliope calliope) – After hearing several of these wintering birds, we had great looks at either a young male or an old female on Doi Lang (a dull ruby throat on this one).
WHITE-TAILED ROBIN (Cinclidium leucurum) – Very obliging at the feeding station on Doi Angkhang.
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (Tarsiger cyanurus) – A single female on Doi Lang was all that we could find.
HIMALAYAN BLUETAIL (Tarsiger rufilatus) – We all enjoyed eye-popping views of a stunning adult male at ne of the photographer spots on Doi Lang. This form, which breeds in the Himalayas, was recently split from the Red-flanked Bluetail. The lack of white on the brow and supraloral area distinguish males of Himalayan from male Red-flanked.
LITTLE PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula westermanni) – A few looks at those distinctive black and white males in the mountains of the northwest.
TAIGA FLYCATCHER (Ficedula albicilla) – Also called Red-throated Flycatcher, this one was split from the birds farther west in the Palearctic, which are now called Red-breasted Flycatcher. A common winterer in disturbed habitats.
RUFOUS-GORGETED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula strophiata) – This beautiful flycatcher, unfortunately, slipped away while we weren't looking! Only a few lucky folks saw it well.
SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hyperythra) – We don't always get this one in the summit bog on Doi Inthanon, so it was nice to see this handsome bird so well there.
SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula tricolor) – Mostly heard only, but some got to see a female pretty well when we first encountered the Scarlet-faced Liocichlas on Doi Angkhang. One of the toughest of these wintering Old World flycatchers to see because of its skulking nature.
SAPPHIRE FLYCATCHER (Ficedula sapphira) – Our last new bird of the trip was found high in the canopy after lunch on Doi Suthep.
Rufous-bellied Niltava at Doi Ang Khang (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHITE-CAPPED REDSTART (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) – This stunning bird lives near spectacular waterfalls - and that's where we found him! Also called the River Chat.
DAURIAN REDSTART (Phoenicurus auroreus) – It was very fortunate for us that this beautiful male came back to this spot for another winter on Doi Angkhang!
CHESTNUT-BELLIED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola rufiventris) – Our adult male proved to be very site-faithful on Doi Angkhang, allowing everyone to catch up with him on our second morning there.
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius philippensis) – The male that we had at the limestone temple on our way to Khao Yai was this rufous-bellied subspecies. I'm not so sure about the female that we had the next morning in the park.
SIBERIAN STONECHAT (Saxicola maurus) – Once again split from the Common or European Stonechat to the west.
JERDON'S BUSHCHAT (Saxicola jerdoni) – WOWWWW!!!! This was a complete surprise on the weedy hillside on Doi Angkhang! This one favors tall grass habitats in Thailand, and those habitats are under serious pressure.
GRAY BUSHCHAT (Saxicola ferreus) – A bit shrike-like in appearance - but check that bill.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH (Geokichla citrina) – Several of these beautiful thrushes gave us fantastic looks below the campground at Khao Yai NP.
BLACK-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus dissimilis) – Fantastic views of both males and females at very close range at the feeding station on Doi Angkhang - including that odd partially leucistic male with all of the white feathering on his head!
EYEBROWED THRUSH (Turdus obscurus) – We didn't see many of these this year (it wasn't a good wintering thrush year in Thailand), but we had some killer views of birds on Doi Lang and Doi Angkhang.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA (Ampeliceps coronatus) – Thank goodness for that big fruiting fig tree at Khao Yai! If it wasn't for that tree, we probably would have missed this uncommon, pretty myna.
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) – Khao Yai NP was loaded with these this year!
GREAT MYNA (Acridotheres grandis) – Also called the White-vented Myna in the field guide (I'm not sure what is so 'Great' about this myna!).
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)
VINOUS-BREASTED STARLING (Acridotheres burmannicus leucocephalus) – A pair at Kaeng Krachan Country Club - right on cue.
BLACK-COLLARED STARLING (Gracupica nigricollis) – Quite a bit larger than the other starlings and mynas on this tour.
ASIAN PIED STARLING (Gracupica contra) – There always seem to be a few pairs around when you stop to bird the paddies.
WHITE-SHOULDERED STARLING (Sturnia sinensis) – A couple of birds got away from us when they flew out of the blooming Bombax tree near Chiang Mai. The white shoulder patches were very evident if you could pick them up as they flew off.
CHESTNUT-TAILED STARLING (Sturnia malabarica) – We had none in the south this year, but there were several near our Doi Inthanon accommodations feeding in the blooming Erythrinas there.
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati) – A couple of very brief males at Kaeng Krachan NP.
BLUE-WINGED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) – The blue in the wing is always visible in both males and females, ruling out the similars.
GOLDEN-FRONTED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis aurifrons) – The only birds we saw well were at the base of Doi Inthanon in the dry forest there.
ORANGE-BELLIED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis hardwickii) – We enjoyed a couple of good scope views in the mountains of the northwest. This one ranges higher than all of the others.
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
THICK-BILLED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum agile) – Our encounters with this one were very brief - but Bill managed a pretty good photo of one at Khao Yai.
YELLOW-VENTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum chrysorrheum) – Most got a very good look at one in the campground at Khao Yai NP.
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) – A pair of these at the end of the road in Kaeng Krachan NP were at the northern edge of their range in Thailand.
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus ignipectus) – This was the race up in the mountains of the northwest with the actual patch of 'fire' on the breast.
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum ignipectus cambodianum) – This was the race that's sometimes called Buff-bellied Flowerpecker - it lacks the red patch on the breast in the male. We saw these at Khao Yai NP only.
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum) – The commonest flowerpecker in the lowlands - and a stunner to boot!
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis) – Very ornate and warbler-like.
PLAIN SUNBIRD (Anthreptes simplex) – We had a single male at the end of the road in Kaeng Krachan. Even the male is terribly plain, having only a small iridescent patch on the forehead. This is at the northern limit of the range for this one.
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis) – Sometimes called Brown-throated Sunbird. Easily seen on the grounds of our Bangkok hotel.
VAN HASSELT'S SUNBIRD (Leptocoma brasiliana) – The books call this one Purple-throated Sunbird, but that was before the split. True Purple-throated is now a Philippine endemic. We saw ours at the bridge on that final morning in Khao Yai NP.
PURPLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris asiaticus) – Very common in the dry forests at the base of Doi Inthanon.
OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris jugularis) – Common and widespread in all of the disturbed habitats of the lowlands.
BLACK-THROATED SUNBIRD (Aethopyga saturata) – All of the male Aethopyga sunbirds are stunning, but this is the 'dullest' of the four species on this tour.
GOULD'S SUNBIRD (Aethopyga gouldiae) – We had several immaculately-plumaged males in the mountains of the northwest.
GREEN-TAILED SUNBIRD (Aethopyga nipalensis) – We found this beauty only atop Doi Inthanon. Great views up in the parking lot and down in the summit bog.
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja) – Not quite as pretty as Gould's, but darned close. This one occurs at lower elevations than the other three in the genus.
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra) – Great looks on the final morning at Khao Yai NP. The most widespread spiderhunter in Thailand.
STREAKED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera magna) – Often heard in the mountain forests from Kaeng Krachan north, with a few birds seen well. This and the other spiderhunters are primarily nectarivores - but they do eat spiders (and other small invertebrates), too.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla tschutschensis) – Only a few in the coastal lowlands near Bangkok.
CITRINE WAGTAIL (Motacilla citreola) – We found several of these attractive wagtails out in the wet paddies near Mae Taeng on our way north to Thaton.
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea) – We never had these in agricultural areas - just along the roads and streams in the foothills and mountains.
WHITE WAGTAIL (CHINESE) (Motacilla alba leucopsis) – All of our White Wagtails were this black-backed race that breeds in China and winters here.
RICHARD'S PIPIT (Anthus richardi) – Noticeably larger and chunkier than the similar Oriental Pipit, with a different call as well. We saw one well from the van near Laem Phak Bia on our way to Kaeng Krachan from Khao Yai.
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus) – Some of the books call this one the Paddyfield Pipit and formerly lumped with Richard's.
OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT (Anthus hodgsoni) – Great scope views of one sitting in a tree at Doi Inthanon NP - it was called Olive Tree-Pipit at one time, after all!
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus indicus)
PLAIN-BACKED SPARROW (Passer flaveolus) – That male is actually pretty impressive for a Passer!
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus)
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
WHITE-RUMPED MUNIA (Lonchura striata) – A pair stopped for a brief look at the bridge on our final morning at Khao Yai.
SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA (Lonchura punctulata) – I'm happy that Clements changed the name of this one back to Scaly-breasted Munia from the unfortunate Nutmeg Mannikin.
CHESTNUT MUNIA (Lonchura atricapilla) – Briefly for some in the Rangsit marsh before we headed off to Khao Yai NP.
MAMMALS
WRINKLE-LIPPED FREE-TAILED BAT (Chaerephon plicatus) – That was quite a spectacle on that first evening at Khao Yai when we witnessed 100,000's of these exiting the cave on the hillside above our perch.
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis) – Also called the Long-tailed Macaque. We only saw these in the city of Phetchaburi on our way to the coast.
PIGTAIL MACAQUE (Macaca nemestrina) – Thankfully, there weren't as many of these disruptive and mischievous primates in the campground at Khao Yai. Those big males can be downright dangerous!
DUSKY LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis obscura) – We found these in Kaeng Krachan NP only, and they were quite plentiful along the road there, especially near the three stream crossings.
PILEATED GIBBON (Hylobates pileatus) [*]
WHITE-HANDED GIBBON (Hylobates lar) – Not terribly close, but we did have some decent views at Kaeng Krachan NP. That voice is a pretty amazing soundtrack for the forests here!
BLACK GIANT SQUIRREL (Ratufa bicolor) – I wish I had a dollar for every time someone first calls this huge squirrel a monkey!
MOUNTAIN RED-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus flavimanus) – For some up at the summit of Doi Inthanon.
FINLAYSON'S SQUIRREL (Callosciurus finlaysoni) – This one is also called the Variable Squirrel - and for good reason! We had all-white to all dark-brown animals on the tour, and every pattern combination in between.
GRAY-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus caniceps) – The upperpart and underpart coloration changes throughout its range in Thailand, but they always have that little black tip to the tail.
HIMALAYAN STRIPED SQUIRREL (Tamiops macclellandi) – Lots of looks at this tiny chipmunk-like tree squirrel.
INDOCHINESE GROUND SQUIRREL (Menetes berdmorei) – A couple of these scurried across the road in front of us a few times during the tour.
CRAB-EATING MONGOOSE (Herpestes urva) – It sounds like this is the critter that Jean saw up on Doi Angkhang one day.
MUNTJAC (BARKING DEER) (Muntiacus muntjak) – This was the smaller tawny-orange deer that we saw several times at Khao Yai NP.
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor) – This was the big deer that was so confiding around the buildings at Khao Yai NP.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 457 bird taxa and 15 mammal taxa