There are over 700 species of birds recorded in Malaysia. Frankly, it is impossible to see everything on your birding holiday even if you spend more than 1 month. Its a fact. There are many people asking me when is the best time to watch birds in Malaysia, when is the rainy season, etc. Well, I guided many bird watchers and photographers throughout the year. But of course if you are aiming at number of species, you probably would want to visit Malaysia between November to March. For courtship and parental feeding, then come between February to June (depending on species too).
But I would really like to recommend the following 100 bird species to see while you plan your birding vacation to Malaysia. If you are a photographer or digiscoper, then you probably want to spend longer period or come back more often, I will be glad to assist and guide you.
The following list is not in any particular order. I will update it in the future.
- Malaysian Whistling Thrush
- Silver-eared Mesia
- Bornean Bristlehead
- Garnet Pitta
- Black-and-Crimson Pitta
- Banded Pitta
- Blue-banded Pitta
- Mangrove Pitta
- Mangrove Whistler
- Mangrove Blue Flycatcher
- Greater Flameback
- Common Flameback
- Laced Woodpecker
- Orange-backed Woodpecker
- Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
- Malayan Laughingthrush
- Spectacled Laughingthrush
- Black Laughingthrush
- Black-and-Red Broadbill
- Black-and-Yellow Broadbill
- Green Broadbill
- Banded Broadbill
- Silver-breasted Broadbill
- Long-tailed Broadbill
- Crested Fireback
- Great Argus
- Malayan Peacock Pheasant
- Mountain Peacock Pheasant
- Hill Partridge
- Fire-tufted Barbet
- Gold-whiskered Barbet
- Black-browed Barbet
- Blue-eared Barbet
- Blyth's Hawk-eagle
- Rufous-bellied Eagle
- White-bellied Sea Eagle
- Crested Serpent Eagle
- Black-thighed Falconet
- Scarlet-rumped Trogon
- Cinnamon-rumped Trogon
- Diard's Trogon
- Red-headed Trogon
- Orange-breasted Trogon
- Rufous-backed Kingfisher
- Rufous-collared Kingfisher
- Banded Kingfisher
- Blue-banded Kingfisher
- Blue-eared Kingfisher
- Collared Kingfisher
- Short-tailed Babbler
- Chestnut-winged Babbler
- Chestnut-rumped Babbler
- Striped Tit Babbler
- Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler
- Ferruginous Babbler
- Black-capped Babbler
- Buff-breasted Babbler
- Streaked Wren-babbler
- Pygmy Wren-babbler
- Lesser Shortwing
- White-tailed Robin
- Rufous-browed Flycatcher
- Little Pied Flycatcher
- Hill Blue Flycatcher
- Streaked Spiderhunter
- Little Spiderhunter
- Yellow-eared Spiderhunter
- Grey-breasted Spiderhunter
- Malaysian Rail Babbler
- Fruithunter
- Honeyeater
- Flyeater / Golden-bellied Gerygone
- Raffles's Malkoha
- Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
- Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
- Red-billed Malkoha
- Slaty-backed Forktail
- Chestnut-naped Forktail
- White-crowned Forktail
