If you are coming to Malaysia for bird watching, then read this ...

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.

  1. Malaysian Whistling Thrush
  2. Silver-eared Mesia
  3. Bornean Bristlehead
  4. Garnet Pitta
  5. Black-and-Crimson Pitta
  6. Banded Pitta
  7. Blue-banded Pitta
  8. Mangrove Pitta
  9. Mangrove Whistler
  10. Mangrove Blue Flycatcher
  11. Greater Flameback
  12. Common Flameback
  13. Laced Woodpecker
  14. Orange-backed Woodpecker
  15. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
  16. Malayan Laughingthrush
  17. Spectacled Laughingthrush
  18. Black Laughingthrush
  19. Black-and-Red Broadbill
  20. Black-and-Yellow Broadbill
  21. Green Broadbill
  22. Banded Broadbill
  23. Silver-breasted Broadbill
  24. Long-tailed Broadbill
  25. Crested Fireback
  26. Great Argus
  27. Malayan Peacock Pheasant
  28. Mountain Peacock Pheasant
  29. Hill Partridge
  30. Fire-tufted Barbet
  31. Gold-whiskered Barbet
  32. Black-browed Barbet
  33. Blue-eared Barbet
  34. Blyth's Hawk-eagle
  35. Rufous-bellied Eagle
  36. White-bellied Sea Eagle
  37. Crested Serpent Eagle
  38. Black-thighed Falconet
  39. Scarlet-rumped Trogon
  40. Cinnamon-rumped Trogon
  41. Diard's Trogon
  42. Red-headed Trogon
  43. Orange-breasted Trogon
  44. Rufous-backed Kingfisher
  45. Rufous-collared Kingfisher
  46. Banded Kingfisher
  47. Blue-banded Kingfisher
  48. Blue-eared Kingfisher
  49. Collared Kingfisher
  50. Short-tailed Babbler
  51. Chestnut-winged Babbler
  52. Chestnut-rumped Babbler
  53. Striped Tit Babbler
  54. Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler
  55. Ferruginous Babbler
  56. Black-capped Babbler
  57. Buff-breasted Babbler
  58. Streaked Wren-babbler
  59. Pygmy Wren-babbler
  60. Lesser Shortwing
  61. White-tailed Robin
  62. Rufous-browed Flycatcher
  63. Little Pied Flycatcher
  64. Hill Blue Flycatcher
  65. Streaked Spiderhunter
  66. Little Spiderhunter
  67. Yellow-eared Spiderhunter
  68. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter
  69. Malaysian Rail Babbler
  70. Fruithunter
  71. Honeyeater
  72. Flyeater / Golden-bellied Gerygone
  73. Raffles's Malkoha
  74. Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
  75. Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
  76. Red-billed Malkoha
  77. Slaty-backed Forktail
  78. Chestnut-naped Forktail
  79. White-crowned Forktail