a tropical birding set departure · nuthatch and sultan tit. one rather quiet late morning was...

Malaysia:TheAsiaIntrotour June23-30,2018

TOUR SUMMARY

Any birder who has browsed through a southeast Asian bird book realizes that a huge set

of lowland forest birds is found in the southern part of the peninsula, from southern Myanmar and

Thailand south. Peninsular Malaysia is at the heart of this Sundaland biome, sharing a rich

lowland avifauna with Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Peninsular Malaysia also has tall mountains

with a very different mix of birds – pseudo-Himalayan species, local endemics, and species

shared with the mountains of the Greater Sunda islands. This tour is built around these two

biomes. It is short and affordable, and provides a great introduction both to Asian birding in

general, and more specifically to birding in the southern part of southeast Asia. One of the great

things about this trip is its simplicity; three nights are spent at two locations: Fraser’s Hill (montane

forest) and Taman Negara (lowland forest). The mangrove site of Kuala Selangor is also visited on

the way to Fraser’s Hill, adding a nice suite of mangrove and scrubby forest species to the trip tally.

Malaysia has excellent infrastructure, including great roads and luxurious lodging. The people are

friendly and hospitable, and the excellent food is enriched by a mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay

influences. For those who want a longer sojourn in Sundaland, this short tour can be combined

with the longer Tropical Birding Borneo tour that immediately follows it.

MALAYSIA: The ASIA Introtour

A Tropical Birding Set Departure

June 23-30, 2018 Guide: Ken Behrens

All photos by Ken Behrens


In one week of birding, we

recorded 243 species of birds. Just

a few of the avian highlights were a

surprise Ferruginous Partridge,

endemic Malaysian Partridge,

Crested Fireback, Lesser Fish-

Eagle, several flocks of the scarce

Large Green-Pigeon, the rare Short-

toed Coucal, mangrove-dwelling

Chestnut-breasted Malkhoa, Little

Bronze-Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo,

Malaysian (Eared) Nightjar, Ken’s

favorites the Gray-rumped and

Whiskered Treeswifts, Rhinoceros,

Black, Wreathed, and Wrinkled

Hornbills, Red-bearded Bee-eater,

White-bellied and Great Slaty

Woodpeckers, Fire-tufted Barbet,

Green, Long-tailed, Banded, and

Black-and-yellow Broadbills, Garnet

Pitta, Pied Triller, Black-and-

crimson Oriole, Black and Common

Green Magpies, the monotypic

family that is Rail Babbler (shown in

the first photo), Sultan Tit, Velvet-

fronted and Blue Nuthatches,

incredible views of Pygmy Cupwing,

endemic Black and Malayan Laughingthrushes, and Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher.

This tour is also excellent for mammals, something that is not the case for all Asian trips.

We recorded 21 species of mammal, including White-thighed and Dusky Langurs, Wild Boar,

The Pygmy Cupwing is a member of the small and recently split cupwing family, a major target for family listers who are new to

Asia.


Smooth-coated Otter, and a lucky sighting of a Malaysian Tapir for one lucky participant who

happened to be awakened by one in the middle of the night!

After a night in a fabulous Kuala

Lumpur hotel, complete with

swimming pool, gym, and an

amazing buffet, we struck out early

for Kuala Selangor. This coastal site

has some secondary forest and

mangroves, and offers chances for a

bunch of species that aren’t possible

anywhere else on the tour. Our few

hours there were highly productive.

In the mangroves, we found all the

specialty birds: Golden-bellied

Gerygone, Pied Triller, Mangrove Whistler, Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher, and the mangrove-dwelling

subspecies of Great Tit. A vocal Brush Cuckoo was a nice bonus. The dry forest, just inland from

the mangroves, was also very good. Here we found Coppersmith Barbet, Greater and Common

Flamebacks, Laced and Rufous Woodpeckers, Pink-necked Pigeon, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, and

Chestnut-bellied Malkoha.

Changeable Hawk-Eagles and

Brahminy Kites were soaring

overhead, along with thousands of

Germain’s Swiftlets, that nest in

custom-built swiftlet houses, which

make it easy for local entrepreneurs

to collect their valuable edible nests.

After lunch in town, we struck inland

and uphill, heading for the former

colonial hill station of Bukit Fraser, or

Fraser’s Hill.

Good views of the scarce Brush Cuckoo were enjoyed in the mangroves of Kuala Selangor.

Germain’s Swiflets are abundant in the coastal lowlands around Kuala Selangor, where commercial swiftlet houses

are a common sight.


We had three nights and parts

of four days to explore the

wonders of Fraser’s Hill. One of

the things that make it such an

attractive birding spot, is that lots

of habitats and birding areas can

be easily accessed in a small

area. The higher elevations of the

hill, as around the town, have a

characteristic set of highland

birds, while the forest starts to

change as you go down the exit

road, taking on the character of lowland forest at “The Gap”, where the one-way entrance and exit

roads meet. We covered all these habitats as thoroughly as possible during our time on the hill.

The top of the hill has some of Fraser’s famous species like Fire-tufted Barbet and Blue Nuthatch,

and the endemic Malaysian Partridge and Malaysian Laughingthrush. The mountains of Malaysia

have a fascinating set of species. Sometimes birding here feels like birding in the Himalayas of

China, and you forget that you’re only a

short ways from the equator! Meanwhile,

the town has a funky British colonial vibe,

with manor houses and elaborate light

poles. It’s a weird but wonderful

combination! One of the features of

Fraser’s are a bunch of feeding stations,

which attract great birds like Long-tailed

Sibia, Silver-eared Mesia, White-tailed

Robin, Large Niltava, and several babblers.

We were amazed to see that

photographers had even set up a feeding

station for Pygmy Cupwing, allowing us to

The delightful Silver-eared Mesia is common and conspicuous on Fraser’s Hill.

Large Niltavas are large and aggressive, and dominate some of the feeding stations on Fraser’s Hill.


get sensational views of this normally

skulking species.

Although we pretty quickly cleaned up

most of the species of the top of the hill, there

was plenty more birding to do in the lower

elevations of “the Gap” and the access roads.

There we ran into some large feeding flocks

that contained gems like Velvet-fronted

Nuthatch and Sultan Tit. One rather quiet

late morning was livened up by a sighting of

the odd but fabulous Red-bearded Bee-eater. Another time, while driving back to our lodge along

the old road, we bumped into a bit of bird activity, and saw the scarce Collared Babbler and Black

Laughingthrush in quick succession – well worth a late lunch! One evening, we waited at “The

Gap” until huge and raptor-like Malaysian (Eared) Nightjars emerged to start hawking insects – a

memorable sight.

We had two good encounters with the endemic Malaysian Partridge.

We had great views of the scarce and shy Collared Babbler.


Our time at Frasers passed

all to quickly, and soon it was time

to head to Taman Negara for a

three-night stay. This national park

protects one of the largest stretches

of pristine lowland rainforest left in

peninsular Malaysia. This is the

Asian equivalent of the Amazon

rainforest. It’s an incredibly rich

environment with an endless list of

mouth-watering birds. But it’s also

hard work. The trees are literally

among the tallest in the world, the

weather is hot and steamy, and

there are terrestrial leaches to

contend with. Not only that, but the

birds are shy, and the forest will

sometimes go almost completely

silent, especially in the afternoon.

But those who persevere are

rewarded with sightings of some of

the coolest birds in the world. On

this trip, Rail Babbler and Garnet

Pitta provide examples of both: the hard work required and the fabulous payoff. We spent most of

our first morning in the park pursuing these two special birds. The Rail Babbler makes up its own

family, which is related to the wickedly weird picathares of Africa. It’s a very shy ground dwelling

bird, with a beautiful facial pattern that includes inflatable bluish-purple sacs on the sides of the

neck. After a long bushwalk in pursuit of a calling bird, we counted ourselves very lucky to

eventually have excellent views of this unique beauty. The Garnet Pitta required even more effort.

We heard several in the distance before finally having a closer bird that seemed within reach. But

After a lot of hard work, we had excellent views of the jewel-like Garnet Pitta.


finding this bird still entailed a long session of bushwhacking, punctuated by stretches of waiting in

the forest as I went forward to try to spot the shy pitta without scaring it and making it fly away.

Our efforts eventually paid of when I found the pitta perched high in the sub-canopy, as this

species often does.

Another Taman Negara highlight was the Crested Fireback.

Taman Negara has an incredible bounty of bulbuls and babblers, and we worked our way

through the list, notching species after species. The babblers essentially fill the “ant-thing” niche of

the Neotropics; the brown and blackish birds of the forest understory. There are a couple

wonderful pheasants in the park. Unfortunately, Malayan Peacock-pheasant remained as a heard-

only species, but we had unforgettable views of a very tame Crested Fireback at dusk one day.

There are only four treeswifts in the world, and in my view, they count among the planet’s coolest

birds. Lowland Malaysia has two of these four species, and we saw them both: Whiskered and


Gray-rumped Treeswifts. Another marquee group of Taman Negara is the kingfishers, many of

which are forest-dwelling and very shy. We enjoyed views of Blue-eared, Blue-banded, and Stork-

billed Kingfishers. This biome is

also one of the world’s best for

woodpeckers. We recorded more

than 10 species, which ranged

from the huge Great Slaty and

White-bellied, to the dinky Buff-

rumped and Gray-and-buff.

On our final morning, we

did a boat trip. Compared to

sweating our way through the

forest, this was wonderfully easy

birding! Some of the highlights of

our time on the water included

delightfully vocal Straw-headed Bulbuls. This endangered species has been trapped to the verge

of extinction, mainly to satisfy the demand for mellifluous cage birds in Indonesia. Taman Negara

is now one of the best places in

the world to see this rapidly

disappearing species. Other

prizes on the boat trip included

flyovers by three huge hornbills:

Rhinoceros, Wreathed, and

Wrinkled Hornbills.

The excellent Malaysian

roads quickly brought us back

to the mega-city of Kuala

Lumpur, and to the conclusion

of this short but sweet tour.

Stork-billed Kingfisher, the most common of Taman Negara’s ‘fishers.

Black-capped Babbler was one of many babblers that we saw in the rich lowland forest of Taman Negara.


ITINERARY June 23 Arrival in Kuala Lumpur June 24 Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Selangor to Fraser’s Hill June 25 Fraser’s Hill June 26 Fraser’s Hill June 27 Fraser’s Hill to Taman Negara June 28 Taman Negara June 29 Taman Negara June 30 Taman Negara to Kuala Lumpur

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush is common and conspicuous on Bukit Fraser.


PHOTO GALLERY Follows chronology of trip

A couple of “LBJ”s at Kuala Selangor: Abbott’s Babbler (left) and Mangrove Whistler (right).

There are loads of cool mudskippers at Kuala Selangor.


Lesser Adjutant (left) and Changeable Hawk-Eagle (right) festooned the sky at Kuala Selangor.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (left) and Greater Flameback (right).


The moist hill forest on Fraser’s Hill holds countless prizes like the White-tailed Robin.

Of the many squirrel species encountered on this trip, the Red-cheeked Squirrel is one of the least common.


An incredible insect (left) and an endemic Rufous-bellied Swallow (right).

Silver-eared Mesia, a flashy member of the laughingthrush family.


We saw large troops of Pig-tailed Macaques along the new road at Fraser’s Hill.


Pacific Swallow (left) at “The Gap” and a Black-throated Sunbird (right) on top of the hill.

Little Cuckoo-Dove is common, but extremely flighty. So it was nice to get some prolonged scope views.


Red-headed Trogons were very cooperative.

Dark-necked Tailorbird (left) and Mountain Bulbul (right); denizens of the hill.


The diminutive but big-voiced Streaked Wren-Babbler.

Lower-elevation forest along the New Road and around “The Gap” has a different mix of species, which starts

to include lowland birds like Stripe-throated Bulbul (left) and Purple-naped Spiderhunter (right).


Long-tailed Sibias certainly don’t lack character… or tail.


A Sundaland highland specialty, the Black-and-crimson Oriole.

We saw Wild Boar both at Fraser’s Hill and Taman Negara.


Malayan Laughingthrush, a handsome peninsula endemic.

Rufous-browed Flycatcher is quite common on Fraser’s Hill.


Fire-tufted Barbet is undoubtedly one of the top birds of Fraser’s Hill.

A couple of babblers at Fraser’s: Buff-breasted (left) and Gray-throated (right).


We plunged into the humid lowland forest of Taman Negara, where we sought a rich new set of species

including the likes of Black Hornbill (left) and Gray-cheeked Bulbul (right).

Red-throated Barbet is normally found high in the canopy, so getting eye-level views was a real treat.


Rail Babbler was definitely Bird of the Trip.

Right on the grounds of the Mutiara Resort, we saw Thick-billed Green-Pigeon (left)

and Black-and-red Broadbill (right).


Taman Negara is babbler paradise. A couple of the more distinctive species

are Black-throated (left) and Short-tailed (right) Babblers.

A common but wonderful bird of lowland and mid-elevation forest: White-rumped Shama.


Straw-colored Bulbul is one of Asia’s top songsters, which has almost been its undoing.

The thrush-like Ferruginous Babbler.


Bulbuls might seem dull at a distance, but are actually wonderful birds when seen well. Shown here are

Yellow-bellied (left) and Hairy-backed (right) Bulbuls.

Crested Fireback, a spectacular beast by any reckoning.


BIRD LIST Taxonomy and nomenclature follow The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World v2017 (including updates through August 2017).

PHEASANTS AND PARTRIDGES: Phasianidae Ferruginous Partridge Caloperdix oculeus Malaysian Partridge Arborophila campbelli Great Argus Argusianus argus H Malayan Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron malacense H Crested Fireback Lophura ignita HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS: Ardeidae Gray Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES: Accipitridae Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus limnaeetus Blyth's Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus alboniger Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis PIGEONS AND DOVES: Columbidae Rock Pigeon Columba livia Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Little Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia ruficeps Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Zebra Dove Geopelia striata Little Green-Pigeon Treron olax Pink-necked Pigeon Treron vernans Thick-billed Pigeon Treron curvirostra Large Green-Pigeon Treron capellei Wedge-tailed Pigeon Treron sphenurus Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea Mountain Imperial-Pigeon Ducula badia CUCKOOS: Cuculidae Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis


Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis H Raffles's Malkoha Rhinortha chlorophaeus Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris Chestnut-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus sumatranus Black-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus diardi Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Little (Malay) Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus Brush (Rusty-breasted) Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus sepulcralis Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris Dark Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx bocki OWLS: Strigidae Mountain Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus H Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei H NIGHTJARS: Caprimulgidae Malaysian (Eared) Nightjar Lyncornis temminckii Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus SWIFTS: Apodidae Silver-rumped Needletail Rhaphidura leucopygialis Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus Plume-toed (Glossy) Swiftlet Collocalia affinis cyanoptila Germain's Swiftlet Aerodramus germani House Swift Apus nipalensis TREESWIFTS: Hemiprocnidae Gray-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata TROGONS: Trogonidae Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba H Scarlet-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelii Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios H HORNBILLS: Bucerotidae Helmeted Hornbill Buceros vigil H Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus Oriental Pied-Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris


Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus Wrinkled Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus KINGFISHERS: Alcedinidae Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo euryzona Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella H Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris BEE-EATERS: Meropidae Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis ROLLERS: Coraciidae Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis ASIAN BARBETS: Megalaimidae Sooty (Brown) Barbet Calorhamphus hayii Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephala Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon australis Fire-tufted Barbet Psilopogon pyrolophus Red-throated Barbet Psilopogon mystacophanos Yellow-crowned Barbet Psilopogon henricii Gold-whiskered Barbet Psilopogon chrysopogon Black-browed Barbet Megalaima oorti WOODPECKERS: Picidae Sunda (Brown-capped) Woodpecker Dendrocopos moluccensis H Gray-capped (Pygmy-) Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus H White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis H Banded Woodpecker Picus mineaceus Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus H Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus Checker-throated Woodpecker Picus mentalis Common Flameback Dinopium javanense Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus Buff-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis Buff-necked Woodpecker Meiglyptes tukki


Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis Orange-backed Woodpecker Reinwardtipicus validus H Gray-and-buff Woodpecker Hemicircus concretus Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus PARROTS: Psittacidae Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot Loriculus galgulus AFRICAN AND GREEN BROADBILLS: Calyptomenidae Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis ASIAN AND GRAUER'S BROADBILLS: Eurylaimidae Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus H Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus PITTAS: Pittidae Garnet Pitta Erythropitta granatina Rusty-naped Pitta Hydrornis oatesi H Giant Pitta Hydrornis caeruleus H Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida H THORNBILLS AND ALLIES: Acanthizidae Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea VANGAS, HELMETSHRIKES AND ALLIES: Vangidae Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus H IORAS: Aegithinidae Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Green Iora Aegithina viridissima CUCKOO-SHRIKES: Campephagidae Gray-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus Large Cuckoo-shrike Coracina macei larutensis Pied Triller Lalage nigra WHISTLERS: Pachycephalidae


Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala cinerea VIREOS: Vireonidae Blyth's Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius aeralatus Black-eared Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius melanotis tahanensis White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca OLD WORLD ORIOLES: Oriolidae Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis Black-and-crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus DRONGOS: Dicruridae Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus FANTAILS: Rhipiduridae Malaysian Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis MONARCH FLYCATCHERS: Monarchidae Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Blyth's Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis CROWS AND JAYS: Corvidae Crested Jay (Shrike) Platylophus galericulatus Black Magpie Platysmurus l. leucopterus Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis House Crow Corvus splendens Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos RAIL-BABBLER: Eupetidae Malaysian Rail-babbler Eupetes macrocerus SWALLOWS: Hirundinidae Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica Rufous-bellied Swallow Cecropis badia FAIRY FLYCATCHERS: Stenostiridae Gray-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis CHICKADEES AND TITS: Paridae Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea Cinereous Tit Parus cinereous


NUTHATCHES: Sittidae Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Blue Nuthatch Sitta azurea BULBULS: Pycnonotidae Puff-backed Bulbul Pycnonotus eutilotus Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus Spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus erythropthalmos Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus Gray-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres Yellow-bellied Bulbul Alophoixus phaeocephalus Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala cinereus Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii Streaked Bulbul Ixos malaccensis CUPWINGS: Pnoepygidae Pygmy Cupwing (Wren-Babbler) Pnoepyga pusilla BUSH-WARBLERS AND ALLIES: Scotocercidae Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus LEAF-WARBLERS: Phylloscopidae Mountain (Leaf) Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps CISTICOLAS AND ALLIES: Cisticolidae Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris


YUHINAS, WHITE-EYES AND ALLIES: Zosteropidae Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Everett's White-eye Zosterops everetti TREE-BABBLERS, SCIMITAR-BABBLERS AND ALLIES: Timaliidae Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Mixornis gularis Golden Babbler Cyanoderma chrysaeum Chestnut-winged Babbler Cyanoderma erythropterum Rufous-fronted Babbler Cyanoderma rufifrons H Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus montanus Black-throated Babbler Stachyris nigricollis Chestnut-rumped Babbler Stachyris maculata Gray-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps Gray-headed Babbler Stachyris poliocephala GROUND BABBLERS AND ALLIES: Pellorneidae Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum Rufous-crowned Babbler Malacopteron magnum Collared Babbler Gampsorhynchus torquatus Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli White-chested Babbler Pellorneum rostratum Ferruginous Babbler Pellorneum bicolor Abbott's Babbler Turdinus abbotti Large Wren-Babbler Turdinus macrodactylus H Streaked Wren-Babbler Turdinus brevicaudatus LAUGHINGTHRUSHES AND ALLIES: Leiothrichidae Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis peracensis Black Laughingthrush Garrulax lugubris Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush Lanthocincla mitrata Malayan Laughingthrush Trochalopteron peninsulae Long-tailed Sibia Heterophasia picaoides Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris Blue-winged Minla Actinodura cyanouroptera FAIRY-BLUEBIRDS: Irenidae Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella


OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS: Muscicapidae Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Rufous-browed Flycatcher Anthipes solitaris Hill Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis turcosus Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra Large Niltava Niltava grandis Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus H Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni STARLINGS: Sturnidae Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus Common Myna Acridotheres tristis LEAFBIRDS: Chloropseidae Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati Lesser Green Leafbird Chloropsis cyanopogon Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii FLOWERPECKERS: Dicaeidae Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus maculatus Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus SUNBIRDS AND SPIDERHUNTERS: Nectariniidae Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex Plain-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata wrayi Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja Gray-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra Purple-naped Spiderhunter Arachnothera hypogrammicum


Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna OLD WORLD SPARROWS: Passeridae Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus WAXBILLS AND ALLIES: Estri ldidae White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata White-headed Munia Lonchura maja G

H = heard-only G = guide-only

MAMMAL LIST

TREESHREWS: Tupaiidae Common Treeshrew Tupaia glis Lesser Treeshrew Tupaia minor MONKEYS: Cercopithecidae Silvered Langur/Leaf-Monkey Presbytis cristata White-thighed Langur/Leaf-Monkey Presbytis siamensis Dusky Langur/Leaf-Monkey Trachypithecus obscurus Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis Southern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina GIBBONS: Hylobatidae White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar H Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus H SQUIRRELS: Sciuridae Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel Ratufa affinis H Prevost's Squirrel Callosciurus prevostii G Gray-bellied Squirrel Callosciurus caniceps Pallas's Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus Sunda Black-banded Squirrel Callosciurus nigrovittatus Himalayan (Western) Striped Squirrel Tamiops macclellandii Low's Squirrel Sundasciurus lowii Slender Squirrel Sundasciurus tenuis CIVETS AND MONGOOSES: Viverridae Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva PIGS: Suidae Wild Boar Sus scrofa


TAPIRS: Tapiridae Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus MUSTELIDS: Mustelidae Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata

H = heard-only G = guide-only

REPTILE LIST

Mangrove Skink Emoia atrocostata Common Sun Skink Europsis multifasciata Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Tokay Gecko Gekko gecko Water Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator

The cuckooshrikes on Fraser’s Hill are a bit of a taxonomic mystery. They have been considered part of both

Large and Javan Cuckooshrikes, but may actually comprise their own endemic species: Malaysian Cuckooshrike.

a tropical birding set departure · nuthatch and sultan tit. one rather quiet late morning was...

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