| Birdwatching
in Thailand is a most rewarding experience
for beginners and dedicated ornithologists alike due
to almost 1000 species having been recorded, many of
which are spectacular colours, huge in size and rare.
Thailand
is an hospitable country which is easy to travel around
with some excellent accommodation and food available,
making it an ideal location to find species that occur
elsewhere only in countries not so easy to access.
Similarly
to many other countries in southeast Asia, Thailand
has suffered from much deforestation and drainage of
wetlands, however, there are a large number of protected
areas including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries
and non-hunting areas that are still abundant in bird
species.
Here
is some basic information about some of the best sites
and links to other sources of information. |
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A
Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand
Guide
to the Birds of Southeast Asia
Guide
to the Birds of Thailand
Photographic
Guide To the Birds of Thailand |
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| Central
Thailand Birdwatching Locations |
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| Most
birdwatchers arriving in Thailand will do so through Bangkok.
Although most will not wish to stay in the capital city
for too long, there are a number of places worth visiting
in and around the city as well as within a few hours drive. |
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1.
Lumphini Park - This public park
is situated right in the centre of Bangkok and
provides an opportunity to find some of the more
common birds of Thailand, along with some passage
migrants, for those stuck in Bangkok on business
or waiting for an onward flight.
2.
Rot Fai Park - This rather large
public park, situated close to the famous Chatuchak
market in Bangkok, can turn up some interesting
migratory species and plenty of escapees from
the bird market. It is one of the parks used by
the Bird
Conservation Society of Thailand for their
bi-monthly birdwalk. |
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Lumphini
Park
by Daniel
Raica |
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3.
Bang Poo - A coastal site on the estuary
of the Chao Praya River, roughly 45 minutes from Bangkok's
city centre, Bang Poo is an excellent place for shorebirds
and plays host to Thailand's largest flock of Brown-headed
Gulls between October and April. Species such as Heuglin's
Gull and Great Crested Tern are seen annually.
4.
Khok Kham - This expanse of salt farms,
prawn ponds and mangrove remnants has become famous
as a regular wintering site of globally threatened Spoon-billed
Sandpiper. This site is about 1 hour from the centre
of Bangkok by taxi and is also a regular site for Asian
Dowitcher, Great Knot and Caspian Tern.
5.
Bang Pra Non-hunting Area - A little over
1 hour east of Bangkok, Bang Pra is a shallow reservoir
surrounded by reedbeds, grassland, scrub and woodland.
Due to the variety of habitats it is possible to see
a large number of species in a single day here and this
is a particularly good site for wetland birds, Rain
Quail as well as Chinese Francolin. There is also a
large feral colony of Painted Storks and Spot-billed
Pelicans. |
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6.
Laem Pak Bia & Pak Thale - This
has become one of Thailand's best birdwatching
locations and at a little over 2 hours from Bangkok,
it is well worth the trip from the capital. Salt
farms close to the village of Pak Bia are regular
wintering locations for Spoon-billed
Sandpipers and the sand spit at Laem Pak Bia
has nesting Malaysian Plover and wintering Heuglin's,
Pallas's and Black-tailed Gulls along with a variety
of Tern species. The reedbeds of the wastewater
treatment plant at Laem Pak Bia was the site for
the rediscovery of Large-billed
Reed Warbler, in 2006, although the chances
of seeing it there again are practically zero. |
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Spoon-billed Sandpiper
by Johan
Svensson |
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| Northern
Thailand Birdwatching Locations |
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| Northern
Thailand is a favourite region of the country with visiting
and resident birdwatchers alike due to the speciality
species that occur there as well as the beautiful forests. |
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7.
Doi Inthanon National Park - Thailand's
highest mountain is deservedly famous for the beautiful
moss-clad forest at its summit. At the top species such
as Chestnut-tailed Minla, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Chestnut-capped
Laughingthrush, Green-tailed Sunbird and Ashy-throated
Warbler are common and at lower altitudes River Chat
and Plumbeous Redstart can be found in the waterfalls.
This is a site all birdwatchers visiting Thailand should
visit. |
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8.
Doi Chiang Dao National Park - Another
high mountain which has become famous with birdwatchers.
It is possible to birdwatch at the mountain's
base and summit so a large variety of species
can be found. Most birdwatchers, though, come
here in search of Giant Nuthatch and Hume's
Pheasant, both of which occur at the higher
altitudes.
9.
Doi Ang Kang - This region of northern
Thailand consists of a mixture of forest patches
and hilltribe agriculture. Birdwatching can be
slow at times, but in the winter months it is
a great place to find a number of unusual migrants,
particularly Flycatchers and Thrushes. Resident
species include Crested Finchbill, Red-faced Liocichla
and White-browed Laughingthrush. |
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Crested
Finchbill
by Suppalak
Klabdee |
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Chiang Saen - Chiang Saen is a small town
next to the Mekong River, close to the Golden Triaglge,
but the appeal for birdwatchers is the extensive wetlands
in the area. The Mekong itself often plays host to Small
Pratincole and sometimes Long-billed Plover and the wetlands
in the region consistently reveal new species; the most
recent being the discovery of a breeding population of
Grass Owls. |
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| Southern
Thailand Birdwatching Locations |
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| Southern
Thailand is characterised by beautiful beaches and islands
along with remnants of tropical rainforest. Many holidaymakers
travel to the island of Phuket, but there is much more
in this region for birdwatchers. |
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| 11.
Khao Sok National Park - A large protected
area of forest which actually spans several national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries, although Khao Sok is the most
visited. This is a good place to get into some excellent
habitat and many people find several species of Hornbill
here including Helmeted and White-crowned Hornbills. The
world's largest "flower", the Rafflesia, occurs
here too and for bird connoisseurs, this is one of the
best places in Thailand for finding Banded Pitta. |
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12.
Khao Nor Chuchi - Famous for being
the home of the last Gurney's
Pittas, until the species' rediscovery in
Myanmar, KNC is a nice place to visit, although
sometimes a difficult place for birdwatching.
This fragment of forest is still home to a large
number of lowland species that are hard to find
elsewhere in Thailand.
13.
Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary - On
the Malaysian border this wonderful location is
Hornbill heaven! With Malaysian Rail Babbler,
Garnet Pitta and a whole collection of lowland
Babblers, this is what much of southern Thailand
must have once been like. |
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Gurney's
Pitta
by Suppalak
Klabdee |
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14.
Ko Similan National Park - Nine beautiful
islands comprise this paradise in the Andaman Sea. For
birdwatchers there are Pied Imperial Pigeons, White-bellied
Sea Eagle and Nicobar Pigeon.
15.
Ko Phi Phi National Park - Made famous
by the movie "The Beach" Ko Phi Phi is a popular
tourist destination. A boat trip to the nearby sea stacks
Ko Pida Nai & Ko Pida Nork is a must for birdwatchers
for Lesser and Christmas Island Frigatebirds. |
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| Western
Thailand Birdwatching Locations |
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| The
western border with Myanmar is home to the largest remaining
area of forest in Thailand and in these forests birdwatchers
can find species found nowhere else in the country. |
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16.
Kaeng Krachan National Park - Only three
hours drive from Bangkok this wonderful national park
is a favourite with Thai birdwatchers. With probably
more species than any other single location in the country
this is a must visit site with Wreathed, Brown and Great
Hornbills, Giant and Blue Pittas, Ratchet-tailed
Treepie, Grey Peacock Pheasant...the list goes on.
17.
Mae Wong National Park - In the middle
of the western forest complex Mae Wong is the most accessible
part of this region. With the highlight of Rufous-necked
Hornbill this is most certainly worth a trip. |
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| North
Eastern Thailand Birdwatching Locations |
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| The
northeastern plains of Thailand are largely deforested
but there are some upland areas with excellent habitat
that birdwatchers should visit. |
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18.
Khao Yai National Park - One of the
most visited national parks in Thailand and for
good reason. About 4 hours from the centre of
Bangkok allows birdwatchers to discover gems such
as Coral-billed
Ground Cuckoo, Eared Pitta and Siamese
Fireback.
With a mixture of forest types and open land,
it is easy to see a large number of species here,
and it has to be one of the best places in the
world for finding Hornbills with Oriental Pied,
Wreathed and Great
Hornbills all being common and Brown Hornbill
also occurring. |
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Siamese Fireback
by Suppalak
Klabdee |
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| 19.
Nam Nao National Park - This under-visited
national park deserves more attention from birdwatchers.
A superb place to observe many species of Woodpeckers
and Barbets; Collared Falconet and Oriental Turtle Dove
are also regular here. |
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Bird
Conservation Society of Thailand - The official Birdlife
International Partner in Thailand.
Checklists
- Checklists from many birdwatching locations in Thailand.
Latest
Sightings from Thailand - Updated frequently.
Phuket Birder's
Blog - An interesting blog in English, with photos,
from a Thai birder.
Oriental
Bird Images - Thousands of photos of birds from around
Asia, many from Thailand.
Thai
Raptor Group - Thai ornithology group specialising
in raptors.
Thaiwaterbirds.com
- Photos and interesting sightings of waterbirds in Thailand
Trip
Reports - A large collection of reports from Thailand
WorldTwitch
(Thailand) - Bird reports, trip reports and conservation
news from Thailand. |
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