sabah, borneo - birdtour asia reports/birdtour asia sabah nov 2009.pdf · following a short flight...
TRANSCRIPT
Sabah, Borneo
1st - 13th November 2009
Leader: James Eaton
Participants: John Archer, Michael Duffy, Duncan Himes, Carol Himes, Peter Los, Patrick Nash and Ute Nash
Bristlehead, Sepilok © James Eaton/Birdtour Asia The huge island of Borneo conjures up images of Orang-utan, mammals, vast tracts of rainforest and a dazzling array of wonderful endemics and of course those majestic hornbills. This tour fulfilled all of those images and many more, recording a total of 283 species including 40 endemics (depending on your taxonomic persuasion!). The tour couldn't have started better; our first endemic was the most-wanted, the Bristlehead. Next, the Kinabatangan River, snaking through lowland forest produced the completely different but equally desirable Bornean Ground Cuckoo. Until recently considered a near-mythical species the ground cuckoo performed wonderfully. Other highlights were array of hornbills including a showy pair of White-crowned, plenty of Storm's Storks, White-fronted Falconet and hunting Buffy Fish Owls. The fabulous Danum Valley Conservation Area met our expectations with a huge haul of lowland Bornean and sundaic endemics. Highlights included Blue-headed, Black-crowned and Bornean Banded Pittas, Black-throated and Striped Wren Babblers, Bornean Ground Babbler, Bornean and Large-billed Blue Flycatchers, booming Short-toed Coucals, three species of trogons and we completed all the hornbills of the island in style with a pair of mighty Helmeted Hornbills. A week taking in the mighty Mount Kinabalu found the majority of upland endemics; best of all was the pair of Whitehead's Trogon shortly followed by Fruithunter, circling Mountain Serpent Eagles, Friendly Bush Warbler, 3 endemics barbets, singing Everett's Thrush and fabulous views of a showy Whitehead's
Spiderhunter that refused to say no! Though one of the most appreciated birds was one of the most widespread; a night-time Mountain Scops Owl. This was also a memorable tour for mammals; a tree-shaking Bornean Gibbon, Marbled Cat, Sunda Pangolin, Sunda Loris, lots of flying squirrels and civets and of course, the ‘man of the forest’, plenty of Bornean Orang-utan including one big male within touching distance! Following a short flight across the mountains of Sabah we touched down at Sandakan airport in the early afternoon and transferred to our comfortable accommodation overlooking the lowland forest at Sepilok. Once we had consumed the first of several wonderful lunches we headed for the study canopy walkway. Birding proved slow but this was not a problem as a party of Bristlehead flew across though views weren't great the most highly prized of Borneo's endemics was 'in the bag'. Returning the following morning, a family party of White-bellied Woodpecker produced simply awesome views feeding literally under our noses, even the iphones came out of the pockets for some snap shots! The same fruiting tree the Bristleheads favoured also contained another endemic, a family of Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker along with Streaked and Red-eyed Bulbuls. Remaining on the canopy walkway brought close views of several canopy-dwellers in particular vocal Banded Broadbills and Bornean Brown Barbets. Violet Cuckoo typically undulated over, calling all the while and a couple of flocks of Long-tailed Parakeet noisly flew-over, and a feeding flock produced our first (and only in some cases) sundaic endemics; Fiery Minivets, Black-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Green Iora, Plain and Red-throated Sunbird and wintering Arctic Warblers. On the lone stump up to four Grey-and-buff Woodpeckers took it in turns hammering away and getting all excited. A quick look along the forest edge produced nice views of the distinctive Bold-striped Tit Babbler, several Yellow-eared Spiderhunter and both Ashy and Rufous-tailed Tailorbirds.
Bat Hawks and Storm’s Stork, Kinabatangan River © James Eaton As the heat began to rise we headed off, stopping at Gomantong Caves to witness the marvellous spectacle of a birds-nest cave with thousands of Black-nest Swiftlet nests stuck to the cave ceiling like glue, along with smaller numbers of Mossy-nest Swiftlet though all the Edible-nests had been harvested – fortunately this species is identifiable outside of the nest. Keeping the nest theme a mating pair of Bat Hawk were by their nest in the midday heat, as was finding White-bellied Munia actually nesting inside the cave, as they had been doing on my previous two tours. The final destination for the day was our comfortable lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. With an afternoon, full day and a final morning birding from the comforts of our boat under the beaming sun we could feel it was going to be a memorable time here. We went in search of the number one priority, Bornean Ground Cuckoo and a response was almost instant, though too brief and distant to put in any serious effort until the following morning when a bird started playing with us, calling from afar several times before eventually being coaxed towards us. So typically of this difficult species just when things become silent for a worryingly long time it started calling from just off the waters-edge. With some careful manoeuvring and creeping up the typical tail-pumping gave the bird away, after a frantic five minutes of attempting to get onto the bird in the dense tangle he gave himself up, jumping to the floor and calling in the open before strolling across in front of us then walking along a sunlit log – what a stunner! Our other priority here, the hornbills, excelled with great looks at five species including several Wrinkled, a swamp forest speciality and a pair of White-crowned flying back-and-forth until the photographers amongst us had no excuses for the perfect shot. Numerous Black, Oriental Pied and Bushy-crested Hornbills showed several times both perched and fly-bys over the river. Keeping an eye to the sky raptors
heavily featured, rather bizarrely our first raptors in the deep blue sky were a pair of Bat Hawk flying straight over us. Wallace's Hawk, Rufous-bellied and Lesser Fish Eagles all perched up for us as did a diminutive pair of the often-tricky White-fronted Falconet. Another speciality of the Kinabatangan is the sizeable population of Storm's Stork that continue to hang on here and we enjoyed several excellent views of these odd looking storks from a pair feeding by our accommodation one lunchtime to a flock of 4 birds circling around us and perching overhead in the glorious mid-morning sunshine. A wide selection of other species made our two nights here ever the more enjoyable, three Blue-winged Pitta (at least!) including one feeding out on the lawn by our rooms before breakfast, two Moustached Hawk Cuckoos flew around our boat, frugivores were generally thin on the ground but did include Little Green Pigeon and a surprise flock of Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeons. White-crowned Shama, a common endemic sang in the hotel grounds and a night-time cruise four species of roosting daytime birds including a pair of Red-and-black Broadbill. Wintering Asian Brown Flycatcher, Crimson and Brown-throated Sunbirds, and fantasticly illuminated Maroon-breasted Philentoma, a much underrated bird, and a pair of Bornean Black Magpie perched unusually exposed. The Kinabatangan wouldn't be the same without the mammals and primates, had it not been for the ground cuckoo and hornbills these would have stolen the show. During dinner a Malayan Civet came to investigate the food scraps below us and in the daytime groups of comical Proboscis Monkey loafed and played in the riverside trees as did the not-so charismatic Long-tailed and Sunda Pig-tailed Macaques, though just a troop of Sunda Silvered Langur was found. Bornean Orang-utan of all ages and sizes were plentiful thanks to the numerous fig trees fruiting. Leaving the river behind we drove through seemingly endless lines of Oil Palm until we entered the huge, one million hectare Yayasan Logging Cession, arriving inside the wonderful Danum Valley Conservation Area in the early evening. Our base for the next four nights would be the fabulously situated Borneo Rainforest Lodge. A trip to Danum Valley conjures up images of hornbills, babbler, trogons, Orang-utans and those fabulous jewels of the forest, the pittas! Fortunately, with Bristlehead under our belts we could concentrate on the forest interior. Our pitta quest produced a glowing Black-crowned Pitta in the dense tangles one afternoon after some careful stalking, the next endemic pitta was Bornean Banded which showed itself wonderfully on three separate occasions, the third time bouncing up and down a log for five minutes not knowing which end to jump off! This glowing ball of yellow is soon to be split from its Malayan and Javan relatives. Though Blue-banded Pitta, the hardest of the lot, was heard frustratingly close twice as was a Giant Pitta on one occasion the best of the lot put on some performance as a male Blue-headed Pitta became so excited it actually flew between us to perch on a short angled trunk for several minutes, calling continually.
Red-necked Keelback and Sunda Pangolin, Danum Valley © James Eaton We divided our time birding different sections of this wonderful rainforest. The access road was a great place to scan and observe some of the more canopy-loving species and fruigvores. Greater and Lesser Green Leafbirds, a variety of those brown, sundaic bulbuls that we all love so much, comical Back-and-yellow Broadbills, even a co-operative Yellow-crowned Barbet (yes, barbets can co-operate 60 metres up sometimes!) while Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots whizzed by and their seemingly endless search for who knows what though we did find them perched on two separate occasions. Hornbills were notably thin on the ground, especially the big'uns. Rhinoceros Hornbill took some searching but produced their
characteristic flight over the forest eventually. Wreathed Hornbills whooshed overhead and perched on occasion for us. Though after three days we still hadn't come across the daddy of them all, the Helmeted despite hearing their wonderful laughing call in the distance whenever we tuned our ears. Sitting on the canopy walkway in the late afternoon on our final day I think we were all half-dozing when suddenly one flew-over, perching briefly and away he went, happy at completing the set we still wanted more, after all, we had stunning views of the previous 7 species so why not this one. Hearing the comical sounds of yet another Helmeted Hornbill had us racing to a decent vantage point along the road just in time as a male gave us a wonderful performance, not flapping once as he cruised overhead, shortly followed by his mate. She then perched above us and started that wonderful call, 9 out of 9 and finished off in real style! During our time at the lodge we struggled to decide what was more enjoyable, the sumptuous meals or the wildlife around us. At breakfast Malaysian Blue Flycatcher, Whiskered Treeswifts, Yellow-eared and Spectacled Spiderhunters joined us and at lunch Dark-throated Orioles, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker and best of all, a huge male Orang-utan joined us and kept distracting us from our lunch, though he seemed to prefer the fruit in the tree followed by some tree bark for dessert to help digest the particular fruit. In the evenings a pair of Bornean Firebacks would stroll out of the forest to feed underneath and around our chalets, delightful! We largely kept to the network of forest trails that surround the lodge. Babblers were numerous, Rufous-crowned, Sooty-capped and Scaly-crowned were all encountered on numerous occasions. Fluffy-backed Tit, Chestnut-rumped, Chestnut-winged and Grey-headed Babblers less so but all showed nicely. Searching out the endemics was fun with most of our walks producing a new one, first off was a pair of Bornean Blue Flycatchers singing overhead, a Black-throated Wren Babbler sang his heart out at length from an open perch, the near-endemic Large-billed Blue Flycatcher sang his mournful sang close-by shortly after cracking views of a vocal Striped Wren Babbler. Adding a splash of colour were the good numbers of trogons encountered with numerous Daird's and Scarlet-rumped and a confiding Red-naped Trogon being enjoyed competing with the confiding pair of vocal Rufous-backed Kingfisher next to the trail. Despite all the great passerines and colourful species the pick-of-the-crop went to the two metre -long Great Argus that regally crossed the trail to seemingly disappear into the forest only to be refound perched up just 5 metres away as he pierced our eardrums for a minute or so belting out his wonderful calls.
Marbled Cat, Danum Valley and Pale-faced Bulbul, Mt Kinabalu © James Eaton Birding the higher trails with the rolling slopes and gullies produced a slightly different avifauna as Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Moustached Babbler, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo, Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler, booming Short-toed Coucal and finally, on our last morning, great looks at a Bornean Ground Babbler, first skirting around us in circles and later sat up on a huge log looking inquisitively around for an intruder. Usually we expect the night-drives to produce a couple of flying-squirrels and perhaps a civet species at best, however, this time round we really struck gold. On our first night-drive a bit of a commotion from the spotlighter and James soon became clear after we had jumped out as a Sunda Pangolin was dragged out of the forest by its tail after it had attempted to flee the roadside! A lifer for James was certainly not expected as we were able to study this bizarre creature at close quarters until we decided to hunt for more. A striking Banded Palm Civet was next up, as it slowly crept through the forest in search of fallen fruit, on top of the Masked Palm Civet we had seen earlier. Three species of flying-squirrel included Black, Red Giant and the common Thomas's were also encountered and to top it off, two species of owl, Buffy Fish and Brown Wood Owl. We all told ourselves to calm down for the night-drive the following evening,
expect nothing more than a Thomas's Flying Squirrel as the group joked for a Clouded Leopard this time with James hoping for Marbled Cat instead. Twenty minutes down the track and there quietly walking towards us in the middle of the road is a Marbled Cat! We then watched it go about its business, eating grass and leaves for several minutes before escaping our intrusion, wow! A young Brown Wood Owl on our return proved entertaining as we watched a Pencil-tailed Tree-Mouse feeding just in front of gazing eyes, waiting for him to pounce, after waiting some more he eventually pounced, only to fool us by not going for the mouse but for a cricket instead! After all that obvious excitement the night-drives almost turned to the norm apart from a couple of Sunda Loris feeding in the mid-storey one evening. It's always difficult to pull yourself away from this unique experience, staying in luxury in the heart of the Bornean rainforest but after four nights we did just that to connect with our flight back to Kota Kinabalu to start our new journey with a new set of endemics in the mountains. Before reaching Mount Kinabalu we spent the first part of a morning doing roadside birding at the Rafflesia Reserve. The large tract of mainly mid-altitude forest is home to numerous endemics, both common and rare. After familiarising ourselves with the more common endemics such as Black-sided Flowerpecker, Bornean Whistler, Bornean Treepie and Bornean Bulbul, we searched for the more tricky species. Bornean Barbet was first to fall as he perched up nicely in the scope. Fruiting trees were hard to come-by so we had to dig deep for many species, Bornean Leafbirds, Cinereous Bulbul both appeared and the clear blue skies had us checking intently for a very missable endemic, Mountain Serpent Eagle which showed impeccable timing at our first vantage point and another pair showed overhead not long after with all the salient fieldmarks noted of this distinctive raptor as did a pair of equally striking Blyth's Hawk Eagle. Mount Kinabalu, standing at 4095m the highest mountain between the Himalaya and New Guinea is a massif, towering above the surrounding lowlands and was to be our birding destination over the next four nights.
Golden-naped Barbet and Mountain Black-eye, Mt Kinabalu © James Eaton The network of forest trails kept us busy during our stay and was necessary for many of the endemics. Driving up in the early morning light Bornean Whistling Thrushes were common and an Orange-headed Thrush fed in a drainage ditch. One of our first good endemics to see on the trail was a pair of odd-looking Bare-headed Laughingthrushes, giving their wonderful booming calls overhead, during a nice birdwave that also contained our first striking Short-tailed Green Magpies. A family of Mountain Wren Babblers bounced around the undergrowth making a lot of noise, rustling, branch-shaking and great views, while unobtrusive Eye-browed Jungle Flycatchers appeared on a couple of occasions and on one occasion we observed a pair of beautifully marked Red-breasted Partridges belting out their full duet actually in the middle of the trail. Bornean Forktails appeared twice at the roadside, this subtle split from the lowland White-crowned Forktail has a restricted white on the fore-crown and a longer tail. Feeding flocks, although seldom encountered, contained endemic Bornean Whistler, dazzling Temminck's Sunbird, Sunda Bush Warbler, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Black-capped White-eye, Grey-chinned Minivet, Mountain Leaf and Yellow-breasted Warblers, endemic Rufous-hooded Laughingthrush, Sunda Laughingthrushes, Short-tailed Green Magpie and Hair-crested Drongos. Visiting the lower slopes of Mount Kinabalu one day took us to Poring Hot Springs, a therapeutic paradise for the tourist, though after the long, uphill walk and back you can be fairly sure not all of us saw it that way, especially with a pre-dawn start! Though the rare Hose's Broadbill was not encountered a nice selection of birds were still seen, best of all was the confiding pair of rasping White-necked Babbler that came in to investigate us, one of the most rarely seen sundaic babblers among a number of babblers
seen well during the morning. A pair of Hill Blue Flycatcher made an appearance, a seldom-seen species in Borneo as did a Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher and a close male Banded Kingfisher. A pair of Rufous Piculet were a joy to watch as they busily excavated a nest-hole below eye-level during one of our many rests. Refreshed from the change of scenery we hit the trails along the upper slopes of the mountain once more with renewed purpose. First up, another pair of vocal Short-tailed Green Magpie with a Maroon Woodpecker in tow, then a party of Mountain Wren Babbler fed trail-side. While watching these delightful birds an excellent flock of mid-sized birds starting moving through; Checker-throated Woodpecker, Sunda Cuckooshrike, Bornean Treepie, all three laughingthrushes, Black-and-crimson Oriole. (Un)fortunately a quiet call from the forest turned our attentions as a blazing red flash through the greenery alerted us to the mountains most-prized inhabitants; Whitehead's Trogon. For the next 30 minutes we had a pair of these elegant beauties on view before we left them in peace. After taking in another showy pair of Eye-browed Jungle Flycatcher we hit a different trail, though quiet initially it only takes a couple of birds to lighten up the dull grey skies. Finally a tiny Bornean Stubtail co-operated, sitting in full view as he sang his song, for those who can hear it anyway! Finally, having played the tape of that oh-so elusive Everett's Thrush a duplicate could be heard from behind us, and there he was, perched just 3-4 metres actually over the trail, happily singing away and did so for the next 5 minutes, albeit from slightly further back, talk about finishing with a flourish! The following day we spent much of the time high up. As the sunshine hit the flowers endemic Mountain Black-eyes and Pale-faced Bulbuls busily fed right next to the roadside. Bornean Swiftlet, a recently split endemic from Cave Swiftlet of Indonesia was found breeding inside a couple of buildings enabling us to see the green-glossed mantle easily. Motivating ourselves we started walking up, and up and a little bit further up until after an hour our quest was finally found, just two metres from us as a Friendly Bush Warbler, perhaps Borneo's most range-restricted endemic, sang away and did so on-and-off in between bouts of creeping mouse-like around us for some time.
Whitehead’s Spiderhunter and Fruit-hunter, Rafflesia Reserve © James Eaton We spent our last full day back at the Rafflesia Reserve. Still fruiting trees were in short supply though the one we did find contained several wintering Blue-and-white and Mugimaki Flycatchers and an Eye-browed Thrush along with the sedentary Bornean and Cinereous Bulbuls. Temminck's Babbler were typically furtive on two occasions giving glimpses of their rather drab plumage! The usually conspicuous Mountain Barbet finally gave itself up, perching nicely though a calling Whitehead's Spiderhunter zipped round the bend not to be seen again just as we got onto him. During our prolonged lunchtime a cry from the forest of 'Fruit-hunter!' had those not present already into a sweaty run up the hill. Four of us had just had wonderful looks at a male coming into an interesting fruiting tree. Fortunately, an hour later while walking nearby a quiet contact call gave away the suspect as a male Fruit-hunter posed for us all this time, producing a few gleeful smiles. Other species seen during the day included Black-and-crimson Oriole, a couple of bulky Ruddy Cuckoo Doves among the large number of Little Cuckoo Doves, Sunda Cuckooshrike co-operated for those that put Whitehead's Trogon ahead of this bird two days previous, Thick-billed Green Pigeons flew-by, Grey-chinned and Scarlet Minivets made up little flocks with Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrikes and one occasion a large family flock of Long-tailed Broadbills. Spiderhunters were well represented as Streaky-breasted and a surprise Long-billed reacted to our calls of Mr Whitehead.
With our flights not until later in the morning he headed back into the hills very early for some night-birding. What sounded like a Bornean Frogmouth got the pulses racing and having carefully positioned ourselves in the area of the source we stood quietly in the dark until a bird flew-in, a quick shine of the spotlight revealed..... a juvenile Mountain Scops Owl! Not what was expected but a new bird for everyone all the same! As daylight approached we had an hour. We jumped out of the vehicle to the noise of a Whitehead's Spiderhunter which we located quickly in scope as he typically sang from an exposed perch and a pair of Banded Woodpeckers noisily drummed at the roadside. Talk about London buses as another Whitehead's Spiderhunter popped up further up the road producing a wonderful cameo flying around and around and around us, perching for prolonged periods under the sun, a perfect way to jump back into the vehicle and bid farewell to this incredible, diverse and endemic-filled island.
Bornean Orang-Utan, Danum Valley © James Eaton/Birdtour Asia Systematic Bird List PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Eastern Great Egret Ardea [alba] modesta
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus
Striated Heron Butorides striata
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Storm's Stork Ciconia stormi
FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae
Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis
Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
Mountain Serpent Eagle Spilornis kinabaluensis e
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
Besra Accipiter virgatus
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Rufous-bellied Eagle Aquila kienerii
Changeable Hawk Eagle Nisaetus limnaetus
Blyth's Hawk Eagle Nisaetus alboniger
Wallace's Hawk Eagle Nisaetus nanus
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
White-fronted Falconet Microhierax latifrons e
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus ernesti
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Great Argus Argusianus argus
Red-breasted Partridge Arborophila hyperythra e
Chestnut-necklaced Partridge Arborophila charltonii heard only
Crimson-headed Partridge Haematortyx sanguiniceps e heard only
Bornean [Crested] Fireback Lophura ignita nobilis e
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
CHARADRIIFORMES: Sternidae
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Ruddy Cuckoo Dove Macropygia emiliana
Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Little Green Pigeon Treron olax
Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans
Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Treron fulvicollis
Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra
Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae
Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus
Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Dark Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus bocki heard only
Moustached Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus vagans
Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus fugax
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii heard only
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus heard only
Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Asian Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris
Black-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus diardi
Raffles's Malkoha Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
Bornean Ground Cuckoo Carpococcyx radiatus e
Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Reddish Scops Owl Otus rufescens heard only
Mountain Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus
Sunda Scops Owl Otus lempiji heard only
Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu
Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica leptogrammica
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Podargidae
Sunda Frogmouth Batrachostomus cornutus heard only
APODIFORMES: Apodidae
Giant Swiftlet Hydrochous gigas
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Bornean Swiftlet Collocalia dodgei e
Mossy-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus salangana
Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus maximus
Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus
Silver-rumped Needletail Rhaphidura leucopygialis
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
APODIFORMES: Hemiprocnidae
Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata
TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae
Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba
Diard's Trogon Harpactes diardii
Whitehead's Trogon Harpactes whiteheadi e
Scarlet-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelii
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting
Rufous-backed Kingfisher Ceyx rufidorsa mottleyi
Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella melanops
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus
Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
CORACIIFORMES: Bucerotidae
Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris
Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus
Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros
Helmeted Hornbill Buceros vigil
Bushy-crested Hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus
White-crowned Hornbill Aceros comatus
Wrinkled Hornbill Aceros corrugatus
Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus
PICIFORMES: Capitonidae
Gold-whiskered Barbet Megalaima chrysopogon
Red-throated Barbet Megalaima mystacophanos heard only
Mountain Barbet Megalaima monticola e
Yellow-crowned Barbet Megalaima henricii
Golden-naped Barbet Megalaima pulcherrima e
Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis heard only
Bornean Barbet Megalaima eximia e
Bornean Brown Barbet Calorhamphus [fuliginosus] tertius e
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Rufous Piculet Sasia abnormis
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis
Banded Woodpecker Picus mineaceus
Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus
Checker-throated Woodpecker Picus mentalis
Maroon Woodpecker Blythipicus rubiginosus
Orange-backed Woodpecker Reinwardtipicus validus
Buff-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis
Buff-necked Woodpecker Meiglyptes tukki
Grey-and-buff Woodpecker Hemicircus concretus
PASSERIFORMES: Eurylaimidae
Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos
Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus
Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus
Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae
Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis heard only
PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae
Giant Pitta Pitta caerulea heard only
Bornean Banded Pitta Pitta [guajana] schwaneri e
Blue-headed Pitta Pitta baudii e
Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida heard only
Blue-banded Pitta Pitta arquata e heard only
Black-crowned Pitta Pitta ussheri e
Blue-winged Pitta Pitta moluccensis
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae
Sunda Cuckooshrike Coracina larvata
Lesser Cuckooshrike Coracina fimbriata heard only
Fiery Minivet Pericrocotus igneus
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus
Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps
Bornean Bulbul Pycnonotus montis e
Pale-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus [flavescens] leucops e
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus
Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus
Spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus erythropthalmos
Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus
Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres
Yellow-bellied Bulbul Alophoixus phaeocephalus
Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger
Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea
Streaked Bulbul Ixos malaccensis
Cinereous Bulbul Hemixos cinereus
PASSERIFORMES: Chloropseidae
Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati
Lesser Green Leafbird Chloropsis cyanopogon
Bornean Leafbird Chloropsis kinabaluensis e
PASSERIFORMES: Aegithinidae
Green Iora Aegithina viridissima
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Bornean Whistling Thrush Myophonus borneensis e
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina
Everett's Thrush Zoothera everetti e
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus
Fruit-hunter Chlamydochaera jefferyi e
White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana erythrogyna
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Bornean Stubtail Urosphena whiteheadi e
Sunda Bush Warbler Cettia vulcania
Friendly Bush Warbler Bradypterus accentor e
Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus
Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus
Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
Mountain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus kinabaluensis
Yellow-breasted Warbler Seicercus montis
Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris
Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias umbratilis
Eye-browed Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias gularis e
Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra
Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni
Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina
Indigo Flycatcher Eumyias indigo
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Cyornis concretus everetti
Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas coeruleatus
Large-billed Blue Flycatcher Cyornis caerulatus
Malaysian Blue Flycatcher Cyornis turcosus
Bornean Blue Flycatcher Cyornis superbus e
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis pluto
White-crowned Shama Copsychus stricklandii e
Rufous-tailed Shama Trichixos pyrropyga heard only
Chestnut-naped Forktail Enicurus ruficapillus
White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti frontalis
Bornean Forktail Enicurus [leschenaulti] borneensis e
PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae
White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis
Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica
Spotted Fantail Rhipidura perlata
PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
PASSERIFORMES: Pachycephalidae
Bornean Whistler Pachycephala hypoxantha e
PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae
Sunda Laughingthrush Garrulax palliatus
Bare-headed Laughingthrush Melanocichla calvus e
Rufous-hooded Laughingthrush Rhinocichla [mitratus] treacheri e
White-chested Babbler Trichastoma rostratum
Ferruginous Babbler Trichastoma bicolor
Horsfield's Babbler Malacocincla sepiarium
Short-tailed Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis
Temminck's Babbler Pellorneum pyrrogenys
Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum
Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre
Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine
Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum
Rufous-crowned Babbler Malacopteron magnum
Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus montanus bornensis
Bornean Ground Babbler Ptilocichla leucogrammica e
Striped Wren Babbler Kenopia striata
Black-throated Wren Babbler Napothera atrigularis e
Mountain Wren Babbler Napothera crassa e
Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps
Grey-headed Babbler Stachyris poliocephala
White-necked Babbler Stachyris leucotis
Chestnut-rumped Babbler Stachyris maculata
Chestnut-winged Babbler Stachyris erythroptera
Bold-striped Tit Babbler Macronous bornensis
Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler Macronous ptilosus
Brown Fulvetta Alcippe brunneicauda
Chestnut-crested Yuhina Yuhina everetti
PASSERIFORMES: Acanthizidae
Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea
PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
Red-throated Sunbird Anthreptes rhodolaema
Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
Temminck's Sunbird Aethopyga temminckii
Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster
Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys
Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera affinis everetti
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta
Whitehead's Spiderhunter Arachnothera juliae e
PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus maculatus
Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker Prionochilus xanthopygius e
Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Dicaeum chrysorrheum
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma
Black-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum monticolum e
PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae
Black-capped White-eye Zosterops atricapillus
Pygmy Ibon Oculocincta squamifrons e
Mountain Black-eye Chlorocharis emiliae e
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus
Black-and-crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus
PASSERIFORMES: Irenidae
Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella
PASSERIFORMES: Prionopidae
Rufous-winged Philentoma Philentoma pyrhopterum
Maroon-breasted Philentoma Philentoma velatum
PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
Sunda [Ashy] Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus stigmatops
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus borneensis
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
PASSERIFORMES: Artamidae
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
PASSERIFORMES: Pityriaseidae
Bristlehead Pityriasis gymnocephala e
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Crested Jay Platylophus galericulatus coronatus
Bornean Black Magpie Platysmurus [leucopterus] aterrimus e
Short-tailed Green Magpie Cissa thalassina
Bornean Treepie Dendrocitta cinerascens e
Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca compilator
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Dusky Munia Lonchura fuscans e
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
White-bellied Munia Lonchura leucogastra
Black-headed Munia Lonchura atricapilla
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae
White-browed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius flaviscapis robinsoni
White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca
MAMMALS
Lesser Gymnure Hylomys suillus
Mountain Treeshrew Tupaia montana baluensis e
Smooth-tailed Treeshrew Dendrogale melanura baluensis
Sunda Loris Nycticebus coucang borneanus
Maroon Leaf Monkey Presbytis rubicunda e
Sunda Silvered Leaf Monkey Presbytis cristata
Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus e
Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis
Sunda Pig-tailed Macaque Macca nemestrina
Bornean Gibbon Hylobates muelleri e
Bornean Orang-utan Pongo pygmaeus e
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
Pale Giant Squirrel Ratufa affinis heard only
Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor
Prevost's Squirrel Callosciurus prevostii pluto
Plantain Squirrel Callosciurus notatus
Bornean Black-banded Squirrel Callosciurus orestes e
Low's Squirrel Sundasciurus lowii
Jentink's Squirrel Sundasciurus jentinki e
Brooke's Squirrel Sundasciurus brookei e
Bornean Mountain Ground Squirrel Dremomys everetti e
Plain Pygmy Squirrel Exilisciurus exilis e
Black Flying Squirrel Aeromys tephromelas
Thomas's Flying Squirrel Aeromys thomasi e
Red Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista
Muller's Rat Sundamys muelleri e
Common Pencil-tailed Tree-Mouse Chiropodomys gliroides
Malay Civet (Tangalung) Viverra tangalunga
Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata
Banded Palm Civet Hemigalus derbyanus
Marbled Cat Felis marmorata
Bearded Pig Sus barbatus
Lesser Mouse-Deer Tragulus kanchil
Greater Mouse-Deer Tragulus napu
Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak
Sambar Deer Cervus unicolor
Wrinkle-lipped Bat Mormopterus jugularis
Lesser Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus pusillus
Bird of the tour
1 Bristlehead
2 Bornean Ground Cuckoo
3= Fruithunter
3= Great Argus
5 Whitehead's Trogon
View from Mount Kinabalu © James Eaton/Birdtour Asia