Grey-headed Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis)

OTHER NAMES: Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
Latin Etymology: Culicicapa ("midge seize") ceylonensis ("of Sri Lanka")

Adult Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher (subspecies C. c. calochrysea) at Angkor Thom, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Culicicapa ceylonensis calochrysea
Weight: 6-9g  /  Length: 12-13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name, this species isn't actually a member of the flycatcher family at all, and is infact a member of the Family Stenostiridae; a small group of birds that have fairly recently been found to comprise their own family having previously been distributed across various others, and are now known as the Fairy Flycatchers.  They are actually more closely related to the Tits than to other flycatchers, although they certainly have behavioural parralel evolution to the "True" flycatcatchers - this one was feeding with that characteristic flycatcher behaviour.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Stenostridae
Genus: Culicicapa
SUBSPECIES: C. c. calochrysea, C. c. ceylonensis, C. c. antioxantha, C. c. sejuncta, C. c. connectens

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer name: ចាបសុីរុយក្បាលប្រផេះ ("Grey-headed sparrow")

A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One near Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pericrocotus ("very golden-yellow") divaricatus ("spread out")

Adult male Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus) at Angkor Thom, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 21g  /  Length: 18-20cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Ashy Minivet is a small passerine that feeds in the canopy in flocks, often in mixed species flocks.  It it breeds in the region of North China, Japan and Korea, and migrates into South-East Asia to Winter.  Here it shares it's range with the similar looking Swinhoe's Minivet, where the females of the two species may need a bit of attention to separate in the field.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Campephagidae
Genus: Pericrocotus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer name: ចេកទេសខ្មៅ-ស

A locally common Winter visitor.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen around Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

OTHER NAMES: Pale Drongo, Grey Drongo 
Latin Etymology: Dicrurus ("fork-tailed") leucophaeus ("ash coloured")

Adult Ashy Drongo (subspecies D. l. leucogenis) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogenis
Weight: 32-55g  /  Length: 25-29cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very variable species that is found throughout the south-eastern quarter of Asia.  There are a total of fourteen subspecies and they could easily be mistaken for separate species; some like this leucogenis and pale grey with a white eye patch, while others are a deeper blue grey and others still and essentially black.  A forest based species, I saw them a few times in the areas surrounding the Angkor complexes.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicruridae
Genus: Dicrurus
SUBSPECIES: D. l. longicaudatus, D. l hopwoodi, D. l. mouhoti, D. l. bondi, D. l. nigrescens, D. l. leucogenis, D. l. salangensis, D. l. innexus, D. l. stigmatops, D. l. batakensis, D. l. phaedrus, D. l. periophtalmicus, D. l. siberu, D. l. leucophaeus

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer name: អន្ទេបប្រផេះ

 A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen around Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa)

OTHER NAMES: Hill Myna
Latin Etymology: Gracula (unknown bird - possibly jackdaw) religiosa ("sacred")

Adult Common Hill Mynah (subspecies G. r. intermedia) at Angkor Thom, Cambodia  - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Gracula religiosa intermedia
Weight: 200-250g  /  Length: 29cm  /  Wingspan: 51cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Common Hill Myna is a distinctive and widespread species of Southern Asia - it has harder contrasting colours than other mynas in the region - a deeper inky black plumage contrasts with the birght orange bill and yellow eye patch.  The exact shape of the yellow bare skin patch can be used to identify the subspecies (or, indeed split species).  However, given that they only have fairly limited overlap this shouldn't be an issue in most locales.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Sturnidae
GENUS: Gracula
SUBSPECIES: G. r. andamanensis, G. r. batuensis, G. r. halibrecta, G. r. intermedia, G. r. palawanensis, G. r. peninsularis, G. r. religiosa, G. r. venerata

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សារិកាកែវវង

A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Shikra (Tachyspiza badius)

OTHER NAMES: Little Banded Goshawk
Latin Etymology: Tachyspiza ("fast hawk") badius ("chestnut coloured")

Adult male Shikra (subspecies T. b. poliopsis) at Bayon, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Tachyspiza badius poliopsis
Weight: 130g  /  Length: 26-30cm  /  Wingspan: 48-68cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Shikra is a very widely distributed raptor of the tropics - it is found across a vast range through much of Sub-Saharan Africa, all of India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.  It's name originates in Hindi, meaning "hunter", but variations can be found in a wide variety of languages including Urdu, Turkish and Arabic.  This was a species seen in abundance over Bayon at Angkor Thom, where individuals hunted over the canopy, presumably for the abundant dragonflies.  We did however see another other central Siem Reap.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Tachyspiza
SUBSPECIES: T. b. cenchroides, T. b. dussumieri, T. b. badius, T. b. poliopsis, T. b. sphenurus, T. b. polyzonoides

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ស្ទាំងស្លាបឆែក  ("Check wings")

A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Thom and Siem Reap

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Picture Wing (Rhyothemis variegata)

OTHER NAMES: Variegated Flutterer
Latin Etymology: Rhyothemis ("irregular law giver"?) variegata ("variagated")

Adult Common Picture Wing (subspecies R. v. variegata) at Phnom Krom, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Rhyothemis variegata variegata
Weight: ?  /  Length: 2.5cm  /  Wingspan: 5-7.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species which is highly visually distinct from any species I'd seen before - it's unusual patchwork patterning of black and gold on it's wings makes it appear almost butterfly like.  They were locally common, being common at various locations in and around Angkor Thom where they hunted over the ruins, as well as in the marshes of Phnom Krom.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Rhyothemis
SUBSPECIES: R. v. variegata, R. v. arria, R. v. imperatrix

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ? 
Common resident

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Common at  Phnom Krom and Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Striped Skink (Lipinia vittigera)

OTHER NAMES: Banded Lipinia, Yellow-striped Tree Skink
Latin Etymology: Lipinia vittigera

Adult Common Striped Skink (subspecies L. v. vittigera) at Angkor Thom, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Lipinia vittigera vittigera
Weight: ?  /  Length: 10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While we headed towards the ruins of Banteay Kdei, a slight dash of colour caught my eye on a nearby tree; this beautiful little skink.  Skinks are one of the more distinctive genuses of lizards; generally characterised by smooth features, comparatively short limbs and rounded faces.  This species was my first skink I'd seen and also the most colourful reptile I'd seen to date - I only got a few moments to enjoy it though as it very rapidly retreated to a tiny hole in the bark of the tree.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Lipinia
SUBSPECIES: L. v. vittigera, L. v. microcercum 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One near Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .