Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)

OTHER NAMES: Spangled Drongo
Latin Etymology: Dicrurus ("fork-tailed") hottentottus (named after "Hottentots" of Southern Africa)

Adult Hair-crested Drongo (subspecies D. h. brevirostris) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dicrurus hottentottus brevirostris
Weight: 76-102g  /  Length: 25-32cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Hair-crested Drongo is another drongo species of Cambodia, in this case identified by having a far less forked tail than the others.  I only saw these birds distantly, a flock feeding on the top of a distant tree.  It has been subject to a large amount of taxonomic revision, and even after being split apart from seven other species, still had a large number of subspecies.  Desite being named "hottentotus", it has nothing to do with Southern Africa - this is another erroneous attributation that seems to be recurring in some South East Asian bird species.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicruridae
Genus: Dicrurus
SUBSPECIES: D. h. hottentottus, D. h. brevirostris, D. h. viridinitens, D. h. borneensis, D. h. jentinkcki, D. h. leucops, D. h. guillemardi, D. h. pectoralis, D. h. banggaiensis, D. h. fabari, D. h. samarensis, D. h. palawanensis, D. h. cuyensis, D. h. striatus, D. h. suluensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer name: អន្ទេបកំប៉ោយខ្សែ (?)

 A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

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

Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Aviceda ("bird kill") leuphotes ("crested")

Adult Black Baza (subspecies A. l. syama) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Aviceda leuphotes syama (?)
Weight: 168-224g  /  Length: 30-35cm  /  Wingspan: 66-80cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Black Baza is a small and distinctively patterned raptor found in South East Asia - a striking black and white patternation which makes it very distinct from most raptors.  They also have a fascinating mix of food sources, with their main hunting method being hobby-like insect hunting, but also catching smaller birds, and most intriguingly, eating palm oil fruits.  Many populations are migratory, and may form flocks, though the Cambodian birds are resident.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus:  Aviceda
SUBSPECIES: A. l. wolfei, A. l. syama, A. l. leuphotes, A. l. andamanica

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ស្ទាំងខ្មៅសស្លាបឆែក ("White winged black hawk" / "Check wing")) 

A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

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

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)

OTHER NAMES: Eastern Black-naped Oriole

Latin Etymology: Oriolus ("Golden") chinensis ("Chinese")

Adult Male Black-naped Oriole (subspecies O. c. diffusus) at Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Oriolus chinensis diffusus
Weight: 65-100g  /  Length: 23-28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While the Golden Oriole of Europe is a shy bird in much of it's range, in Malaysia the Black-naped Oriole is a common sight and sound.  I first encountered them as a bright yellow flash between trees and subsequently encountered them on most days of the trip - still not keen on being exposed much of the time, but found in any notably green space we visited.  It has a typical oriole song - high pitched and perhaps a little shrill, but very fluid and distinctive - it will often be the first thing to alert you to the bird's presence.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Oriolidae
GENUS: Oriolus
SUBSPECIES: O. c. diffusus, O. c. andamanensis, O. c. macrourus, O. c. chinensis, O. c. suluensis, O. c. melanisticus, O. c. sanghirensis, O. c. formosus, O. c. celebensis, O. c. frontalis, O. c. oscillans, O. c. boneratensis, O. c. mundus, O. c. sipora, O. c. richmondi, O. c. insularis, O. c. broderipii, O. c. maculatus 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចេកទុំ ("Ripe banana")

A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

MALAYSIA - Malay: Burung Kunyit Besar ("Great Tumeric Bird")

 A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen multiple times daily in Kuala Lumpur and a few birds in Malacca

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

Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

OTHER NAMES: Eastern Broad-billed Roller, Dollarbird 

Latin Etymology: Eurystomus ("broad bill") orientalis ("oriental")

Adult Dollarbird (subspecies E. o. orientalis) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Eurystomus orientalis orientalis
Weight: 123g  /  Length: 30cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Dollarbird is a member of the roller family found along much of South-East Asia as well as Eastern India and Australia as well as China and Southern Japan.  It's name comes from the white "silver dollar" like markings on the underside of it's wings which are visible in flight.  Compared to the European Roller in Europe it is a species that has adapted better to modern human living - the clearance of forest has allowed it to expand it's range in Malaysia, and can be found in suburban areas as was the case with this bird.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
FAMILY: Coraciidae
GENUS: Eurystomus
SUBSPECIES: E. o abundus, E. o. deignani, E. o. orientalis, E. o. gigas, E. o. oberholseri, E. o. connectens, E. o. latouchei, E. o. waigiouensis, E. o. pacificus, E. o. crassirostris, E. o. solomonensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ទាវព្រៃ

A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

MALAYSIA - Malay - Tiong Batu 

A fairly widespread but not especially common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird in Kuala Lumpur 

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

Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Cypsiurus ("swallow tail") balasiensis ("of Balasore"; first British settlement in Bengal)

Adult Asian Palm Swift (subspecies C. b. infumatus) in Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Cypsiuris balasiensis infumatus
Weight: ?  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Swift identification in Malaysia is a somewhat tricky affair - there are around ten species in total, and though the swiftlets have a much more compact flight profile than their full swift cousins, that still leaves three common larger species to choose from.  Out of the three, the Asian Palm Swift has the longest and most slender build - a more delicate looking bird than the alternatives.  As the name suggests, it is a species that nests in palm fronds.

Related Species:

Order: Apodiformes

Family: Apodidae

Genus: Cypsiurus

SUBSPECIES: C. b. balasiensis, C. b. infumatus, C. b. bartelsorum, C. b. pallidor 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer name: ត្រចៀកកាំដើមត្នោត ("Palm tree ?")

 A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen above Angkor Wat

MALAYSIA - Malay - Layang-layang Palma ("Palm Kite")

Common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen in Malacca - many more probably seen but unidentified due to high speed..

SINGAPORE - Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Probable birds seen.

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

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

OTHER NAMES: Indian Myna, House Myna, Locust Starling

Latin Etymology: Acridotheres ("locust-hunter") tristis ("sad")

Adult Common Myna (subspecies A. t. tristis) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Acridotheres tristis tristis
Weight: 82-140g  /  Length: 25cm  /  Wingspan: 37-41cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Common Myna is a very successful urban bird in South-East Asia, commonly found in parks gardens and other green spaces.  It is also one of the more distinctive members of the Myna family in the region; the brown body and yellow face make it a lot easier to pick out than other species.  It is also a highly invasive species worldwide, to the point where it is considered by the IUCN to be one of the world's 100 worst invasive species.  They are also known for their ability to mimic to human sounds.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Sturnidae
GENUS: Acridotheres
SUBSPECIES: A. t. melanosternus, A. t. tristis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - រីក ឬសារិកាកែវគោ
A common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen in many locations, including Angkor Wat

MALAYSIA - Malay - Tiong Gembala Kerbau

Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Common in Kuala Lumpur.
SINGAPORE - Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen in passing from car.
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Abundant throughout.

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

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Monticola ("Mountain dweller") solitarius ("solitary")

Top Left: Male Blue Rock Thrush (subspecies M. s. philippensis) at Kamakura, Japan - November 2014

Top Right: Female Blue Rock Thrush (subspecies M. s. philippensis) at Kamakura, Japan - November 2014

Bottom: Male Blue Rock Thrush (subspecies M. s. solitarius) at Monfrague National Park, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Monticola solitarius philippensis
Weight: 40-70g  /  Length: 21-23cm  /  Wingspan: 35-40cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name "Thrush" and the distinctively Thrush like shape, it is actually a member of the old world flycatchers like the robins and redstarts.  It is broadly distributed across the Old World and resident across its range, found in a range which extends from Southern Europe to North Africa and across to East Asia.  They generally live in mountainous areas where they make their nests in rocky crevices.  I found this species while following the craggy coast of Kamakura round to a viewpoint for Mount Fuji - a male and two females were living in a short stretch between rocky cliffs and the sea, often alighting on overhead wires.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Monticola
Subspecies: M. s. solitarius, M. s. longirostris, M. s. pandoo, M. s. philippensis, M. s. madoci

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer -  ពពិចថ្

A locally common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

JAPAN - Japanese - イソヒヨドリ  /  Iso-hiyo-dori ("Rocky-shore Bulbul")

Locally common resident

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Two males and one female seen on the outskirts of Kamakura

SPAIN - Spanish - Roquero solitario - "Rock Solitary"

 Locally common resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Patones
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Two males seen at Monfrague 

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

Theobald's Tomb Bat (Taphozous theobaldi)

OTHER NAMES: Theobold's Bat
Latin Etymology: Taphozous ("tomb") theobaldi (after naturalist William Theobald)

Colony of Theobald's Tomb Bat (Taphozous theobaldi) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 37g  /  Length: 7.1-7.6cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

There is something fairly iconic about bat-filled ruins, and in the famous ruins of Angkor Wat, and the nearly ruins at Angkor Thom, bats are a common presence.  Mostly just detected by chittering in certain corridors, the weather beaten stone surfaces are a perfect location for them to inhabit.  While multiple species are present, these I believe to be Theobald's Tomb Bats - a species whose very name evokes this sort of enviornment is an evocative bonus.

Related Species:
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
SUBSPECIES: unclear

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer- ?
 A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen inside Angkor Wat

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

Variable Squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii)

OTHER NAMES: Finlayson's Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Callosciurus ("Beautiful squirrel") finlaysonii (for naturalist George Finlayson)

Adult Variable Squirrel (subspecies C. f. annellatus) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Callosciurus finlaysonii anellatus
Weight: 250g  /  Length: 43-46cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, the variable squirrel has a large number of colour variations attached to different subspecies.  While the subspecies of Central Cambodia apears as seen above, they vary as much as subspecies which are entirely pale silver-grey, and a wide array of forms between in combinations of whites, greys and russets. It has been suggested that this diversity may actually represent a complex of closely related species.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Callosciurus
SUBSPECIES: C. f. finlaysonii, C. f. albivexilli, C. f. folletti, C. f. frandseni, C. f. germani, C. f. harmandi, C. f. trotteri, C. f. annellatus, C. f. bocourti, C. f. boonsoni, C. f. cinnamomeus, C. f. ferrugineus, C. f. menamicus, C. f. nox, C. f. sinistralis, C. f. williamsoni

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

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