Blyth's Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus alboniger)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Nisaetus ("hawk-eagle") alboniger ("white black")

Adult Blyth's Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus alboniger) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 830g  /  Length: 51-58cm  /  Wingspan: 56-70cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A distinctive black and white raptor of the lower reaches of mountainous rainforest, this species is in many ways little known due to it's rainforest habitat - it's diet includes lizards and bats, but possibly more, it's population size is unknown but has a large enough range that it is not currently believed to be in danger.  However, it is tolerant of some human activity - as demonstrated by the fact I saw it at Genting.  It is named after the English Zoologist Edward Blyth - a man who was the curator of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal and a correspondent of Darwin who first described this species to Western Science.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Nisaetus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Helang Hindek Gunung ("Hindek Mountain Eagle")

A widespread but local resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird Genting Highlands

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

Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii)

OTHER NAMES: Hardwicke's Leafbird, Orange-belled Chloropsis

Latin Etymology: Chloropsis ("green-like") hardwickii ("Hardwick's")

Female Orange-bellied Leafbird (subspecies C. h. malayana) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Chloropsis hardwickii malayensis
Weight: 25-40g  /  Length: 19-21cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The leafbirds are a family of birds unique to the "Indomalayan Ecozone" - an area which stretches from Afghanistan to New Guinea and the Philippines, and the Orange-bellied is a fairly typical example of the group: a bird of approximately thrush like proportions and bright leafy green upperparts.  The male, as is often the cast, is the more spectacularly coloured of the sexes with a much more distinctive orange-yellow belly of the namesake, plus indigo and electric blue feathering. Their curved beak is specialised for feeding on insects, spiders and nectar.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Chloropseidae
GENUS: Chloropsis
SUBSPECIES: C. h. hardwickii, C. h. malayana, C. h. melliana, C. h. lazuliana 

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Burung Daun Perut Oren ("Orange-stomach Leaf Bird")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird at Genting Highlands 

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

Mountain Bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii)

OTHER NAMES: Green-winged Bulbul, McClelland's Bulbul, Mountain Streaked Bulbul

Latin Etymology: Ixos (derived from "mistletoe") mcclellandii ("McClelland's")

Adult Mountain Bulbul (subspecies I. m. peracensis) at Genting Highlands - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Ixos mcclellandii peracensis 
Weight: 27-41g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Mountain Bulbul initially gave me the impression of a woodpecker - a long thin beak and a fairly stiff looking tail along with colours vaguely reminiscent of green woodpeckers.  As the name suggests they are a species of upland forest and is found in this habitat throughout most of continental South East Asia.  It was also probably the least shy bird I encountered in Genting Highlands and was much more willing to allow me to see it clearly than other species.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Ixos
SUBSPECIES: I. m. mcclellandii, I. m. ventralis, I. m. tickelli, I. m. similis. I. m. holtii, I. m. loquax, I. m. griseiventer, I. m. canescens. I. m. peracensis

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Bebarau Bukit ("Hill Bulbul")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several individuals seen in Genting Highlands

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

Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutoris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Orthotomus ("straight piece") sutoris ("fasten together")

Adult Common Tailorbird (subspecies O. s. maculicollis) at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Orthotomus sutoris maculicollis
Weight: 6-10g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small active bird, I first encountered this species not far from where I got off the taxi at Genting Highlands, but spent longer that I would have ideally liked to trying to photograph them.  I'd encountered a small flock which unfortunately didn't want to sit still long enough for me to photograph them, and took a number of attempts for me to get something identifiable. The individuals I saw appeared to be young birds - the adults gain a distinctive rust coloured cap and a long tail as they mature.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Cisticolidae
GENUS: Orthotomus
SUBSPECIES: O.s. guzuratus, O. s. patia, O. s. luteus, O. s. fernandonis, O. s. inexpectatus, O. s. longicauda, O. s. maculicollis, O. s. edela

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Perenjak Pisang ("Banana Warbler")

A fairly common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A small group seen in Genting Highlands

SINGAPORE - A common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen around Ang Mo Kio and Gardens by the Bay

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

Stripe-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus finlaysoni)

OTHER NAMES: Striped-throated Bulbul, Steak-throated Bulbul

Latin Etymology: Pycnonotus ("strong back") finlaysoni (for George Finlayson)

Adult Stripe-throated Bulbul (subspecies P. f. finlaysoni) at Genting Highlands - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Pycnonotus finlaysoni finlaysoni
Weight: 24-32g  /  Length: 19cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This is very much one of those species where I have no idea where the common name comes from: while there is certainly some vague stripes or streaking going on, the fact this species has a bright yellow face would have seemed to me a more notable feature.  I first saw this species from underneath, and thought it was likely another yellow-vented bulbul - this species also has a yellow rump - but when it moved position I was able to confirm it as this species, which isn't quite as ubiquitous - favouring forests.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
SUBSPECIES: P. f. davisoni, P. f. eous, P. f. finlaysoni

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Merbah Luris Leher ("Strait Neck Bulbul")

A locally fairly common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single individual seen in Genting Highlands

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

Little Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia ruficeps)

OTHER NAMES: Lesser Red Cuckoo-Dove, Red-faced Cuckoo Dove

Latin Etymology: Macropygia ("long-rumped") ruficeps ("rufous headed")

Adult Little-Cuckoo Dove (subspecies M. r. malayana) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Macropygia ruficeps malayana
Weight: ?  /  Length: 30cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I must admit for a species I only saw on one day, I was getting a little vexed by this species by the end of it - it was the most abundant bird I saw in the forests of the Genting Highlands but frequently seemed to fly in with other flocks, dislodging other potentially new birds deeper into the foliage while rarely exposing itself well enough for me to get a good photo.  Nonetheless, an attractive species and it's deep rust colouration is very distinctive for a dove - a family which I normally associate with soft pastely colours.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Macropygia
SUBSPECIES: M. r. assimilis, M. r. engelbachi, M. r. malayana, M. r. nana, M. r. orientalis, M. r. ruficeps, M. r. simalurensis, M. r. sumatrana

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Tekukur Api ("Fire Turtledove") 

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Genting Highlands

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

Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis)

OTHER NAMES: Greater Green-billed Malkoha, Large Green-billed Malkoha

Latin Etymology: Phaenicophaeus ("crimson shining") tristis ("sad")

Adult Green-billed Malkoha (subspecies P. t. saliens) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Phaenicophaeus tristis saliens
Weight: 114g  /  Length: 56cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Malkohas are a group of exclusively tropical-Asian non-parasitic Cuckoos with seemingly a more omnivorous diet than the Cuckoo species of Europe - the word itself coming from the Sinhala language of Sri-Lanka and means "Flower Cuckoo".  As for the green-billed malkoha in particular, the name is a little misleading in as far as having a green bill is actually a fairly common feature within the family. More distinctive is that is is larger than the other family members in the region and has a comparatively plain plumage of greys and blue-greens.

Related Species:
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genugs: Phaenicophaeus
Subspecies: P. t. tristis, P. t. saliens, P. t. hainanus, P. t. longicaudatus, P. t. elongatus, P. t. kangeangensis 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - តុកកាតូ 

A fairly common resident..

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Prek Toal,

MALAYSIA - Malay - Cenuk Besar 

A fairly common and widespread resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird sighted in the Genting Highlands

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

Long-tailed Sibia (Heterophasia picaoides)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Heterophasia ("different speech") picaoides ("magpie like")

Adult Long-tailed Sibia (subspecies H. p. wrayi) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Heterophasia picaoides wrayi
Weight: 40-46g  /  Length: 21-24cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Long-tailed Sibia is a member of the laughingthrush family though in person it has something of a magpie like quality with it's shape and movements.  It was the first species I encountered properly at Genting Highlands but while noisily feeding actively they also quite secretive and unwilling to show itself for more than a few moments.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Leiothrichidae
GENUS: Heterophasia
SUBSPECIES: H. p. picaoides, H. p. cana, H. p. wrayi, H. p simillima

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Rimba Ekor Panjang ("Jungle Long-tail")

A locally fairly common species.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A pair seen in Genting Highlands

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

Large Woodshrike (Tephrodornis gularis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Tephrodornis ("grey orashy bird") gularis ("throat")

Adult Large Woodshrike (subspecies T. v. fretensis) at Genting Highlands - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Tephrodornis gularis fretensis
Weight: 28-46g  /  Length: 23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name "woodshrike" and the obvious similarities to the classical shrikes, the family is actually not particularly closely related.  There are only four members of this family and they are found only in Southern Asia.  This particular bird was an unexpected find - a large flock of small birds in a tree-top that later turned out to be comprised primarily of Everett's White-eye was too near to the sun to look at through the binoculars so I resolved to take some photos of it and sort through later, and this bird revealed itself in those pictures.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Tephrodornithidae
GENUS: Tephrodornis
SUBSPECIES: T. v. pelvicus, T. v. jugans, T. v. verneyi, T. v. annectens, T. v. fretensis, T. v. virgatus, T. v. mekongensis, T. v. hainanus, T. v. latouchei, T.v. frenatus

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Rembah Kayu Besar ("Great wood ?")

A locally fairly common bird.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single individual amounst a flock of Everett's White-eyes in Genting Highlands

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

Hume's White-eye (Zosterops auriventer)

2018 TAXONOMIC REVISION: This population was moved from Everett's White-eye to Hume's White-eye.

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Zosterops ("girdle appearance") auriventer ("gold belly")

Seven adult Hume's White-eye (subspecies Z. a. tahanensis) in Genting Highlands - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Zosterops auriventer tahanensis
Weight: 8.5-9.7g  /  Length: 11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

 My encounter with Hume's White-eye largely consisted of one single large flock of over 50 individuals at the top of a tree mixed in with a few birds of other species.  If I'm honest, I would say the white-eyes (at least those species I have encountered both in the wild and in captivity) are a family of fairly similar looking birds for the most part and in Malaysia where several species are present, the main differentiation points are fairly subtle.  In this case, the lack of yellow on the forehead and more extensive yellow on the underside differentiate it from the Swinhoe's White-eye.  If I'm honest though, in situations like these I tend to work on a slightly different system - come up with a hypothesis based on habitat (in this case that Hume's White-eye is a highland species to the Oriental White-eye's lowland) and look for those identifying features to confirm (or refute) it afterwards.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Subspecies: Z. a. tahanensis, Z. a. wetmorei, Z. a. everetti, Z. a. basilanicus, Z. a. boholensis, Z. a. siquijorensis, Z. a mandibularis, Z. a. babelo

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Mata Putih Rimba ("Jungle White-eye")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single individual and a large flock at Genting Highlands 

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

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (Garrulax mitratus)

OTHER NAMES: Spectacled Laughingthrush

Latin Etymology: Garrulax ("talkative/chattering") mitratus ("turbaned/bonnetted")

Adult Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (subspecies G. m. major) in Genting Highlands - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Garrulax mitratus major
Weight: ?  /  Length: 23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This picture sums up pretty much the general problems I had with my camera trying to photograph species in the jungles of the Genting Highlands - a bright day with dappled light causing shutter speeds to be wildly inappropriate while a bird is only visible for a fraction of a second before it vanished entirely.  Here however, we at least have a bit to go on - a grey body with a strogn white wing-bar, a chestnut coloured cap (as the name suggests) and a yellow bill. A species of mountain forests, a very brief view was all I got.  Despite the name, the laughingthrushes are not particularly related to classical thrushes,

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Leiothrichidae
GENUS: Garrulax
SUBSPECIES: G. m. major, G. m. mitratus

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA -  Malay: Rimba Mata Putih ("Jungle White-eye")

A locally common resident of highland mountain forests.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird seen for a few seconds in Genting Highlands

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

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)

OTHER NAMES: Philippine Glossy Starling, Indonesian Tree Starling, Borean Starling

Latin Etymology: Aplonis ("plain bird") panayensis ("of Panay" an Island in the Philippines)

Adult Asian Glossy Starling (subspecies A. p. strigata) at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Aplonis panayensis strigata
Weight: 50-60g  /  Length: 20cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Quite possibly the most abundant species I saw in my entire trip to Malaysia and Singapore, it was found in at least small numbers everywhere I visited.  It's a fairly distinctive looking bird, with the red-eye that gives it its Malay name giving it a slightly menacing look.  It's a species that is spread fairly widely over South East Asia and being divided up over a lot of islands has resulted in a large number of subspecies.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Aplonis
SUBSPECIES: A. p. affinis, A. p. strigata, A. p. tytleri, A. p. albiris, A. p. heterochlora, A. p. eustathis, A. p. alipodis, A. p. panayensis, A. p. sanghirensis, A. p. sanghirensis, A. p. enganensis, A. p. altirostris, A. p. leptorrhyncha, A. p. pachistorhina, A. p. gusti

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Perling Mata Merah ("Red-eyed Starling")

Abundant resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Common throughout including Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Genting Highlands.
SINGAPORE - Abundant resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Dozens seen near Lower Peirce Reservoir.

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

Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)

OTHER NAMES: White-vented Myna, Buffalo Myna

Latin Etymology: Acridotheres ("locust hunter") javanicus ("of Java")

Adult Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) at Awana Resort - Genting Highlands - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 100g  /  Length: 24-25cm  /  Wingspan: 40cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The most common species of Myna on my trip to Kuala Lumpur (ironically more so than the Common Myna), this species is originally from Indonesia but has been introduced to various parts of South East Asia including Malaysia and Singapore, plus a few places further afield. A generally very versatile species that has adapted itself well to habitats both urban and rural.  Note should be taken on the name "White-vented Myna" which is used inconsistently for both this species and the Great Myna, which can cause a bit of confusion.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Sturnidae
GENUS: Acridotheres
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Tiong Jawa ("Javan ?")

Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Common throughout including Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Genting Highlands.
SINGAPORE - Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen in passing from car.

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

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

OTHER NAMES: Peregrine, Duck Hawk

Latin Etymology: Falco ("falcon") peregrinus ("peregrine - wanderer")

Adult Peregrine Falcon (subpecies F. p. peregrinus) at Kettering, Northants - January 2022

Featured Subspecies: Falco peregrinus peregrinus

Weight: 300-1500g  /  Length: 34-58cm  /  Wingspan: 74-120cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The headline for any discussion of the Peregrine has to be that it's the fastest animal on the entire planet, when stooping for prey - regularly smashing past 200 miles per hour as it stoops on unsuspecting prey.  It's also got a selection of other trivia to back that up - it's one of the most widely distributed of all birds, found on every continent, and indeed, a substantial portion of the surface of the earth.  It's also one of the first species to be used for falconry, and has been used as such for over 3000 years.  The peregrine falcon is also our largest resident falcon, and one of the largest falcons in general. However, it suffered massively in recent history - is also a species which is beginning to recover following being persecuted historically. I've found Cornwall to probably be the best place to see them consistently, but I've also seen them in Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Cumbria, Kent and even Central London!

Related Species:
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Subspecies: F. p. peregrinus, F. p. calidus, F. p. japonensis, F. p. brookei, F. p. peregrinator, F. p. anatum, F. p. pealei, F. p. tundrius, F. p. cassini, F. p. minor, F. p. madens, F. p. radama, F. p. ernesti, F. p. nesiotis, F. p. furuitii, F. p. macropus, F. p. submelanogenys   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce but widespread resident in many habitats (1500 pairs) 

 - Seen only occasionally but in many different locations including Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Geddington.

COSTA RICA 
An uncommon resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen in San Jose

MALAYSIA - Malay - Falko Belalang ("Grasshopper Falcon")

An uncommonand local resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird sighted in the Genting Highlands

SPAIN - Spanish - Halcón común ("Common Falcon")
An uncommon resident.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen flying over Monfrague National Park.

UNITED STATES 
Found throughout Lower 48 and Alaska, migratory within much of the area.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Hayward, Monterey and Berkeley     

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

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