Streak-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus conradi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pycnonotus ("strong back") conradi (after horticulturalist, Conrad Loddiges Jr)

Adult Streak-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus conradi) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 28-36g  /  Length: 17-20cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NOT PRESENT IN UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

If I'm honest, the Streak-eared Bulbul is kind of visually one of the least compelling species I've seen; it's not really got any single distinctive species, it's just a medium small brown bird of vaguely thrush like proportions.  That being said, I must admit to being somewhat intrigued by it's range; it was one of the commoner species seen in Cambodia, seen in a couple of places, but has a fairly restricted range, largely limited to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.  Presumably there are some kind of pressures that prevent what seems a fairly adaptable species expanding beyond that limited area? 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ពពិចត្រចៀកឆ្នូត ("Striped earings")

A fairly common resident..

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Seen at Prek Toal and Siem Reap,

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

Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Ixobrychus ("reed like plant") sinensis ("of China")

Adult female Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 94g  /  Length: 36-38cm  /  Wingspan: 45-53cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While Europe has only a pair of very easy to differentiate bitterns, South-East Asia has a whole range of birds which co-exist, often in the same habitats.  Out of these, the Yellow Bittern is one of the smaller ones and can be found in a range of wetland habitats ranging from parks right the way up to great marshland.  It is however secretive, and while I did see numerous small bitterns bursting from cover, this was the only one of the whole lot that I was able to photograph.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ixobrychus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name: កុកសំបកត្រពាំង

A scarce, localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Prek Toal

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

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)

OTHER NAMES: Goulpourah Sunbird, Eastern Crimson Sunbird
Latin Etymology: Aethopyga ("fire rump") siparaja (from Malay species name)

Adult male Crimson Sunbird (subspecies A. s. siparaja) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Aethopyga siparaja siparaja
Weight: 5-7g  /  Length: 11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Crimson Sunbird definitely lives up to it's name, with brilliant vivid red on it's chest and a deeper richer colour on it's nape.  While a bird of forest edge typically, this specific bird was interacting with human structures in a very specific way - it was visiting the water fountain for visitors to Sungeih Buloh and taking advantage of it itself to get a drink in a relatively protected location - a smart little bird indeed!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Nectariniidae
Genus: Aethopyga
SUBSPECIES: A. s. seheriae, A. s. labecula, A. s. owstoni, A. s. tonkinensis, A. s. mangini, A. s. insularis, A. s. cara, A. s. trangensis, A. s. siparaja, A. s. nicobarica, A. s. heliogona, A. s. natunae, A. s. flavorstriata, A. s. beccarii

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបកន្លង់ក្រហម ("Red Sparrow")

 A local resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Prek Toal

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at at Sungei Buloh

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

Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus)

OTHER NAMES: Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Greater Fishing Eagle
Latin Etymology: Haliaeetus ("sea-eagle") ichthyaetus ("fish eagle")

Adult Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus icthyaetus) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1.6-2.3kg  /  Length: 61-75cm  /  Wingspan: 155-170cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is a widely distributed but somewhat scarce resident of Southern Asia - in most places it hasn't adapted as well to human encroachment as well as it's cousin the white-bellied, but still is fairly widespread.  In Cambodia, we saw several at very close range at Prek Toal within the fish-rich wetlands, but even even bustling Singapore I got a brief view of one hunting at Sungeih Buloh.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer: អកត្រីក្បាលប្រផេះ ("Grey ?")

 A scarce, localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Twos seen at Prek Toal

SINGAPORE - A scarce resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One bird seen fleetingly at Sungei Buloh

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

Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Leptoptilos ("thin feather") javanicus ("of Java")

Adult Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 4-5.7kg  /  Length: 87-93cm  /  Wingspan: 200-210cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

A huge prehistoric looking bird that somehow still manages to be the smallest member of it's genus, the Lesser Adjutant is an increasingly scarce species which has Cambodia as one of it's remaining strongholds.  They were the least numerous of the storks we saw at Prek Toal, with around ten sightings, but when they did appear they certainly made strong impressions - often soaring or perched on exposed tree stumps.  They are a highly predatory species, hunting animals up to the size of small mammals, though will occassionally scavenge.  The name adjutant refers to them being percieved as having a stiff, military like gait, based on the original meaning of the word as an officer who acts as a military assistant.

Related Species:
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconidae
Genus: Leptoptilos
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ត្រដក់តូច ("Little trap")

A scarce, localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Reasonable numbers seen at Prek Toal

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

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

OTHER NAMES: Grey Pelican
Latin Etymology: Pelecanus ("pelican") philippensis ("of the Philippines")

Adult Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 4.1-6kg  /  Length: 125-150cm  /  Wingspan: 210-240cm
NO UK STATUS / Red List: Near Threatened

The Spot-billed Pelican is the first member of the pelican family I've ever encountered in the wing, and it's certainly an impressive bird; a vast wingspan and substantial weight easily puts it amongst the largest species I've seen, and the famous pelican bill is certainly a fascinating adaptation.  The Spot-billed is certainly a species that has gone through the ringer, extinct in large sections of it's former range, including the Philippines, which gave it it's latin name, it only holds on in India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.   That being said, it is apparently exhibiting signs of recovery, and has been downgraded from Vulnerable to Near Threatened by IUCN.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Pelecanidae
Genus: Pelecanus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA  - Khmer name: ទុងប្រផេះ  ("Grey tent")

- A localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

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

Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)

OTHER NAMES: Oriental White Ibis, Indian White Ibis, Black-necked Ibis
Latin Etymology: Threskiornis ("religious worship bird") melanocephalus ("black headed")

Adult Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 65-76cm  /  Wingspan: 130cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened 

The Black-headed Ibis is the Asian counterpart of the Sacred Ibis - a distinctive black annd white bird with that distinctive Ibis long curved bill.  It's range is patchy, and fairly fragmented, with populations in a large number of countries disconnected.  The population at Prek Toal is a stronghold, with them being abundantly seen through our visit.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Threskiornis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name - ត្រយងខ្លួនស  ("White ?")

A localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

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

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

OTHER NAMES: Javanese Cormorant
Latin Etymology: Microcarbo ("small charcoal") niger ("black")

Two adult non-breeding plumage Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 360-525g  /  Length: 55cm  /  Wingspan: 90cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small and somewhat stubby looking cormorant of Southern Asia, the Little Cormorant is one of the "microcarbo" genus of the family, having only been divided up in 2010.  These birds, of which the Little is fairly typical, are much smaller than the rest of the family, shorter billed and more daintily proportioned.  The Little shares it's range and often actual habitat with both the Great and Indian Cormorants, so apparently has enough of a niche that it isn't out competed by those larger species.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Microcarbo
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name - ក្អែកទឹកតូច ("Little cormorant")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

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

Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)

OTHER NAMES: Indian Darter, Snakebird
Latin Etymology: Anhinga (Tupi word approximating "Devil bird") melanogaster ("black belly")

Adult non-breeding Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1-1.8kg  /  Length: 85-97cm  /  Wingspan: 120cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The darter family are an unusual cormorant like group of birds with only four extant species; they are broadly cormorant like, but have a distinctive "spearing" feeding style, and sit very low in the water so only their long serpentine neck emerges above the surface.  The Oriental Darter is widely distributed through India and South East Asia, but is considered to be declining due to human effects on it's aquatic habitats.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Anhingidae
Genus: Anhinga
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ស្មោញ ("Smell")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

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

Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)

OTHER NAMES: Indian Shag
Latin Etymology: Phalacrocorax ("cormorant ; bald raven") fuscicollis ("dusky/brown")

Flock of non-breeding Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 600-790g  /  Length: 63cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Indian Cormorant is a fairly small freshwater cormorant found in various fragmented locations in southern Asia.  Notably, compared to other cormorant species I've seen up to this point, it feeds in small communal flocks who dive together in groups.  It's non-breeding plumage resembles that of a great cormorant, while in breeding plummage it has a mostly black appearance causing it to more resembling a shag, perhaps explaining why it is known as both indian cormorant and indian shag.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer -  ក្អែកទឹកមធ្យម ("Average Cormorant")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

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

Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus)

OTHER NAMES: Chinese Pond-Heron

Latin Etymology: Ardeola ("small heron") bacchus (after Bacchus - for wine coloured breeding plumage)

Adult non-breeding plumage Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) at Ang Mo Kio, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 46cm  /  Wingspan: 75-90cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This is a fairly average sized small heron species found broadly over continetal East-Asia, but perhaps notable most for the identification headache it causes - it is part of a group of three species, the other two being Javan Pond Heron and Indian Pond Heron that while in the non-breeding plumage appear functionally identical to each other, though distinct when breeding.  Fortunately for me, this bird isn't *quite* in full on non-breeding plumage and the identification can just about be made by the hint of maroon plumage around the face.  All three species can be found in Malaysia though, so care must be taken.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae 
Genus: Ardeola 
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - កុកក្រកក្បាលត្នោតចាស់ ("Cinnamon, old brown head")

A locally abundant resident

 - Abundant at Prek Toal

MALAYSIA - Malay - Pucung Cina ("China Heron")
A fairly common non-breeding migrant.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single individual in Kuala Lumpur in the central gardens.

SINGAPORE - Common

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen around the Lower Pierce Reservoir area

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

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Spilornis ("spot bird") cheela (?)

Adult Crested Serpent Eagle (subspecies S. c. burmanicus) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Spilornis cheela burmanicus
Weight: 420-1800g  /  Length: 50-74cm  /  Wingspan: 123-155cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Crested Serpent Eagle was a bit of a frustrating species for me in that I only ever saw it perched along the side of motorways - not exactly ideal circumstances for viewing or photography!  As the name suggests, they are reptile hunting specialists focusing on snakes and lizards, and thus seem to favour exposed perches from which they can survey for their prey.  Though it is broadly a widespread and common species across Tropical East Asia, certain subspecies - particular island endemic ones - are considered endangered.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Spilornis
Subspecies: S.c. cheela, S. c. melanotis, S. c. spilogaster, S. c. burmanicus, S. c. davisoni, S. c. ricketti, S. c. hoya, S. c. rutherfordi, S. c. palawanensis, S. c. pallidus, S. c. richmondi, S. c. malayensis, S. c. batu, S. c. bido, S. c. minimus, S. c. perplexus, S. c. natunensis, S. c. abbotti, S. c. asturinus, S. c. sipora, S. c. bawaneanus

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - អកពស់ព្រៃ ("? wild snake")
 A fairly common resident..

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

MALAYSIA - Malay - Helang Kuik 

 A fairly common resident in low densities

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Birds seen from motorways between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur and Malacca

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

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Mycteria ("nose/snout") leucocephala ("white head") 

Four Adult Painted Stork (Mycterua leucocephala) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2-3.5kg  /  Wingspan: 150-160cm  /  Height: 93-102cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened 

I must admit, seeing Painted Stork in Malaysia was a bit of a pleasant accident - we pulled over at a restaurant at a fairly random road near Kuala Lumpur Airport and four of these colourful storks circled overhead.  For the listing purists, these birds wouldn't count however - Malaysia has a bit of a more lax attitude to free-flying birds in zoos and collections and in this case these birds have gone on to establish a feral colony in Selangor near Kuala Lumpur Airport where these birds were seen.  I saw a further individual on a pond near the road Malacca on the Northern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur but this is near to the free-flying zoo population so probably from there.  The Painted Stork is one of the more common Stork species in Asia, however it is suffering declines due to human disturbance - however unfortunately it itself is a cause of conservation problems for Milky Stork - a similar species that is native to Malaysia.  On our later trip to Cambodia, truely wild Painted Stork were a frequently abundant bird in many locations.

Related Species:
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconidae
Genus: Mycteria
Subspecies: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - រនាលពណ៌ (The colour palette")

A fairly common, and locally abundant resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Florican Grassland Reserve,  Phnom Krom and in huge abundance at Prek Toal

MALAYSIA - Malay - Upeh Sawah ("Field Stork")

Feral populations exist in Selangor province and possibly along the Singapore straits.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A flock of four seen circling in Selangor Province near Kuala Lumpur Airport. 

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

Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

OTHER NAMES: Little Heron, Little Green Heron, Green-backed Heron, Mangrove Heron

Latin Etymology: Butorides ("resembling a bittern") striata ("striated")

Adult Striated Heron (subspecies B. s. javanica) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Butorides striata javanica
Weight: 125-250g  /  Length: 35-45cm  /  Wingspan: 50-60cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very widespread species, found across the tropics of the globe - found on every continent except Europe and Antarctica.  It is highly variable between the subspecies with different races having different plumage patterns and coloration - even on the legs.   In Malaysia, this species was easily the most common heron seen on my trip and was seen in both fresh and saltwater habitats - and indeed occasionally just in trees not particularly near bodies of water.  It is known to feed on lizards and insects as well.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Butorides
SUBSPECIES: B. s. sundevalli, B. s. atricapilla, B. s. rutenbergi, B. s. brevipes, B. s. crawfordi, B. s. rhizophorae, B. s. degens, B. s. albolimbata, B. s. chloriceps, B. s. javanica, B. s. amurensis, B. s.  actophila, B. s. spodiogaster, B. s. carcinophila, B. s. steini, B. s. moluccara, B. s. idenburgi, B. s. stagnatalis, B. s. flyensis, B. s. macrorhyncha, B.s. solomonensis, B. s. patruelis 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ក្រអាច់ ឬ ក្រសាស្វាយ ("Paper"  / "Purple paper")

 A fairly common resident..

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Seen at Prek Toal 

MALAYSIA - Malay - Pucung Keladi

Common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: The most common heron in the region - seen in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca 

SINGAPORE - A local resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Several at Sungei Buloh

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