Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Phylloscopus ("leaf seeker") inornatus ("plain")

Adult Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: None - monotypic
Weight: 7g  /  Length: 10-11cm  /  Wingspan: 17cm
NOT PRESENT IN UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A small, almost goldcrest like warbler with a very wide range of locations.  They breed in North-East Asia, but has a vast passage range covering almost all of Eurasia.  It occurs as a regular passage migrant in the UK, and I'd missed a couple of attempts to catch up with them as they headed for their Wintering grounds in Iberia and the West Coast of Africa.  However, a second area of Wintering is South-East Asia, and it is here I encountered this bird in a tree in the gardens of our hotel in Siem Reap.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Phylloscopidae
Genus: Phylloscopus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

  - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបដូនតាចិញ្ចើមលឿង ("Yellow Eyebrowed Grandfather")  

A fairly common Wintering species.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Siem Reap

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

Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Phylloscopus ("leaf seeker") fuscatus ("dark")

Adult Dusky Warbler (unknown subspecies) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Weight: 7-12g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 17-18cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The dusky warbler is a leaf warbler of East Asia, breeding in bogs of taiga of Siberia and adjacent areas.  It has a very impressive vagrancy record, possibly as a result of being such a tiny bird with a logn migration route, it has ended up in such disparate places as the UK and California.  There are several subspecies, but as all of them are known to Winter in Indochina, it's impossible to say which one of them this particular bird was.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Phylloscopidae
Genus: Phylloscopus
SUBSPECIES: P. f. fuscatus, P. f. robustus

  - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបដូនតាខ្នងត្នោត ("Brown sparrow")

A fairly common Wintering species.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Siem Reap

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

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 .

Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Muscicapa ("Fly catch") dauurica ("of Dauria")

Adult Asian Brown Flycatcher (uncertain subspecies) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Probably Muscicapa dauurica siamensis
Weight: 11g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: 19-21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

If I'm being realistic here, the Asian Brown Flycatcher is not the most distinctive of birds - it certainly has the characteristic Flycatcher behaviour and stance, but anything named "brown" tends to be one of the less, shall we say, charismatic members of it's family.  We saw this species twice, once within the ruins of Ta Prohm, and a second time on the outskirts of Siem Reap.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Muscicapa
SUBSPECIES: M. d. dauurica, M. d. siamensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបសុីរុយខ្នងត្នោត

A resident and migrant

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - One near outskirts of Siem Reap, one at Ta Prohm

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

Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)

OTHER NAMES: Red Turtle Dove
Latin Etymology: Streptopelia ("collar-dove") tranquebarica ("of Tranquebar" a city in India) 

Adult male Red Collared Dove (subspecies S. t. humilis)  near Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Streptopelia tranquebarica humilis
Weight: 104g  /  Length: 20-23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The red-collared dove is a close relation of the Eurasian species that has spread throughout much of Europe.  Both species however are widely distributed in India, with the Red spreading more East, while the Eurasian headed West.  Despite the name, only the male is "red", (or at least, a sort of terracotta colour) while the female is much more in line with the colours of the Eurasian, being a sort of pale tea coloured.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Streptopelia
SUBSPECIES: S. t. tranquebarica, S. t. humilis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: លលកទ្រាំង ("dove")

A common resident.

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - A flock seen near the outskirts of Siem Reap

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

Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Coracias (a bird name by Aristotle; possibly choughs) affinis (related or allied)

Adult Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis) near Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 166-177g  / Length: 30-34cm  / Wingspan: 65-74cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

My first ever typical species of the roller family, a family noted for their electric blue plumage.  They are predators of small vertebrates and insects with a hunting style somewhat similar to shrikes.  The Indochinese Roller is yet another species that is in the stage of split - it is still considered by some authorities to be part of the Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis). The Indochinese, whether it be species or subspecies, has a distinctive indigo patch on it's throat, differentiating it from the nominate Indian. 

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
FAMILY: Coraciidae
GENUS: Coracias
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ទាវខៀវ ("blue?")

A fairly common resident.

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Two seen near outskirts of Siem Reap

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

Plain-backed Sparrow (Passer flaveolus)

OTHER NAMES: Pegu Sparrow, Olive-backed Sparrow
Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") flaveolus ("golden yellow") 

Adult female Plain-backed Sparrow (Passer flaveolus) near Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 17-23g  /  Length: 14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Plain-backed Sparrow is a species that looks kind of like a House Sparrow that has had all the patterning softed out to create a much more smooth looking bird.  It's a rural bird of open areas with limited trees, or in the case of the few birds where we saw, electricity pylons which they seemed to enjoy using as vantage points.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបស្រុក
A fairly common resident.

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Two seen near outskirts of Siem Reap

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

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

OTHER NAMES: King Crow
Latin Etymology: Dicrurus ("fork-tailed") macrocercus ("long-tailed")

Adult Black Drongo (subspecies D. m. thai) at Florican Grasslands, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dicrurus macrocercus thai
Weight: 40g  /  Length: 28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The drongos are a family of long-tailed, largely black birds with distinctive forked tail and a slightly crow like vibe, found in Asia and Africa.  The Black Drongo is primarily an insect feeder, and will perch on an exposed spot and use it to spot prey.  Very aggressive to larger birds like crows and raptors, smaller species will actually use this to their advantage by nesting near to drongos to provide some free security.  While native to South East Asia, it has been introduced to some Pacific Islands where it has become an ecological pest.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicruridae
Genus: Dicrurus
SUBSPECIES: D. c. cathoecus, D. c. dicruridae, D. c. harterti, D. c. javanus, D. c. macrocercus, D. c. thai

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer: អន្ទេបខ្មៅ ("Black tongue")
 A common resident.

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - A number seen Florican Grassland Reserve and at Siem Reap

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

Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)

OTHER NAMES: Asian Openbill Stork
Latin Etymology: Anastomus ("with wide open mouth") oscitans ("yawning")

Large flock of Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1.3-8.9kg  /  Height: 68cm  /  Wingspan: 148cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Asian Openbill is certainly a distinctive looking bird - the namesake beak is unique to the family - a gap between the two mandibles gives a distinctive profile and is believed to be used to help them feed on aquatic snails - their main prey source.  They are fairly common within their range, and near appropriate habitat and in Prek Toal they proved to be abundant with hundreds seen.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចង្កៀលខ្យង ("Snail scissors")

A fairly common, and locally abundant resident

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

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 .

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)

OTHER NAMES: Straits Robin, Magpie Robin

Latin Etmology: Copsychus ("blackbird/thrush") saularis ("Hindi name")

Adult and Juvenile Oriental Magpie Robin (subspecies C. s. musicus) at KL Central Gardens, Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Copsychus saularis musicus
Weight: 31-42g  /  Length: 19-21cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While a number of reports I've seen about birding in Malaysia seem to describe the Oriental Magpie-Robin as "the most common bird in Malaysia", my experience didn't entirely match up with that description.  While in certain locations, specifically KL Central Gardens they were abundant, it tended to be a case of either abundant or absent in any one location - and certainly less abundant than species like House Crow, Glossy Starling and Javan Myna.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Muscicapidae
GENUS: Copsychus
SUBSPECIES: C. s. saularis, C. s. ceylonensis, C. s. erimelas, C. s. andamanensis, C. s. prosthopellus, C. s. musicus, C. s. nesiotes, C. s. zacnecus, C. s. nesiarchus, C. s. masculus, C. s. pagiensis, C. s. javensis, C. s. amoenus, C. s. amoenus, C. s. problematicus, C. s. adamsi, C. s. pluto

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ល្វាចេក

A local resident.

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

MALAYSIA - Malay - Murai Kampung ("Village Magpie")

 Locally abundant resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Abundant in parks and gardens in Kuala Lumpur

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

Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus)

OTHER NAMES: White-nest Swiftlet, German's Swiftlet, Oustalet's Swiftlet

Latin Etymology: Aerodramus ("air run") fuciphagus ("seaweed eating")

Adult Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Aerodramus germani germani
Weight: 13-14g/kg  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: 27cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Until 2024 it was regarded as two separate species - Germain's Swiftlet and the White-nest Swiftlet, however these species were lumped together, which is convenient in so much as separating those populations in the field is near impossible.  It struck me an interesting at the time that the swiftlet species I saw far more resembled what would be a martin's shape in Europe - far more compact and without that same scythe-blade like wings that defines the full on swifts. 

Related Species:

Order: Apodiformes

Family: Apodidae

Genus: Aerodramus

SUBSPECIES: A. f. germani, A. f. amechanus, A. f. omexpectus, A. f. perplexus., A. f. fuciphagus, A. f. dammermani, A. f. micans

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ត្រចៀកកាំមធ្យម
Common.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common over Siem Reap

MALAYSIA - Malay - ?

Common

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seemingly abundant throughout at Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, specific identification difficult.
SINGAPORE - Common.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seemingly abundant, specific identification difficult.
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen in Ang Mo Kio.

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

.

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Pycnonotus ("strong back") goiavier ("guava")

Adult Yellow-vented Bulbul (subspecies P. g. jambu) in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Pycnonotus goiavier jambu
Weight: 60g  /  Length: 18cm  /  Wingspan: 20-25cm
 NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As only my second ever species of bulbul, the yellow-vented came as a bit of a contrast to the brown-eared ones of Japan.  While certainly one of the top ten most common birds I saw on the trip, it wasn't ubiquitous in the same way the brown-eared is and certainly considerably quieter.  Unlike in Japan though, there are a number of species of bulbul present which makes identification slightly more effort, especially as there are a few similar looking species - the yellow rump but otherwise fairly drab colouration is distinctive here.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
SUBSPECIES: P. g. jambu, P. g. personatus, P. g. analis, P. g. gourdini, P. g. goiavier, P. g. samarensis, P. g. suluvensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចាបក្រួច

A common resident..

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common in Siem Reap

MALAYSIA - Malay - Merbah Kapur ("Lime Bulbul")

Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen regularly in Kuala Lumpur, though intermittently. 

SINGAPORE - Common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Common in Ang Mo Kio.

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

Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites)

OTHER NAMES: Oriental Grey Pansy
Latin Etymology: Junonia ("peacock") atlites (?)

Adult Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 5.5-6cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A butterfly that has subtle coloration relative to many of the other more flamboyant tropical Nymphalidae, the grey Pansy has a substantial range over all of Southern Asia, though it is apparently comparatively rare in Singapore.  However, in Cambodia is is presumably fairly common, as this individual was seen in Central Siem Reap in the courtyard of Artisans Angkor.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Junonia
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
 A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Siem Reap

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

Lyle's Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pteropus ("wing footed") lylei (named for naturalist Charles Lyle)

Seven Lyle's Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 320g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: 90cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

A species of flying fox restricted to the Gulf of Thailand, these huge bats are fructivores and feed on numerous species of trees that humans also eat including mango, cashew, dragonfruit, tamarind and others.  This can unfortunately put it into conflict with farmers who wish to protect their crops.  They are also threatened with being eaten as bushmeat in parts of their range.  This particular colony probably has one of the cushiest possible locations to protect it from such threats though - right in central Siem Reap where it is something of a minor tourist attraction.  The biometric dimensions of this species are a little hard to track down, as I've found some wildly varying alternatives.

Related Species:
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Pteropus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
 A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: A large colony present in the Royal Gardens at Siem Reap

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