Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pelargopsis ("stork appearance") capensis ("Cape of Good Hope" - erroneously)

Adult Stork-billed Kingfisher (subspecies P. c. malaccensis) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Pelargopsis capensis malaccensis
Weight: 140-220g  /  Length: 35-41cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the largest of all Kingfishers, and certainly the biggest within it's range, the Stork-billed is a large powerful predator for the family, hunting not only fish but crabs, frogs, rodents and young birds.  It's large size and powerful bill give it a bolder demeanour, and it will apparently chase away eagles and other large predators.  It is found in various locations across Singapore, but compared to Collared and White-throated it is shyer, and favours larger and less disturbed habitat.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Pelargopsis
SUBSPECIES: P. c. capensis, P. c. burmanica, P. c. intermedia, P. c. osmastoni, P. c. malaceensis, P. c. cyanopteryx, P. c. simalurensis, P. c. sodalis, P. c. nesoeca, P. c. isoptera, P. c. innominata, P. c. floresiana, P. c. javana, P. c. gouldi, P. c. gigantea

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A local resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Several at Sungei Buloh

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

Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Psilopogon ("bare beard") lineatus ("marked with lines")

Adult Lineated Barbet (unknown subspecies ) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Unknown - introduced population
Weight: 115-205g  /  Length: 27-28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A far more substantial bird than the more common Coppersmith Barbet - the Lineated barbet is an introduced species in Singapore, but is apparently getting more established in forested areas.  Barbets as a family are largely frugivores.  Like their relatives the woodpeckers, they are cavity dwellers which they excavate in trees.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Megalaimidae
Genus: Psilopogon
SUBSPECIES: P. l. hodgoni, P. l. lineatus

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - An uncommon introduced resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Sungei Buloh

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

Copper-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma calcostetha)

OTHER NAMES: Macklot's Sunbird
Latin Etymology: Leptocoma ("delicate hair") calcostetha ("bronze breast")

Adult female Copper-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma calcostetha) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 12-13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Unlike the other sunbird species I've seen to date, the copper-throated is a specialised species of a particular habitat: the mangroves.  I encountered them somewhat unexpectedly - I was exploring the boardwalks of Sungei Buloh, not really knowing what to expect when I met a very enthusiastic gentleman who has found a particularly showy pair and pointed them out to me!  Unfortunately, I failed to get an in focus photo of the beautiful irridescent male bird, but managed to get very clear views of both of them thanks to his generous help.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Nectariniidae
Genus: Leptocoma
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Several at Sungei Buloh

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 .

Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

OTHER NAMES: Malaysian Pied Hornbill, Sunda Pied Hornbill
Latin Etymology: Anthracoceros ("black horn") albirostris ("white billed")

Adult male Oriental Pied Hornbill (subspecies A. a. convexus) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Anthracoceros albirostris convexus
Weight: 560-900g  /  Length: 55-60cm  /  Wingspan: cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Hornbills are a distinctive group of birds found throughout the tropics of the Old World, and the Oriental Pied Hornbill is one of the most successful of the family - with the largest distribution of any species in the genus.  Unlike other species of it's family, its somewhat tolerant of human disturbance, and this has allowed it to recolonise places like Singapore, where all hornbill species had previously been extipirated.  It's enormous beak is mainly used to feed on fruit, but will also eat small animals from time to time.

Related Species:
Order: Bucerotiformes
Family: Bucerotidae
Genus: Anthracoceros
SUBSPECIES: A. a. albirostris, A. a. convexus

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A scarce resident

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

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

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pluvialis ("relating to rain") fulva ("tawny")

Three non-breeding Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 140g  /  Length: 23-26cm  /  Wingspan: 60-72cm
RARE VAGRANT IN UK ONLY / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

There are three species of Golden Plover worldwide, roughly splitting the entire Northern hemisphere between them, breeding in the far North and migrating South for the Winter.  The Pacific Golden Plover is the representative in East of Asia and along the top of the North American West coast.  A daintier bird than the Eurasian, it does on occassion turn up as a vagrant in the UK, but was numerous at Sungei Buloh in Singapore as a Winter migrant.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadridae
Genus: Pluvialis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common Winter migrant.

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

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

Swinhoe's White-eye (Zosterops simplex)

OTHER NAMES: (formerly) Oriental White-Eye
Latin Etymology: Zosterops ("Girdle eye") simplex ("plain")

Adult Swinhoe's White-eye (subspecies Z. s. erwini) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Zosterops simplex erwini
Weight: ?  /  Length: 9.6cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The taxonomy of the White-eyes can be described as something of a tangle; just last year a major revaluation of many of the species lead to the reshuffling of various different populations into different species.  In the case of this bird, one year ago he would have been considered an Oriental White-eye, but as of 2018, the South East Asian population of that bird was shifted to being part of Swinhoe's White-eye which prior to that same point had been considered just a subspecies of Japanese White-eye.  Meanwhile, the name Oriental White-eye is now considered dead because Oriental White-eyes now are no longer considered to live in the "Orient" so the entire species was renamed Indian White-eye.  That's not even all the revisions that were made to the genus' taxonomy!  Swinhoe's White-eye were originally native to Singapore, but went extinct, but a new population has arisen from escaped caged birds.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
SUBSPECIES: Z. s. simlex, Z. s. hainanus, Z. s. erwini, Z. s. williamsoni, Z. s. salvadorii

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident.

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

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

Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense)

OTHER NAMES: Common Goldenback
Latin Etymology: Dinopium ("mighty appearance") javanense ("Javan")

Adult male Common Flameback (subspecies D. j. javanense) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dinopium javanense javanense
Weight: 67-100g  /  Length: 28-32cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While the picus family of woodpeckers are defined by their green backs, the dinopium woodpeckers have brilliant golden plumage on their back, that gives them their name.  The Common Flameback is probably the most widely distributed of the family, and one of the most common woodpeckers in the region.  This showy individual was seen in the Mangroves of Sungei Buloh, exploring a tree trunk.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dinopium
SUBSPECIES: D. j. malabaricum, D. j. intermedium, D. j. javanense, D. j. exsul, D. j. raveni

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident.

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

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

Ashy Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps)

OTHER NAMES: Red-headed Tailorbird
Latin Etymology: Orthotomus ("straight piece") ruficeps ("rufous headed")

Adult Ashy Tailorbird (subspecies O. r. cineraceus) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Orthotomus ruficeps cineraceus
Weight: 7g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Ashy Tailorbird is primarily a mangrove specialist, which fits with the multiple sightings I had of it at Sungei Buloh.  They are probably the most distinctive looking of the four species of tailorbird found in Singapore, with their grey plumage covering all but their head, unlike the rest which have pale chests and bellies.  They are fairly fidgety birds, rarely staying still for more than a few moments at a time.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cisticolidae
Genus: Orthotomus
SUBSPECIES: O. r. cineraceus, O. r. baeus, O. r. concinnus, O. r. ruficeps, O. r. palliolatus, O. r. baweanus, O. r. borneoensis, O. r. cagayanensis

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Fairly common at Sungei Buloh

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

Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)

OTHER NAMES: Median Egret, Smaller Egret, Yellow-billed Egret
Latin Etymology: Ardea ("Heron") intermedia ("intermediate")

Adult Intermediate Egret (subspecies A. i. intermedia) at Sungei Boloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Ardea intermedia intermedia
Weight: 400g  /  Length: 56-72cm  /  Wingspan: 105-115cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

If ever there was a name that did what it said on the tin, it would perhaps be the intermediate egret, a species that is indeed intermediate in size and characteristics between great and little egrets.  Unlike either of these species however, it is more of a species of the tropics, although it does extend as far North as temperate Japan. In Sungei Buloh in Singapore and Prek Toal in Cambodia they were fairly common, but not never the most common heron species present.

Related Species: 
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ardea
SUBSPECIES: A. i. brachyrhyncha, A. i. intermedia, A. i. plumifera

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer: កុកគ្រោងមធ្យម  ("Medium ?")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

SINGAPORE - An uncommon resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Fairly common 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 .

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dicaeum (a supposed bird mentioned by Aelianus) cruentatum ("blood-stained")

Adult male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (subspecies D. c. ignitum) at Bishan Park, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dicaeum cruentatum ignitum
Weight: 7-8g  /  Length: 9cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Scarlet-backed flowerpecker is a small bird with striking black white and red plumage in the males.  The females are a lot less notable, with an drab olive-grey type coloration with mere streaks of the bright scarlet.  My views of this bird were distant and brief, but judging from my own views and those of other pictures online, they seem to have a talent for going for fruits that are far larger than they look like they should be able to carry!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicaeidae
Genus: Dicaeum
SUBSPECIES: D. c. cruentatum, D. c. ignitum, D. c. sumatranum, D. c. batuense, D. c. simalurense, D. c. niasense, D. c. nigrimentum

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen at  Bishan Park and Sungei Buloh

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

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Amaurornis ("dusky brown bird") phoenicurus ("crimson tailed")

Adult White-breasted Waterhen (subspecies A. p. phoenicurus) at Bishan Park, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus
Weight: 165-325g  /  Length: 28-33cm  /  Wingspan: 49cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The White-breasted Waterhen is the commonest member of the rail family over a lot of it's range; a dweller of leafy pools and lakes that has found itself well adapted to take advantage of urban parks.  If anything, the relative absence of duck species in Singapore and Malaysia has in places allowed it to become the default fairly tame waterbird more so than in Europe - I encountered them in several places walking around at people's feet looking for scraps.

Related Species:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Amaurornis
Subspecies: A. p. phoenicurus, A. p. insularis, A. p. midnicobarica, A. p. leucomelana

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common resident of ponds and small lakes.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Bishan Park and Sungei Buloh

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

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

OTHER NAMES: White-collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Kingfisher

Latin Etymology: Todiramphus ("Small bird, bill") chloris ("green")

Adult Collared Kingfisher (subspecies T. c. humii) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Todiramphus chloris humii 
Weight: 51-90g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I must admit that when I first saw this bird on a dead tree looking at me face on, it looked slightly like a bedraggled fledgling house crow and it wasn't until I continued along the route I was walking I realised that in fact it was a new species of Kingfisher for me.  As you can probably guess from my mistake, this is another kingfisher that is substantially larger than the Eurasian Kingfisher.  Unlike the white-throated however, this is a bird specialized to the coast and mangroves in particular.  However, this bird (and indeed, it's partner I saw together with it a few minutes later) had a slightly different habitat - under a massive road-bridge across the mouth at the river at Malacca at the side of what was essentially brownfield site.  However, even so it posed for me very nicely and made a great final new bird of the trip.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes  
Family: Alcedinidae  
Genus: Todiramphus
SUBSPECIES: T. c. abyssinicus, T. c. kalbaensis, T. c. humii, T. c. vidali, T. c. armstrongi, T. c. davisoni, T. c. occipitalis, T. c. chloropterus, T. c. azelus, T. c. palmeri, T. c. laubmannianus, T. c. collaris, T. c. chloris, T. c. teraokai

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Pekaka Bakau ("Mangrove Kingfisher") 

A locally common resident.  

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A pair near the river mouth in Malacca

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Numerous at Sungei Buloh, a pair at Lower Pierce Reservoir

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

Ornate Sunbird (Cinnyris ornatus)

OTHER NAMES: Yellow-bellied Sunbird

Latin Etymology: Cinnyris (a bird named by Hesychius of Alexandria) ornatus ("ornate")

Adult female Olive-backed Sunbird (subspecies C. j. ornatus) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Cinnyris orantus ornatus
Weight: 7-8g  /  Length: 11cm  /  Wingspan: 14-17cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The sunbirds fill the same niche in the Old-World as the Hummingbirds do in the New - a group of nectar feeding specialists with long curved beaks, though some also eat insects and spiders.  The Ornate Sunbird is one of the more common and widespread species of the family within its range - being found in even urban settings like parks.  Though the female here is a very drab bird which looks broadly similar to females of several other sunbirds, the male has an iridescent dark blue mask and bib that make it a lot more distinctive

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Nectariniidae
GENUS: Cinnyris
SUBSPECIES: C. o. andamanicus, C. o. klossi, C.o. proselius, C. o. flammaxillaris, C.o. ornatus, C. o. rhizopharae, C. o. polyclystus

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចាបកន្លង់

 A common resident

 - Seen at Ta Prohm

MALAYSIA - Malay - Kelicap Bukit ("Hill Hummingbird")

A widespread and fairly common species.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single female seen in Malacca, a male seen briefly in KLCC Park in Kuala Lumpur

SINGAPORE - A very common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Sungei Buloh and common at Ang Mo Kio

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 .