Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

OTHER NAMES: Pale Drongo, Grey Drongo 
Latin Etymology: Dicrurus ("fork-tailed") leucophaeus ("ash coloured")

Adult Ashy Drongo (subspecies D. l. leucogenis) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogenis
Weight: 32-55g  /  Length: 25-29cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very variable species that is found throughout the south-eastern quarter of Asia.  There are a total of fourteen subspecies and they could easily be mistaken for separate species; some like this leucogenis and pale grey with a white eye patch, while others are a deeper blue grey and others still and essentially black.  A forest based species, I saw them a few times in the areas surrounding the Angkor complexes.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicruridae
Genus: Dicrurus
SUBSPECIES: D. l. longicaudatus, D. l hopwoodi, D. l. mouhoti, D. l. bondi, D. l. nigrescens, D. l. leucogenis, D. l. salangensis, D. l. innexus, D. l. stigmatops, D. l. batakensis, D. l. phaedrus, D. l. periophtalmicus, D. l. siberu, D. l. leucophaeus

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA -  Khmer name: អន្ទេបប្រផេះ

 A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen around Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm

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 .

Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

OTHER NAMES: Alexandrine Parrot
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") eupatria ("noble daughter")

Adult Female Alexandrine Parakeet (subspecies P. e. siamensis) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula eupatria siamensis
Weight: 200-300g  /  Length: 52-62cm  /  Wingspan: 19-21.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

A large parakeet species - the Alexandrine Parakeet is a distinctly sexually dimorphic species - the male has a similar appearance to the Rose-ringed Parakeet, while the female lacks the black markings, giving it a much more totally green appearance.  Found in India and South-East Asia, it has a mixed colony above the ruins of Ta Prohm in Cambodia. It is named after Alexander the Great who initially introduced parakeets to European countries.

Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula

SUBSPECIES: P. e. eupatria, P. e. nipalensis, P. e. avensis, P. e. magnirostris, P. e. siamensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សេកសោម ("Parrot")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: There is a colony above Ta Prohm

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

Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri)

OTHER NAMES: Moustached Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") alexandri (named after Alexander the Great)

Adult Red-breasted Parakeet (subspecies P. a. fasciata) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula alexandri fasciata
Weight: 150g  /  Length: 33-38cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Red-breasted parakeet is an unusual parakeet with an uncharacteristically short tail for the genus.  It has a wide distribution across much of South East Asia into Eastern India, but is considered to be somewhat threatened.  Many of the island populations are threatened, often by the wild bird trade but it does also occur as a feral species in some cities.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula

SUBSPECIES: P. a. abbotti, P. a. alexandri, P. a. cala, P. a. dammermani, P. a. fascinata, P. a. kangeanensis, P. a. major, P. a. perionca 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សេកសក ("Parrot")
A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: There is a colony above Ta Prohm

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  .

Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Psilopogon ("bare beard") haemacephalus ("blood headed")

Adult Coppersmith Barbet (subspecies P. h. indicus) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Psilopogon haemacephalus indicus
Weight: 30-53g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

In Malaysia, the Coppersmith Barbet is the commonest member of its family - the barbets which are relations of the woodpeckers.  Although I sadly didn't hear it, the name comes from it's call - which sounds distinctively like someone hammering on metal - perhaps combined with the colour of it's forehead - a bright coppery orange.  It is the smallest species of all the barbet.  It is another species which is doing well from human changes to the environment - as it nests in dead trees in semi-clear land, logging has actually benefitted it - allowing it's range to expand - arriving into Malaysia in the 30s and on to Singapore in the 50s.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Megalaimidae
Genus: Psilopogon
SUBSPECIES: P. h. indicus, P. h. delicus, P. h. roseus, P. h. haemacephalus, P. h. intermedius, P. h. celestinoi, P. h. mindanensis, P. h. cebuensis, P. h. homochroa 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ប៉ោលតោកអំបុក ("? pendulem")

A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Ta Prohm

MALAYSIA - Malay - Takur Akar  ("Root Barbet")

A fairly common and widespread resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Two seen in Kuala Lumpur - one in a small area of trees, one in the Botanical Garden.

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