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 .

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Merops ("bee-eater") philippinus ("of the Philippines")

Adult Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) near Lower Pierce Reservoir - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 29-43g  /  Length: 23-26cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A colourful species of Bee-eater found in Southern Asia - in Penninsula Malaysia and Singapore it functionally carries out a switching act the the Blue-throated Bee-eater, whereby this species is a Winter visitor and the Blue-throated a summer one.  It has in the past been regarded as conspecific with similar species in Western Asia and Africa, but is currently regarded as separate.  Out of the Bee-eaters I have seen to date, it is the most cosmopolitan, being seen regularly in artificial habitats such as suburban Singapore.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ត្រដេវក្បាលបៃតង ("Green Bee-eater"?)

A fairly common resident

 - Seen at Prek Toal and Florican Grassland Reserve

SINGAPORE - A fairly common Winter migrant

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

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