Birdwatching in Thailand — Rewarding birding in an exotic location!

Thailand’s Endemic Birds

Although Thailand is home to many different species of beautiful birds, only a few of them are endemic to the country. If you are interested in setting your sights on the birds you can only find here, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these species.

Siamese Partridge

The Siamese Partridge lives only in the evergreen forest of the Cardamom Mountains in Southeast Thailand. You will need to visit the Khao Soi Do Wildlife Sanctuary and trek up the mountains to obtain access to it. Some scientists consider it a subspecies of the Chestnut-Headed Partridge, while others treat it as a separate species.

It has a medium brown body, a pale brown head, and a necklace of whitish spots on the chest. There’s also a black and white chevron pattern on the sides of the body and a prominent blackish beard.

Turquoise-Throated Barbet

The Turquoise-Throated Barbet lives only in the Khao Luang National Park, where you will frequently spot it at elevations of over 850 meters. However, since no roads lead up to that elevation, you will need to join an organized trek to access the area and catch sight of the unique bird.

They are green in color and have orange bristles that fringe their heavy bills. It is similar in appearance to the Blue-Throated Barbet but does not live in the same areas. Its song is also similar and resembles a hollow knocking series of notes.

White-Eyed River Martin

Although currently classified as Critically Endangered, the White-Eyed River Martin is, unfortunately, likely extinct. You will not likely catch sight of this bird with a deep black body and white tail. Its iris and eyelid are also white, which looks like a white-eye ring, suggesting its name.

Scientists don’t know much about its breeding habits, and the last known sighting of one (although unconfirmed) was in 1986. However, it has not officially been labeled extinct despite many signs that suggest it no longer lives in the wild.

Deignan’s Babbler

The Chiang Dao area is home to Deignan’s Babbler. Its taxonomic status is debatable, and many suggest that it is a Rufous-Fronted Babbler, making it a non-endemic species. This fact has to do with searches in the area that only turned up birds showing typical Rufous features. However, the Deignan’s Babbler shows some slight differences, and visitors to the area could encounter them.

Rufous Limestone Babbler

The Rufous Limestone Babbler is endemic to Central Thailand, and its population primarily resides around the Saraburi province, located northeast of Bangkok. You’ll find it in the Limestone Krast Forest, accessible at the temple of Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi.

Some find it similar to a Streaked-Wren Babbler, but it has a longer tail and is a bit larger. Its body is primarily brown overall but has a black-streaked throat and a white-streaked back. Look for it close to the ground, mainly around rocky crevices. The song sounds like a sequence of harsh-sounding whistled notes. Sometimes a pair of them will sing it together as a duet.

Other Bird Species to Look for During Your Trip

Although the endemic species are more challenging to find and concentrated in specific areas, you can still have an incredible birding adventure in Thailand even if you don’t visit those areas.

Some of the most exotic and colorful birds in the country that you may come across during your trip include the following.

Siamese Fireback

The Siamese Fireback is the Kingdom of Thailand’s national bird, even though it is not unique to Thailand. It is, however, endemic to Southeast Asia, so if you spot one during your trip, know that you won’t see it in any other part of the world. This pheasant is relatively common around Khao Yai National Park, particularly in protected areas. You’ll usually see males of the species surrounded by two or three females, but sometimes you will see a female one alone. It has a silver-grey body with a bright-yellow spot in the middle of their backs and a bright red-colored head and red feet.

Hume’s Pheasant

This large forest pheasant is found in the northern parts of Thailand and is considered to be on the near-threatened list of species. It has a greyish-brown head, red facial skin, a deep reddish-brown plumage, and a yellowish bill. The male appears more colorful than the female of the species. It can be pretty difficult to spot one, which makes a sighting even more exciting.

Crested Finchbill

With a grey-colored head and yellow-green body, the Crested Finchbill is a small bird that resides in large colonies within the middle of the forest. It has a friendly demeanor and can easily be approached by people, making it enjoyable to watch.

Gurney’s Pitta

Gurney’s Pitta is a medium-sized bird with colorful feathers. You will mostly find it in the Southern part of Thailand, and it is relatively rare and at one point thought to be extinct (until it was rediscovered in 1986). Many consider it one of the top birds to see when visiting Thailand. Your best bet to see it is to visit the Khao Nor Chu Chi area.

Great Hornbill

With its unique “Gok Gok” sound, this big colorful bird is a treat to see. You have a good chance of observing this exciting species in the Khao Yai area, as it is relatively common there. You’ll likely see it foraging in a fruit tree or flying high across the land. As of today, this species is considered Near Threatened and has vanished from several areas where it was once common.

Long Tailed Broadbill

This small bird has attractive bright green and yellow coloring that makes it stand out in the environment. It’s a pretty common bird in Thailand, so one that many birdwatchers in the country will get to check off the list. It can be a shy bird but tends to travel in small flocks. Look for it in many of Thailand’s national parks.

Of course, this list gives just a minuscule taste of the sights and sounds in the trees and skies of the country. You’ll likely encounter unique and beautiful birds everywhere that you turn. Many visitors have noted seeing more than 300 different birds during their wildlife exploration, so you will definitely want to keep track.