Borneo Birds

Here’s a bird which might be considered as mundane by most European birders.  The Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ribibundus wintering in very small numbers in Borneo is instantly outstanding in that it is the only gull seen here.  But for once, this particular bird was found inland in the wet paddies of Kota Belud.  Even in non-breeding plumage, it still looks good.

On a recent morning trip to the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre’s canopy walkway with my friends Nikki and Hayley, showy and loud hornbills came close and produced a wonderful display for all the visitors.

The Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostis is the smallest of the Bornean hornbills.  It is also the most common, most probably due to its ability to adapt to changing habitat.  I have seen it feeding on oil palm fruit and on one occasion took a young of a White-breasted Wood-swallow.  It is probably most at home in primary forest but also does well in swamp forest.

The Asian Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus sticks to primary forest and its fig trees and because of the continued reduction of such forest, this bird is considered as near threatened.  I still rate it as more common than the hornbills with the exception of the Pied and Wrinkled.

Oriental Pied Hornbill by Ck Leong

Asian Black Hornbill by Ck Leong

The genus Spilornis is represented by 2 species in Borneo, the widespread and Borneo’s most common raptor S. cheela (Crested Serpent-eagle) and the rare endemic S. kinabaluensis (Mountain Serpent-eagle) occupying the montane habitats not frequented by the former.

The Mountain Serpent-eagle is distinguished from the Crested Serpent-eagle by having longer wings, a darker plumage with black throat and broader white band on the tail.  When seen flying  from a long distance, it is probably easier to id from the voice, with the final note of the Mountain being more sustained.

Mountain Serpent-eagle, Mt Kinabalu

Crested Serpent-eagle, Tabin Wildlife Resort

Pied Imperial Pigeon by Ck Leong

On a recent trip (with the Oundle School natural history trip to Borneo) to Lankayan Island off the north-east coast of Sabah, the Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor was without doubt the standout of a rather short list of avian fauna there.  This island inhabitant displays a creamy white head and body with black flight feathers and uppertail.  It feeds on fruits and will migrate to other islands or coastal mainland in their search for food.  I also saw a small flock of them on the beach picking on small pieces of broken coral.

Thanks to Lyn Hunt.

While the debate goes on whether Copsychus stricklandi should be lumped together with White-rumped Shama, visiting birders to Borneo should note  that you can only see the “White-crowned”  in the north, or otherwise known as the political entity of Sabah.  For those who persist on seeing the White-rumped, you might find success in the pet shops around Kota Kinabalu, this because of lax enforcement of this protected species (a fine songster) and continued trapping in the south (Borneo).  To untrained ears like mine, the songs of both species sound very similar but I have met pet shop keepers who insist that White-rumped Shamas from the wild have a wider “variety” in calls.

Sorry I guess I have just added a little more fuel to the debate.