Borneo Birds

The Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis is the largest kingfisher in Borneo.  Distinguished by its large red bill, it is common along waterways, ponds and wetland.   Its loud kek kek kek calls give away its presence.

Here’s an uncommon winter visitor to Mt Kinabalu.  The Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea is a typical Old World flycatcher.  It prefers to stay in the denser part of the forest, foraging in the lower to middle storey.  On the few occasions when I saw it, it had always been solitary.  I guess it is almost time for it to go back north.  Have a pleasant flight.

Changeable Hawk-eagle dark morph

Learned avian naturalists have spent considerable time delving into the taxonomic ranking of  crested hawk-eagles.  From a birdwatcher point of view, the resident crested hawk-eagle being polymorphic and having 2 main morphs, earns itself the name “Changeable”, with the dark morphs being more common.  Mainly a forest bird, it is also seen at forest edge, no doubt hoping for an easy meal.  Race in Borneo Nisaetus cirrhatus limnaetus.

Let’s start MMXI with a common resident found throughout the lowlands.  The Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra is also probably the easiest of the spiderhunters here to identify being the only one with a white throat.   Usually you will see it zipping through the lower storey of the forest, stopping only to feed on the nectar of banana and ginger flowers.

Here’s another very noticeable bird of the Bornean mountains, the Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush Rhinocichla treacheri.  It forages in small groups, mainly in the lower to mid level canopy.  It also joins up with Sunda Laughingthrush or other mixed feeding flocks.  A Bornean endemic.