Borneo Birds

Golden-naped Barbet by Ck Leong

The Golden-naped Barbet Megalaima pulcherrima is undoubtedly the most common barbet in the mountains of Borneo.  Regular birders to Mt Kinabalu will be very familair with the bird’s took-took-trrook call.  The visitor who has yet to spot the bird will face a lot of frustration as the calls are heard throughout the day.  Having spotted it, you will be amply rewarded with the beautiful blue and green colours of the bird.

The Little Cuckoo-dove Macropygia ruficeps is a common resident of the montane forest of Borneo.  It makes  quick flights with its powerful wings and forages in mid-storey and canopy of flowering trees.  At rest, it announces itself with a distinct and repeated wook wook.  For the birder, there is a much higher chance of seeing it in flight  than perched.

Much have been said about the nesting habits of hornbills.  Additionally the White-crowned Hornbill Berenicornis comatus is also one of those hornbills which occasionally practices co-operative breeding where other birds will take their turn at feeding the imprisoned female.  I saw this particular male bird foraging at almost ground level.  On all previous occasions, I saw them at around the middle storey of the forest.  I continue to be impressed with the fantastic white crest.

This morning’s trip to the paddy fields of Kota Belud produced a pleasant surprise – a whole party of feeding swamphens, something which I had previously witnessed only in India. We saw about 10 Black-backed Swamphen Porphyrio indicus with at least 1 juvenile from our spot at the side of the road. The birds were constantly on the move, flicking their tails at the same time. Once only known from south Borneo, their spread has been quite remarkable. Not that I am complaining.

They are back! Today we welcomed the first of the northern Asian migrant flycatchers back to our warm shores. On a very good morning of birding at the Penampang hills just outside of Kota Kinabalu, we found this energetic Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica hawking for passing insects from this nice perch. This bird has never disappointed us, returning year after year. You get the nice feeling that Mother Nature is always around.