Borneo Birds

When in the upper reaches of hill forests, care is the order of the day when it comes to this Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres with the quite similar Ochraceous Bulbul. Our Grey-cheeked Bulbul displays a white throat, often puffed out, and yellow underparts while the other Bulbul has a similar white throat but with buff underparts and cinnamon vent.

With 50 subspecies, the Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris must be one of the most polymorphic of all bird species. It also ranges across an immense geographical area from the Red Sea to the Samoan islands. In Borneo, this resident bird is found over an impressive altitudinal range from sea level to 1500m, just outside of Kinabalu Park. In urban areas, it has adapted extremely well, seen in gardens and on electrical or telephone cables. Whatever the habitat, the bird’s harsh calls can be heard throughout the day.

In the mountains of Sumatra, Java or Borneo, you will be really unlucky to miss the tame Indigo Flycatcher Eumyias indigo. This dark blue flycatcher displays a light blue or almost white forecrown and buff vent. Its habits are typical of flycatchers and will come out to the forest edges. I took this picture at the carpark in front of the Visitor Centre at Kinabalu Park HQ. Couldn’t have asked for an easier shot.

It was only 10 years ago that you had to put in a bit of an effort to see the Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata. Now the spread has been complete. In Sabah, sightings come from everywhere – grass-lined roads, paddy fields, gardens, farming areas, etc. Small flocks roam with consummate ease, either by themselves or with other munias, causing a good deal of dismay in rice growing areas. They are beautiful birds really, only if there were less of them…

Here’s a positive bird story. Despite constantly losing roosting areas around Kota Kinabalu, the Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus is still seen in different open areas at nightfall. By day the birds roost in colonies in the most unlikely of places. This bird was seen in a colony of Rufous and Black-crowned Night Herons in a small group of trees in a well populated area and next to a busy road. For sure, they are not as scarce as previous reports have put them to be.