Bird watching in Malaysia

If you count bird-watching as one of your favored past-times, then a trip to Malaysia is definitely warranted for the country is home to more than 600 species of birds, many of which are endemic to Malaysia. So where in Malaysia would you go to do a spot of bird-watching?  Luckily, aside from bustling cities and towns, Malaysia is home to several verdant natural parks and nature reserves that attract both migratory and domestic feathered flocks and provide the perfect setting for hours of bird-watching.

Bukit Larut, Perak

Bukit Larut(Maxwell Hill) situated 10 km from Taiping in Perak is the oldest hill resort in Malaysia. Founded during colonial times, this hill resort which is located at a height of 1250 meters above sea level features English-style cottages and lush gardens. Bukit Larut is one of the wettest places on Peninsular Malaysia and hence the hill resort can be only accessed via the government owned four-wheel drives as private vehicles are barred from entering the resort. The leafy environs of Bukit Larut are considered to be a haven for bird-watchers.

Cameron Highlands, Pahang

The Cameron Highlands resort is another popular hill resort in Malaysia. Perched at a height of about 1500 meters above sea-level in the rugged hills of the Titiwangsa range, the resort is renowned for its quaint ‘Englishness’ and features several Tudor-style homes surrounded by fruit and flower-filled gardens that act as a magnet for  numerous species of  birds.

Fraser’s Hill Pahang

Fraser’s Hill in Pahang is yet another well-known locale for bird-watching in Malaysia. Also located in the Titiwangsa range, at a height of 1,524m above sea-level, Fraser’s hill is not as well developed as the Cameron Highlands, though it is blessed with a year round pleasant climate characterized by temperatures that range between 17°C~25°C ( 63°F~77°F). These affable temperatures help support a pristine forest environment that is home to more than 250 species of our feathered-friends.

Kuala Gula, Perak

The Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary in Perak serves as an important pit-stop for migratory birds traversing from the northern to the southern hemisphere. The birds use the sanctuary’s mudflat area as a resting place during their flight. More than 48 species of migratory birds visit the sanctuary every year between the months of September and April. These migratory birds hail from faraway lands like Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Japan and China.  Common sightings at the sanctuary include Mongolian plovers, Common Redshanks, Common Greenshanks, Eurasian curlews and many more.

Taman Negara Pahang

The gargantuan Taman Negara national park that cuts across three Malaysian states, Pahang, Kelantan and Terrengganu is home to some of the world’s oldest rainforest terrain that dates back more than 130 million years. This expansive jungle canopy hosts more than three hundred species of birds and is considered a haven for the enthusiastic bird-watcher.

Kuala Koh, Taman Negara Kelantan

Kuala Koh National Park is located within the part of Taman Negara that passes through the state of Kelantan. This densely forested, rather remote corner of the Taman Negara teems with pristine wilderness and features fast flowing rivers that tumble down from the Tahan, Perlis, Gagau and Penumpu mountain ranges. The banks of these rivers are lined with lush trees which bear much fruit and provide a fertile hunting ground for many species of jungle birds.

Kuala Selangor Nature Park

The Kuala Selangor Nature Park is located within close proximity to Kuala Lumpur and can be accessed from the KL city center via a short two hour drive. The park features various habitats including a 25-acre brackish lake specially constructed to cater for the park’s numerous feathered inhabitants.

The Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary

The Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary was established in the year 2000 in the mangrove–dense wetlands located near the town of Likas. The sanctuary today plays host to various domestic and migratory birds like white-breasted water hens, purple herons, little egrets, crested mynas, collared kingfishers and many more.

Kinabalu National Park, Sabah

The Unesco World Heritage site of the Kinabalu Park is home to numerous species of birds. The many jungle trails within the park offer sightings of birds like the mountain black-eye, the mountain blackbird and the Kinabalu warbler.

Kilim Nature Park, Langkawi

Situated on the north-east tip of Pulau Langkawi, the Kilim Nature Park is reputed to be  abode of several eagle populations, the Brahminy Kite, the white-bellied fish eagle and the huge sea eagles are frequently spotted within the park.