2. Rufous-vented Niltava, 苏门答腊仙鹟, 蘇門答臘仙鶲, Niltava sumatrana, スマトラアオヒタキ, SAMBAR-KUMBANG API MELAYU
– not that common for Peninsular Malaysia, very limited locations for this bird
– Cameron Highland, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202304
– a special tour to be here, this bird seem shy to human compare to previous trip here. But still a beautiful bird to be seen
– 为了2只鸟到这来。这鸟还在，可是害羞多了。
202304, Cameron Highland, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202008
202008, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
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51. Small Niltava, 小仙鹟, 小仙鶲, Niltava macgrigoriae, チビアオヒタキ
Size distinguishes this species from other niltavas; coloration is quite similar to Large Niltava, which is double the size. Male Small Niltava is bright blue with the brightest patches on the shoulder and forehead. Female is brown with a white eyering and a rufous tail and wingtips. Forages in the lower and middle levels of hilly and montane forests, usually singly. Listen for its distinctive song, a cleanly descending “wee-dee-dee.” [EBird]
Another bird we encountered, found only at a single hide despite visiting many others, initially appeared quite shy. However, after a few hours of brief appearances, it gradually became more comfortable and eventually stayed long enough for some great photos.
The harlequin tree frog is a beautiful flying frog known from lowland rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. The dorsum is light brown with mottled orange patches that extend along the hind leg. Sometimes, random white spots may occur on the body, but the flanks are covered with a yellow and dark reticulated pattern. The webs between each digit are reddish, while the eyes yellowish orange. Like other flying frogs, it is a foam nest breeder, congregating around shallow mud pools to lay their eggs.
– a bird that told me weeks to just have few look, few seconds for picture ….
– walk non stop inside canopy
– when it call, the throat “blue” appear
– 3+1 locations, multiple visits ……
– VERY SHY bird ….
update 202602
It’s a busy start to the year! We kicked things off with a very long drive due to the holiday traffic, followed by a specialized photography tour with two lovely and incredibly patient guests. One of our main targets for this trip was this beauty—it’s a shame they’re still a bit shy this season, but what a wonderful bird to start off 2026.
This was a truly special tour for us, focusing on a very important target species. After two days of only hearing it without any sighting, we finally had an amazing view—right in front of the four of us, and even calling!
Such a memorable family trip—got all three special bird families: Rail-Babbler, Crested Jayshrike, and Bornean Bristlehead, all with photos too!
Just another moment captured with this beautiful yet shy bird. I’m accustomed to situations where people alter the environment—making it brighter and more open—just for the sake of photos, which can affect the bird’s natural behavior. However, that doesn’t diminish my happiness, especially with my birding buddy back in action after finally deciding to get his 400mm F2.8 following a slowdown in birding. Exciting times ahead, as I have more personal birding trips coming up soon!
– it is a special request to have this bird just for single day.. real challenge for this rare and shy bird
– 非常特别要求，在一天哪要看这么一只害羞，稀有的鸟。
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update 202408
– it is a tough day, been assign with a 1.5 days (actually just one day for Rail-babbler as main target). After meet Hermina & Shannon, they really keen to see the Rail-babbler… so we make a early move and have a long coffee stop before we go into forest due to some early morning rain. Immediate arrive the area, after got 1 frogmouth calling, and sight the Banded Woodpecker. I heard the Rail-babbler calling, immediate trying to track it down and we spit the bird less than 10 minutes … ring my buddy and hope he is happy man now ..
– within 24 hours, we got this bird again with much better view this time. All have perfect view of the shy bird..it is really fun to see this bird walk slow infront of us.
– a shy bird always difficult to spot and walk almost close to ground only
– another special target birds tour (5th this year for Rail-Babbler), this time with big group.. little bit challenge to get 1st target .. Malaysian Rail-babbler … but today morning, managed to heard it and wait a while before locate it calling. Happen for 2-3 minutes .. everyone see it from limited angle 🙁 but relieve …
– it is a long plan request from “friend”, a bird family need Rail-Babbler… last for him and another Jay-shrike for better view .. and we make this happen within 2 days while we actually plan it for 5 days … day1 arrive afternoon nothing much but still got Finsch’s Bulbul & Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckeras new birds and with many woodpeckers with good view … follow by lunch and a quite bored afternoon … but still able to have good view of Crested Jayshrike and ~10m close Rail-babbler without any sight …Day2 morning nothing much even with some good view but no Rail-babbler close heard .. raining afternoon after lunch even still rain.. as Bill seem worry we missed the bird just decided walk into forest with raining gear … not far after we walk I heard “to to to” real close and ask every one backward … YES me and Bill saw the bird circling and walk across the trail but Karen & Miki missed … hmmmmmm .. so we decided go to a slight open space to wit for the bird…. not that long the bird came into view and making “balloon” call show for us more than 2 minutes .. smile for everyone …
– a good month to start to have good view of this special bird, total 4 good view of this birds 2024 June. And twice we special come to this special location for 2 special birds family. Both trips got the bird on day1/2, hope it stay for next few visits.
– a birds came close to us and make special “balloon call” style.
– finally finish a long tour, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo & extension to South P Malaysia. We had this very special target bird twice all of us saw the bird well and long. We had this bird walking across the trail after 2-3 hours search through the forest.
– a mystery bird that can be very shy or sometime just appear in-front of you and walk slowly.
– it is amaze that outs’ main target just walk Infront us ~10 feet away .. it walk so beautiful and record with CANON R3 4k 100fps – 这么神奇，我们的主要目标鸟。在我们还没准备前提下。就在我们面前10尺走猫步
update 202309
– it is another good year to have many view and photo of this bird. This particular experience simply amazing where bird just infront of us walking pass
– a special targets tour begin with first target bird – Malaysian Rail-babbler. All of us have very good view of this bird
– 目标鸟团。第一天第一只目标-白眉长颈鸫。 每个人都看得很好。
202309 – Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202308
– are you looking for me ? amazing moment with the special group. have a great time on day1. so close and so long for us
– 你在找我？非常特别的组，特别来找这鸟。第一天就找到这么乖的。让我们看很久也很近
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
update 202307
– a quick check before few Rail-babbler groups, arrived welcome by rain (YES, raining again) after Malaysian-Eared Nighjar, Crested Shrikejay… begin my Rail-babbler quick tour. very soon I arrived my friend “spot” put a hide and wait. not long wait the bird calling but it keep quiet after few call. Not a long wait, it stand near the bush edge. – 为了接下来的“白眉长颈鸫”团，到了马来西亚最好的点之一（其实还是觉得吉隆波的鸟点比较有把握）。一大早到了，可是没办法出去。（下雨，对又下雨） 先看到马来毛腿夜鹰，可是没停。之后很快与5只冠鸦玩了一会。就开始慢慢找这非常高需要的鸟。先到朋友给我。等没多久，鸟叫了。可是很快又没声音了。可是我也不大意。周围看看，很快看到这鬼鬼祟祟的站那看我。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
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– a special Rail-Babbler tour, lucky to have it present 4 times show. last appear is like walk left and right for more than 3 minutes. 100+ species first day..
– it is a hot day, this bird is calling any where… only 1 bird willing to give good show and cat walk for me
– 炎热的一天。很多只在叫，可是就只有一只出来走走让我拍拍。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
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– a quick check before few Rail-babbler groups, arrived welcome by rain (YES, raining again) after Malaysian-Eared Nighjar, Crested Shrikejay… begin my Rail-babbler quick tour. very soon I arrived my friend “spot” put a hide and wait. not long wait the bird calling but it keep quiet after few call. Not a long wait, it stand near the bush edge.
– what a lucky group to sighted 4 rail-babbler and last one even stay long and close for us to capture some picture with all have good view
– 非常幸运的客人，尽然在同一行程里见到这鸟4次。最后一次还站了很久与很近让每个人都看到。
202306, Paya Maga, Sarawak, Malaysia
202112
– another surprise found at this “urban area”, as usual i having my casual birding and all of sudden I heard a long missing sound and by waiting and finally saw it and got a split second picture..
– very first attempt to have good picture of this bird @2013
Malaysian Rail-babble,白眉长颈鸫r,白眉長頸鶇,Eupetes macrocerus,クイナチメドリ, Burung Gembala Kera
update 202105
– seem like no more chance to have a better view of this rare and shy bird in the near future.
– years ago, I told my buddy I got this bird in this location but he never believes until he got leeches to bite, and record a shot of the bird.
The Buffy Fish Owl (Bubo ketupu), also known as the Malay Fish Owl, is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. It was previously placed in Ketupa with the other fish owls, but that group is tentatively included with the eagle-owls in Bubo, until the affiliations of the fish owls and fishing owls can be resolved more precisely.
not really like snake as it is dagerous while I am not understand them … most of the shot either i know them is non venomous or with experience nature guide.
***Rearrange the collection 202305, below are some old collection
– another common winter visitor (North), noisy and shy bird that can be any where from lowland forest, urban area, sub-montane and etc
– 马来西亚候鸟（北），叫的很吵的鸟。通常在蛮多地方都可以见到这候鸟。
update 202603
One of our guests’ top targets! While we don’t have a specific spot for this bird, we were lucky enough to spot it twice during our 8-day trip. This particular one perched just a meter away, staring right back at us.
A bulky black shrike with scattered white patches on the shoulders and wings and a very long, floppy tail. The sexes have differently colored flanks: females white, males black. Small groups of 3 to 10 sit upright on perches 1 to 5 meters high in grassy open savanna and sparse broadleaf woodland. Perch-and-wait predators, they drop onto insect and small vertebrate prey, and often move locally into recently burned areas to forage. The species gives a shrill starling- or parrot-like “pleeee-eouuu,” often produced by more than one bird at once, and also gives harsh grating cries. [Ebird]
Fairly common throughout Kruger National Park, this bird is typically seen moving in groups. Its black-and-white plumage and long tail make it unmistakable. I was fortunate to witness a partridge attempting to scare it off and managed to capture a shot of it flying away.
– another raining day and today is from 8am rain non stop until evening … so cold at mountain area … just got morning session some good birds but target birds still missing .. this bird come so close to us
– this was captured during heavy rain, it is just how amaze the bird still active in such heavy rain.. we almost cannot see the bird but the camera still able to find the bird and lock focus .. it is a wet bird and photographer moment
– overall Brown (front), greyish-blue (head, back), and dark wing.
– 较大型的婆罗洲高山特有种。身部-浅棕。背部-灰蓝。
update 202503
It was quite a stressful morning as we missed the Trogon twice, and the male Black-sided Flowerpecker didn’t show up. However, this bird flew close, giving me a chance to capture it in flight. What a beautiful sight!
– a big montane endemic of Borneo, not rare but not really a easy bird to get close .. beautiful much easier than the Sumatra Treepie very look alike
– 婆罗洲高山特有种，蛮普通。可是也不容易接近。
202409, Gunung Alab, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202308
– a really big and active big to be photograph, always good to see them far to have the environment view to see how long the bird is
– 婆罗洲蛮大只的特有种，也非常活跃。较喜欢远点拍它，可以让环境做个比较。
202305, Sabah, Malaysia
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201905, Gunung Alab, Sabah, Malaysia
5. Malayan Black Magpie, 白翅鹊, 黑冠噪鵲, Platysmurus leucopterus, クロカケス, BURUNG-KAMBING BARAT
– a noisy and shy bird that making loud and funny metallic sound
– overall black, long tailed and wing with white stripe
– 黑鸟，长尾巴。翅膀带有白
– 非常的吵闹。
update 202508
This is one of the shy birds found here. Compared to the Bornean version—which lacks the white wing patch and is generally more tolerant of humans—this one tends to keep its distance.
A lucky morning with four birds coming in close—one of them even perched right at eye level for us!
在这里比较害羞的一种鸟类。相比婆罗洲的版本（没有白色翼斑，也不太怕人），这只明显更害羞一些。
今天早上运气不错，有四只鸟飞近我们，其中一只还停在我们视线平齐的位置！
202508, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia
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update 202211
– a lucky day with new CANON R6II, few Black magpie came low for feeding manage to have some effortless shots
– 非常幸运的第一天把佳能新的R6II 带出来。第一只鸟竟然是这么难拍到的鸟。还很近，低
202211, Ulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia
update 202201
– a casual walk and this bird hoping around for food lucky to have some picture of this shy bird
– 轻松的早上，这害羞的鸟在找吃。幸运的拍到几张照片
202201, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
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6. Bornean black magpie, 婆罗洲白翅鹊, 婆羅洲白翅鵲，Platysmurus leucopterus aterrimus，クロカケス， BURUNG-KAMBING BORNEO
– same metallic call, active, moving in group as the Black Magpie
– the Borneo one without the white on wing
– 与马来西亚西马的一样叫声，同群结队活动。与西马的差别，翅膀没白。
update 202503
It’s a noisy bird, but I always enjoy seeing it. It gives us great opportunities for photography, even though it’s just a plain black bird and not particularly striking. Its unique actions—like calling while moving its head up and down—make for special photo moments.
During a brief visit to RDC, we were scanning for birds to photograph when this one approached, making a noisy call. Suddenly, it flew toward us. Without hesitation, I pressed the shutter. Despite the low light in the forest and the high ISO, it still tracked well.
– another bird that use to be not so common at RDC but recently it become almost cannot miss bird .. a black bird that look similar to Peninsular Malaysia species but here without the white patch on wing
– a bird that make various “digital” song, and here sharing few call of this black bird
– 一只全黑的鸟，会叫出好几种“电子”声音。
update 20231001
– it is quite difficult to have good photo before pandemic 2020 but it seem pretty common and tame overall since than … it is noisy active bird and good thing sometime it move together with other bird
– 在疫情前拍这鸟可不容易。可是现在几乎太容易了。这鸟非常吵，活跃。
202306, RDC, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
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202207, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
51. Sri Lanka Blue-Magpie, 斯里兰卡蓝鹊, 斯里蘭卡藍鵲, Urocissa ornata, セイロンサンジャク
A large, long-tailed blue bird with a white-tipped tail, and chestnut hood and wings. Inhabits humid forest from lowlands to hills, where it often accompanies mixed canopy flocks, either singly or in small groups. There are no other large, long-tailed blue birds in its range. A noisy species. Sounds typically a series of high-pitched, piercing “clink” calls, as well as some rasping “krak” notes often given in a sequence. [Ebird]
– we only saw this at Sinharaja, few of them normally moving together .. the colors bright, big bird but many would say the colors combination just weird
– I am checking whats bird in the bird wave, this bird sudden fly down and feed infront of me just 10 feet away. when view close it look beautiful instead
– very common along the Tapan road, but just no luck to have better photo opportunity. Typical treepie call and big-long bird
update 202411
– A long brown bird with a metallic-sounding call.
– A relatively common Sumatran endemic, but slightly shy when approached for photographs. We were very fortunate to spot it resting and preening while searching for another target.
152. Sulawesi Crow, 苏拉威西乌鸦, 蘇拉威西烏鴉, Corvus celebensis
update 202507
This is a very common crow in Sulawesi, recently split from the Slender-billed Crow. With its new status as a separate species and a Sulawesi endemic, I made an extra effort on this trip to get better photos of it.
