1. Sultan Tit, 冕雀, Melanochlora sultanea, サルタンガラ, SESERAI SULTAN
The Sultan Tit (Melanochlora sultanea) is a large songbird (about 17 cm long) with a yellow crest, dark bill,
black upperparts plumage and yellow underparts. The sexes are similar.
The female has greenish black upperparts and yellowish throat. The young
bird is duller than the adult and has a shorter crest. It is the only
member of the monotypicgenusMelanochlora, which is fairly distinct from the Parus tits with the nearest relative being the monotypic Sylviparus.[5]
a beautiful bird with beautiful call and looking moth in the morning (easy to find it nearby food source) and not too shy with human …
update 202406
– a bird that Photographers never boring with, ours’ pre-CANON sharing session. We had this bird came to eye level for us but it still a active moving around to have some good photo.
– a overall Yellow-black active bird that can found lowland up to sub-montain
– 黑黄活跃的鸟，在低海拔-中海拔（～1200米）都蛮普通
– 在我们佳能活动前这鸟下来很低。让每个人拍的很好。
202406, Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia
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update 202404
– a quite boring day at Fraser Hill morning, but this bird came down to say hi to everyone just before rain
– 在福隆港的一个早上，非常无聊的。。都是一些普普通通的鸟。我们要回家前，这鸟在下雨前下来打招呼。
202404, Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia
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update 202309
– when we arrive Fraser Hill, immediate I step down from car. I heard and saw this bird so low … and immediate I ask guests to have a look at this beautiful bird. It is “900” world life for one of them .. beautiful bird for beautiful number
– a male bird with dark blue-yellow instead of green-yellow
– always love to see this bird, I and my friend use to call this “lucky bird” as every time we meet this bird sure we have some lovely bird after this.
– 公鸟。带蓝。
202104, Sg Congkak, Selangor, Malaysia
– female
– 母鸟
202104, Sg Congkak, Selangor, Malaysia
update 2020 Aug
Sultan Tit, 冕雀, Melanochlora sultanea, サルタンガラ, Burung Serai Raja
update 2020 Jun1
Sultan Tit, 冕雀, Melanochlora sultanea, サルタンガラ, Burung Serai Raja
One of the most captivating birds of Baihualing, Yunnan, with its vibrant and striking colors, complemented by a charming crest, is both active and beautiful.
这只来自云南百花岭的鸟，拥有鲜艳夺目的色彩和迷人的冠羽，既活跃又美丽，十分迷人。
202412, Baihualing, Yunan, China
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update 202301
– a 2022 Thailand birding trip, one of the beautiful bird
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.
– 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 202503
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.
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. Black Magpie, 白翅鹊, 白翅鵲, Platysmurus leucopterus leucopterus, クロカケス (leucopterus), 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 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.
– very aggressive with any bird that comes close to the territory
– with crest
update 202502
It was a fantastic day trip with a past visitor to Malaysia. We photographed 36 species, including some truly remarkable birds and moments. Here’s to an even better 2025!
A slim, medium-sized drongo with bright red eyes and gray plumage that is almost black in the western parts of its range and quite pale in the eastern parts of its range; eastern birds also often have an oval-shaped pale facial patch. It has a long slim tail with a deep fork. Common in wooded habitats where it sallies for insects and aggressively chases other birds that may compete for food or nectar. Most birds migrate south every winter. Similar to Black Drongo, but slimmer and usually in different habitats. Calls include harsh and sweet notes, and can mimic some bird species poorly. [Ebird]
It is noticeably larger than the Ashy Drongo found in Malaysia. We were fortunate to spot it catching a wasp (recently, I got stung by a wasp in Sumatra—glad this bird took care of one for me… just joking!). This bird is quite common at Baihualing and can be seen from several different hides.
