COLLARED OWLET

17/12/2023

BURUNG HANTU KECIL

Collared Owlet (Glaucidium brodiei)

Fraser Hill

The collared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei) is a fascinating and tiny owl species found across parts of Asia, including forests in Malaysia. It is one of the smallest owls in the region, measuring only about 15–17 cm in length. Despite its petite size, it has a bold and striking appearance.

This owlet's plumage features a blend of brown and white tones, with fine barring across its body. Its most notable feature is the "false eyes" on the back of its head—two black spots surrounded by white feathers that resemble eyes. These markings help deter potential predators by making the owlet appear alert even when its head is turned.

Collared owlets are active during the day (a rare trait among owls), often hunting insects, small birds, and reptiles. Their call is a series of high-pitched whistles, which can echo through the forest, making them easier to hear than to see.

IUCN Redlist 2021 - Least Concern (LC)

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Indochinese Roller

BURUNG TIONG GAJAH

Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis)

Kuala Gula - 02/12/2023 

Redlist IUCN 2016 - Least Concern (LC)

Kehadiran aku seakan disambut oleh 'Roller' pada awal pagi di Kuala Gula. Baru berkesempatan untuk merakamkan gambar burung ini. Seawal pagi selepas sarapan aku bergerak dari Bagan Serai ke Kuala Gula. Sepanjang perjalanan permerhatian kearah talian kabel sepanjang jalan terutama melalui Jalan Kuala Gula. Dari sinaran pagi terpandang aku seekor burung diatas kabel dengan saiz agak besar dalam keadaan agak gelap. Setelah menghampiri lokasi aku mendapati ia adalah burung yang aku cari dan merupakan burung hijrah. 

Warna bulunya amat menarik dengan pelbagai warna biru kehijauan atas kepala dan sayap, coklat perang, bahagian atas kepak sehingga belakang tengkuk berwarna kelabu dan dibawah tengkuk ungu keputihan. Habitat di kawasan lapang padang, paya dan pertanian. 

Boleh ditemui di Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal, Selatan China

Sumber: IUCN Red List

Little Cormorant

BURUNG PEPENDANG KECIL

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

Sri Iskandar, Batu Gajah

23/09/2023

The Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) is a small waterbird found across South and Southeast Asia. It is the smallest cormorant species in the region, distinguishable by its all-black plumage during the breeding season and brownish feathers with a whitish throat patch in the non-breeding season.

This bird is often seen swimming low in freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds, and estuaries, where it dives underwater to catch fish. After feeding, it perches on rocks or branches with its wings spread out to dry. Unlike the Indian Cormorant, it has a stouter bill and a flatter head shape.

IUCN REDLIST 2024 - Least Concern (LC)

Pink Necked Green Pigeon

 BURUNG PUNAI GADING

Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)

The Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) is a strikingly colorful bird found across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It is a medium-sized pigeon, measuring around 25–30 cm in length. The species is sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females have distinct plumage.

• Male: Features a soft pink neck, an orange breast, and a gray-blue head. Its back and wings are primarily green, with black primaries and yellow-edged tertiaries that create a striking wing pattern in flight.
• Female: More subdued in appearance, with an overall greenish plumage that helps her blend into foliage.

These pigeons are fruit specialists, particularly favoring figs, and play an essential role in seed dispersal. They thrive in open habitats, including urban areas, as long as fruiting trees are present. Their nests are simple twig structures, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs.

Common Flameback Woodpecker

BURUNG BELATUK PINANG MUDA

Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense)

The Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense), also known as the Common Goldenback, is a striking woodpecker species across South and Southeast Asia. It is a medium-sized bird, measuring around 28–30 cm in length.

Key Features

• Plumage: Golden-yellow back with black-and-white markings on the underside.
• Sexual Dimorphism: Males have a bright red crest, while females have a black crest with white streaks.
• Feet: Unlike many woodpeckers, it has three toes instead of four.
• Call: A loud, high-pitched trill, often heard in mixed-species foraging flocks.

Habitat & Behavior

• Prefers moist open forests, scrubs, and mangroves.
• Typically found in lowland areas, but can reach altitudes of 1,700m in India.
• Feeds on insects by pecking into tree bark.
• Nests in holes of fruit trees, coconut palms, or stumps, with clutch sizes of 2–3 eggs.

This species is often confused with the Greater Flameback, but can be distinguished by its smaller bill, black nape, and red rump. 

ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER

BURUNG SAMBAR EKOR PANJANG / MURAI EKOR GADING 

ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone paradisi)

The Asian Paradise Flycatcher is a truly striking bird known for its elegance and beauty. Native to Asia, these birds belong to the monarch flycatcher family and can be found in diverse habitats such as forests, gardens, and wooded areas.

One of their most captivating features is their long, ribbon-like tail, which males possess in abundance. Their plumage color varies, with some individuals sporting a vivid chestnut hue and others a contrasting white body with black accents. The head and crest are typically black, adding a dramatic flair to their appearance.

These birds are agile fliers and feed mainly on insects, catching them mid-flight with remarkable precision. Their melodic calls are also a pleasure to hear, adding charm to their vibrant presence. They are often admired for their role in controlling insect populations and for their striking beauty.

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GREATER YELLOW NAPE WOODPECKER

BURUNG BELATUK TENGKUK KUNING BESAR

GREATER YELLOW NAPE WOODPECKER (Pics flavinuca) 

03/06/2023

Fraser Hill

The Greater Yellownape (*Chrysophlegma flavinucha*) is a strikingly beautiful woodpecker species found across the forests of South and Southeast Asia. It is known for its distinctive features and vibrant colors.

This bird is medium-sized, measuring about 32–35 cm in length. It gets its name from its prominent yellow nape (the back of its neck) which stands out against its overall olive-green body. The head is brownish with a yellowish crown, and it has a strong, chisel-shaped bill adapted for pecking at tree trunks. Males have a small red patch on their cheeks, while females lack this feature.

Greater Yellownapes are often found in pairs or small groups, searching for insects, larvae, and occasionally fruits, by drilling into tree bark. They are also known for their loud and distinct calls, which echo through the forest.

These woodpeckers prefer subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests. While they are not currently considered threatened, habitat loss could pose risks in the future.

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ZITTING CISTICOLA

ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola exilis) 

06/06/2023

CHUPING PERLIS

IUCN List 2017: Least Concern (LC)

Sekali pandang seperti tailor bird, memiliki ekor yg agak pendek, dengan warna belakang berintik, berwarna coklat gelap atas kepala, dan bahagian bawah badan dari tengok sehingga ke ekor sedikit coklat keputihan. Bunyi zeeezeee...terbang secara beralun atas bawah. Ditemui dikawasan pertanian Chuping, PERLIS. 

Source: IUCN Redlist

HIMALAYAN CUTIA

HIMALAYAN CUTIA (Cutia Nipalensis)

BURUNG RIMBA KUTIA HIMALAYA

Mega Lifer of the year, 12 years waiting for

03/06/2023

Frase Hill, Pahang

IUCN Redlist 2016: Least Concern (LC)

The Himalayan cutia (Cutia nipalensis) is a colorful and striking bird found in the montane forests of South Asia, including the Himalayan region. It belongs to the family Leiothrichidae and is celebrated for its bold patterns and vibrant appearance.

This medium-sized bird has striking plumage with a blend of warm orange, chestnut, and gray. Its wings feature black and white barring, creating a dazzling contrast. The cutia's back is adorned with rich rufous tones, while its underparts are lighter, often with a buff or pale gray color. Both males and females share similar patterns, though slight differences may occur.

Himalayan cutias are sociable birds, often seen in pairs or small groups foraging for insects, berries, and seeds in the forest canopy. They are agile climbers and enjoy exploring tree trunks and branches in search of food. Their soft, melodious calls add to their charm as they flit through the trees.

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Himalayan Cutia, antara spesis yang menjadi amat sukar ditemui di Semenanjung Malaysia. Merupakan spesis burung tanah tinggi. Kali terakhir ditemui oleh pencinta burung adalah tahun 2012, di Banjaran Gunung Genting Highland dan merupakan antara senarai burung dalam perhatian aku.

Akhirnya bulan Jun 2023, hasil maklumat dari rakan - rakan pencinta dan pemerhati burung Himalayan Cutia ini muncul kembali di Tanah Tinggi Fraser Hill dengan kehadiran sebanyak 3 ekor. Misi untuk merakamkan foto burung ini mengambil masa yang agak lama dari jam 8.00am - 4.30pm, dan hampir mengecewakan aku pada hari itu dengan ketidak munculan burung yang diidamkan.

Dengan kesabaran rakan-rakan seperjuangan hampir 50 orang yang menunggu, dalam sekitar 4.30pm terdengar bunyi suara kemunculannya. Saat kemunculannya amat dinantikan penuh debar oleh semua pencinta dan picu kamera menanti untuk diketik. Akhirnya kelibat burung ini terlihat dihujung pepohon yang tinggi disekitar kawasan perhatian. 

Habitat: Dipergunungan Himalaya, turun ke Myanmar Burma dan Laos dan kawasan Tanah Tinggi Semenanjung Malaysia.

CINTAI KEINDAHAN ALAM SEMULAJADI FLORA DAN FAUNA HUTAN KITA

Source: IUCN

STREAKED BULBUL

 

GREY HEADED CANARY FLYCATCHER

 

ASIAN FAIRY BLUEBIRD

BURUNG DENDANG GAJAH

Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella)

The Asian Fairy Bluebird is a truly enchanting bird, celebrated for its vivid colors and melodious calls. Native to South and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, it inhabits evergreen forests, secondary growth, and sometimes well-wooded plantations.

This medium-sized bird measures about 24–27 cm in length. Males are dazzling, with iridescent blue feathers on their back and tail contrasting against black wings and underparts. Females, while less vivid, have a lovely greenish-blue coloration. Both sexes have striking crimson-red eyes that add to their charm.

The Asian Fairy Bluebird primarily feeds on fruits, especially figs, as well as nectar and occasional insects. Its role as a seed disperser makes it an essential part of its ecosystem. Its melodious song consists of varied, flute-like notes that echo through the forest.

Classified as "Least Concern" on the conservation scale, the bird remains relatively widespread, but habitat destruction could threaten some local populations.

 

RUFOUS FRONTED BABBLER

27/05/2023

Congkak, Hulu Langat

Lifer for me....

With active movement under low light canopy.

 

BLACK HEADED BULBUL