Birds and Butterflies of West Java (Java Barat) - 2026

Most tourists would visit this Java island for one thing i.e to see the great Buddhist temple of Borobudor ! Well, for me I took the opportunity to see what I like to see most - Birds and Butterflies ! I did manage to see a few endemic birds including the rare Javan-hawk Eagle as well as some butterflies. Here are just some of them which I managed to get.

Javan Munia

Lonchura leucogastroides

This is the most common bird you will come across on this island. My first endemic bird I saw here.

Javan Munia

Lonchura leucogastroides

They can be found almost in every locations - in the city, country side, parks, forest edges etc.

Javan Munia

Lonchura leucogastroides

However, most of the time, I just saw a few of them, usually 2 or 3 in all locations.

White-headed Munia

Lonchura maja

This munia is however not as many as the Javan Munia.

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Over here in Malaysia, we would usually find this munia near paddy fields or country side. This munia was shot in the city.

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Pycnonotus aurigaster 

This Bulbul is probably 2nd most common bird here after the above Javan Munia. They can be seen in both country sides as well as city parks. Some were kept as pets too. Their calls are quite distinctive. 

Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker

Dicaeum trochileum 

This flowerpecker species is also an endemic bird in West Java and this one was identified for me by Pak Morten Strange.

Cave Swiftlet

Collocalia linchi

I am not sure whether this swiftlet is an endemic here but I believe you can't find them in Malaysia. 

Cave Swiftlet

Collocalia linchi

These were shot at the countryside and they were identified with the help from Dr James Eaton.

Here is an endemic raptor ! 

Spotted Kestrel

Falco moluccensis

It was thermaling quite a distance away. So lucky to see it although I missed the Javan-hawk Eagle which flew right in front of our departing car. The eagle was identified by our driver cum guide who told us that it can be seen quite often here although usually in a single number.

I think everyone would know what eagle is this one but if you look closer it's actually quite different than the ones we see in Peninsular Malaysia.

Crested Serpent Eagle (CSE)

Spilornis cheela bido

The CSE here apparently has bold stripes on its belly while the ones we see in Peninsular Malaysia are usually spotted.

Here are a few cage birds which I happened to see. It's a culture here to own a bird or two and most of the birds I've seen have rings on their legs. That means it is quite a regulated thing here to rare cage birds 👍

I believe the above is a finch.

Another finch I think. Do they actually sing well - I wonder?

You can clearly see the ring / band on its leg.

Goodness - a Quail too ! 😂

This chicken is considered a bird too right ?

Now we moved to some endemic butterflies. 

Horsfield Baron

Cynitia iapis bottgeri

This is a female apparently and it was identified by our great butterfly sifu (Mr Teo).

Danaid Eggfly

Hypolimnas misipus

This butterfly is quite common I think because I have seen them in a few locations.

Danaid Eggfly

Hypolimnas misipus

It sure looks like our Eggflies from its upperside.

Danaid Eggfly

Hypolimnas misipus

Aside from the above endemics, there were also some familiar looking butterflies.

Peacock Royal

Tajuria cippus

Redbase Jezebel

Delias pasithoe

Over in Peninsular Malaysia, you can see this species of Jezebel mostly on higher elevations such as Genting or Fraser's Hill. This one however was seen in a lowland jungle.

Lemon Emigrant

Catopsilia pomona

Great Orange Tip

Hebomoia glaucippe 

Fried hoppers !

A good part time hobby to occupy the mind.

Over here they are called benzin !

The great and still active Mount Merapi ! Locals will tell you that "sini semuanya aman Pak" !

Each of these stupas have a statue of Guatama Buddha in them.

A nyonya admiring those majestic stupas.

Looks like in Hawaii.

Nothing like a farewell dance from a Javanese troupe. Apparently not all people can join the troupe. Only those who has an ancestry lineage can join them.

BISA DATANG LAGI PAK !

Raptors and birds at Central Perak - Jan 2026

The paddy fields of Central Perak Region are simply amazing. They are as vast as your eyes can see. Not only it host the staple food for the majority of the folks here but it's also the winter home of some magnificent raptors especially the Marsh Harriers. I have not been to this place for more than 13 years. So when MNS organised a trip I jump straight into the wagon.

We arrived here as early as 7.30am and it was still cold at that time.

As the sun slowly appears from the horizon so did the Eastern Marsh Harriers (EMH). Majority of the raptors seen here are from this species and there were hundreds of them !

Circus spilonotos

With the help from local raptor experts and as well as from Thailand (like Dr Chaiyan and Ayuwat), I was able to identify some of the EMH seen.

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotos

According to the experts, the above EMH is a juvenile.

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotos

This is an adult female.

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotos

This is also an adult.

How did I know the above is an adult? According to the experts, the iris of juvenile EMH are usually dark brown / black but the one here is whitish yellow.

Here's another female EMH.

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotos

Most of the time they are airborne. She has got very scary eyes.

Here is the male EMH. Photo was taken from quite a distance.

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotos

Male

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotos

Male

Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos 

According to a local expert, this is a juvenile male.

Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos 

Here is the adult one.

Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos 

Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos 

This adult was quite wary of human presence. It actually turned away when it saw us.

Pied Harrier

Circus melanoleucos 

It was cruising very low in search of prey.

Adult female Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) and adult female EMH (Circus spilonotos) are more complex and complicated to differentiate. Even some raptor experts are quite hesitant to identify some of them. 

EMH or Pied Harrier?

EMH or Pied Harrier?

EMH or Pied Harrier?

EMH or Pied Harrier?

This one according to a local expert is an adult female EMH (Circus spilonotos).

 Adult female EMH (Circus spilonotos)

EMH or Pied Harrier? This Harrier's tail appears slightly forked.

According to a local expert, this is a juvenile female EMH (Circus spilonotos)

Now we go to other raptor species.

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis

A large and super rare migrating eagle to this part of the world and I am just one of those few lucky ones to see it up close. Lifer of course.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Clanga clanga

Another huge eagle but slightly smaller than the above Steppe Eagle. They are a frequent visitor to this area and we actually saw three of them.

Here is a combo of photos showing how it hunts its prey from a very high up position. Within seconds it was already on the ground.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Clanga clanga

Greater Spotted Eagle

Clanga clanga

Believe it or not, this is a juvenile Greater Spotted Eagle identified by experts.

We also saw two migratory Falcons high up on the electrical pylon.

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Here's another big one but its more common.

White-bellied Sea Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

This common paddy field raptor was hovering just above our heads.

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

We also saw an Owl!

Spotted Wood Owl

Strix seloputo

Here are a few non-raptor species.

Lanceolated Warbler 

Locustella lanceolata

So lucky to get a shot of this skittish and migratory warbler. Just one shot and off it went inside the thick grass. Lifer.

A Black and White Munia together !

Top = White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja)

Bottom - Black-headed Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

Fellow raptor surveyors watching a male Pied Harrier from a distance.

Mencari Senja !

A continuous flock of Egrets flying back to roost - hundreds of them.

WHAT A TRIP !