Black and Red Broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macroynchos)

B&R Broadbills are chunky birds which can be found from subtropical to tropical places esp lowland forest near water catchment areas, streams, and rivers. Although said to be quite common and listed as "Least Concern" by IUCN but it cannot be found in every jungle trails. Nevertheless its a beautifull bird to be seen and photographed. Its nests are constructed just the same way as most broadbills would do i.e. a bunch of loosely constructed twigs and branches with a mixture of dry leaves and at times feathers, hanging from a branch and sometimes from a telephone wire.

Here are some pictures of a sub-adult broadbill which Khoo Swee Seng has helped me to id based on the few spots at its coverts and its dull buffy breast colours. Khoo Swee Seng is one of the more experience birders around this region having spotted close to 535 birds species under his birding cap todate.

The purple like eyes are not the results of sunlight effect or photoshop manipulation but probably because of the bird's age.

Crimson-Winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus)

Woodpeckers have always fascinate me in terms of their bright plumage and peculiar behaviors.  Crimson-winged woodpeckers are fairly common woodpeckers one could find along the jungle trails up to a height of 825 m.  Locally named as "Belatok Emas" and IUCN has listed them as "Least Concern". They are said to liked insects and larvaes. Here are two males - one is a juvenile taken from a recent trip at Sungai Perdik, Hulu Langat, Selangor, West Malaysia.

Male species of these woodpeckers have red crowns and red submoustachial. Although this bird has no red crown but it has a red submoustachial which is absence in female birds of this species. This fellow is probably a juvenile male.

These two pictures above show the adult male is teaching the juve male to find for food, i guess.

Common Birds of Forest Trails

Here are some of the commmon birds which you may encounter along the forest trails over in this part of the world (i.e West Peninsular Malaysia):

One of the most common barbets one could find and see in the forest - a Gold-Whiskered Barbet.

This is a Stripe-Throated Bulbul. A common bird which can be found from lowland forest right up to the mountain regions.

This is probably the most common bird one could find. Most of the time can be seen on the ground rather than on tree tops. A Peaceful Dove taking a stroll in the park.

This is a juve male Blue-Winged Leafbird. Can be found in abundant when wild berries are ripe.

This is a female Blue-Winged Leafbird.

This is a juve Asian Glossy Starling. It also can be found everywhere from garden parks to the edges of the forest but seldom in the montains.

These are White-Throated Kingfishers. Can be found almost everywhere - open land, waterways, coastal regions, plantations etc. It always stays a distance from human. This fellow was taking a rest after a morning shower.

These are Red-eyed Bulbuls. It can sing quite well at times.

A male Whiskered Treeswift. Need a long range tele-lens to get good pictures of these birds. Not sure why there is a white spot on the second bird. Initially thought to be a red-eye effect but its way back from his eyes.

This is a Pacific Swallow perching on a man-made cable. A very daring bird species which are not afraid to be closed to humans.

This is a Javan Mynah - now as common as a common mynah. This picture was taken near a car park at a forest reserve area.

This is a Spectacle Bulbul. Some say its not easy to see this species of bird but it can be seen in abundance in certain trails.

This is another common but at times hard to see bulbul - a Cream-Vented Bulbul.

This is a male Orange-Backed Flowerpecker taken from a distance.

These are a pair of male Black-Winged Flycatcher Shrike.

Above are the photos of a common babbler which one would most likely encounter in the forest trail - a Pin-Stripped Tit Babbler. 

Birding at Sungai Perdik, Ulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

After a year of absence from one of the popular birding spots in Selangor, I decided to re-visit the place. I found that most of the "common" birds which were sighted previously was still there. Here are some of them which i managed to get their pictures:

Looking at me is a male Whiskered Treeswift 

A female Raffles Malkoha foraging in the morning sun.

Always a beauty to see and photograph - female Chestnut-breasted Malkoha.

After further verifications from the experts including Dave Bakewell & Dr David Wells, this bird was renamed as a "Brown-Streaked Flycatcher" and not a dark-sided flycatcher as initially thought due to the time of sight which was in late June 2011.

A male Asian Fairy Bluebird.

The most common leafbird one could find along the jungle trails - a blue-winged leafbird (male).

After further verification from the experts, this bird was re-named as Rufescent Prinia and not a Yellow-Bellied Prinia as first thought.

Another common woodpecker in the forest - a crimson-winged woodpecker (male).

After further verification by the experts, this bird is re-named as a Rufescent Prinia  basking in the sun and not a Yellow-Bellied Prinia.

This is indeed a Dark-necked Tailorbird.

Here are some of the more recent photos taken:

A Verditer Flycatcher

A Black & Red Broadbill - a common resident in Perdik.

White-rumped Sharma

White-rumped Sharma (Copsychus malabaricus) is said to be a close relative of a Magpie Robin and some even say Thrush ! It frequents lowland and hill forest up to a height of 1,500m. The ones which we saw were near a bamboo forest. Notable for its bubbly songs but unfortunately can be found at many pet shops in this region. Said to occur from India, Thailand to Borneo. Listed by IUCN  as "Least Concern" but it is still a fully protected bird under the local law. Although it is said to be wide spread but nowadays one could only see the bird in prestine forest with bamboo outcrops.

White rumped Sharma size is about 20-28cm and weigh between 1 and 1.2 ounces and is around 9 to 11 inches in length. Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white feathers on the rump and outer tail. Females are more grayish-brown, and are typically shorter than males. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet. Juveniles have a more grayish or brownish coloration, similar to that of the females, with a blotchy or spotted chest. They breed from January to September but mainly in April to June laying a clutch of four or five in a nest placed in the hollow of tree.

Here are some of the pictures taken on this beautifull bird:

These are probably males due to their glossy feathers. The one at the highest is quite an old bird as we have seen it since 2005.

This is another bird just taken recently at Sungai Perdek.

Ochraceous Bulbul (Alophoixus Ochraceus)

Ochraceous Bulbuls are said to occur at an extremely large range. It was recorded as far as Africa, Vietnam,Cambodia and Borneo. It can be found up to 1,500 m and said to prefer the understorey of the forest. It loves to eat berries and breeds from February - April. Locally it is named "Merbah Beringin" - the name which was derived from the bird's interest in eating buah beringin. Due to its extensive range, IUCN has listed it as "least concern". For a species to reach the threshold of "vulnerable", it must show a decline of more than 30% of its population over a period of 10 years or 3 generations. In other words the remaining population should be less than 10,000 matured individuals. Nevertheless, Ochraceous Bulbuls are still a fully protected bird under the local law (Akta 76/72).

The following are a sequence of pictures to illustrate the bird's interest in eating berries:

Perched high up on a tree trunk looking for berries.

It spotted a juicy and yummy red berry not too far away.

It grabbed the juicy and yummy red berry with its beaks.

and down goes the juicy and yummy red berry.