Bring your binoculars! Bird-watching, or birding as it’s known to the experienced practitioner, is a relaxing but challenging hobby that helps you get in touch with our natural world.
With over 600 naturally-occuring species of birds, Malaysia is one of the world’s centres of bird biodiversity, and a hub for keen birders from all over the world. The Kasturi Resort offers a range of different habitats supporting diverse bird life — including beach, mangrove river, coastal forest, resort-side garden and grass fields — all within a short fifteen-minute walk.
We invite you to use the citizen-science mobile application e-Bird during your birding adventures, and please let us know if you see something new!
Common Malaysian Garden Birds
You can see them anywhere in Malaysia, but they’re still a joy:
Zebra Dove, Geopelia striata
Pacific Swift, Apus pacificus
Pied Triller, Lalage nigra
Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis
Common Iora, Aegithina tiphia
House Crow, Corvus splendens
Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
Yellow-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier
Asian Glossy Starling, Aplonis panayensis
Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis
Oriental Magpie-Robin, Copsychus saularis
Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
Birds of the Forest Fringe
Many of these are fruit-eating birds, visiting only when their favourite dinner is available:
Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, Treron vernans
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus sumatranus
Oriental Pied-Hornbill, Anthracoceros albirostris
Coppersmith Barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
Lineated Barbet, Psilopogon lineatus
Buff-necked Woodpecker, Meiglyptes tukki
Malaysian Pied-Fantail, Rhipidura javanica
Ashy Tailorbird, Orthotomus ruficeps
Black-headed Bulbul, Brachypodius atriceps
Stripe-throated Bulbul, Pycnonotus finlaysoni
Olive-winged Bulbul, Pycnonotus plumosus
Red-eyed Bulbul, Pycnonotus brunneus
In the Grasses
Javan Munia, Lonchura leucogastroides
Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
Paddyfield Pipit, Anthus rufulus
Mangrove Birds
You might need to take a kayak down the river to spot:
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis
Collared Kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris
Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis rufigastra
Glorious Flower-Lovers
What’s that flash of colour in the foliage?
Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, Prionochilus thoracicus
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Dicaeum trigonostigma
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum cruentatum
Brown-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis
Copper-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha
Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
Visitors from Afar
Special guests who visit our shores only during the northern winter:
Blue-throated Bee-eater, Merops viridis
Ashy Minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
Top Predators
They’re not above taking a baby sea turtle or two:
Crested Serpent-Eagle, Spilornis cheela
Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
If You’re Very, Very Lucky
Seen only once, from the elevated walkway near the entrance, hunting for lizards in our forest:
Banded Kingfisher, Lacedo pulchella
Birding Resources for Visitors
For new birders, an online photo and audio reference to common Malaysian garden birds:
MyGardenBirdWatch Bird ID, published by Malaysian Nature Society
Our favourite comprehensive field guide for this area:
A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore, by Allen Jeyarajasingam and Alan Pearson, published by Oxford University Press.
If you’re birding elsewhere in Southeast Asia:
- Birds of Southeast Asia, by Craig Robson, published by Princeton University Press / Bloomsbury Helm Field Guides
- A Field Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia, by Ben King, Martin Woodcock and E.C. Dickinson, published by Collins, but out of print