Bird watching takes place in all sorts of environments.  Some birders prefer walking through forests or jungles. Some birders fancy seeing birds in a beach atmosphere.  One of the easiest and most productive ways to watch birds is from the comfort and convenience of a traditional kayak or canoe.  It’s almost effortless to slip up close to birds in their natural habitat by a self-propelled kayak (canoe). 

The bird watching in Thailand is outstanding!  PaddleAsia offers several trips which include birding.  Dave Williams, PaddleAsia’s birding specialist, is a fanatic birdwatcher. His enthusiasm for this wonderful pastime motivates non-birders as well as seasoned birders.

Did you realize that there have been more than 980 species of birds recorded in Thailand?  Over 200 species of birds that have been recorded in Thailand’s mangrove forests!  Close to 400 species of birds reside in or visit Khao Sok National Park.  Hornbill sightings are actually common in Khao Sok!  You're likely to see plenty of exotic tropical birds on our trips to Phang Nga bay trip, Trang, or Tarutao where mangrove forests are common.

We can combine any of our destinations to give you a better chance of seeing more birds. One nice combination tour is Khao Sok and Phang Nga Province.

There are many families of birds in Thailand, here are a couple of favorites:

Kingfishers - There are 86 species of kingfishers worldwide.  Thailand has 15 species.  Most of them have bright plumage.

Kingfishers typically perch in trees in an upright exposed posture.  They often plunge-dive in the water for food.  They eat fish, shrimp, other small aquatic animals, insects and occasionally small terrestrial animals such as lizards. Some species, such as the White-throated kingfisher, inhabit inland areas.  They’re commonly seen around rice fields looking for lizards, frogs, and insects.  They’re absolutely stunning when the sunlight hits their beautiful shiny blue feathers.

Hornbills - All of the hornbills found in Thailand are resident... they don't migrate.

Hornbills are primarily frugivorous (fruit eaters) though they will take small reptiles, insects, and even other smaller birds during molting or when rearing young.

Hornbills make their nests in holes in trees.  Dipterocarpus, massive straight-trunked trees, are a popular species for hornbills to build their nests.  If you see hornbills, there is some nice jungle somewhere nearby.

The female seals herself in a hole using mud and droppings.  This helps prevent predation.  The male's role is that of a food provider.  He will bring the female and their young food until the young are ready to leave their transitory home.

Helpful birding hints:

Birding tours – The best way to get started in birding is to go on a birding adventure tour.  If you choose the right birding tour, you’ll be rewarded with great bird sightings and a wealth of birding information.  PaddleAsia offers birding tours to several locations in southern Thailand.  Khao Sok National Park is the best place to see hornbills along with a wide variety of exotic tropical birds.  Phang Nga Bay is great for seeing various shore birds, kingfishers, and birds that inhabit the limestone islands.  Thale Noi is one of the most amazing places to see birds that prefer a freshwater marsh environment.  Unusual birds such as the Purple Swamphen, the Bronzed-winged Jacana, and the Pheasant-tailed Jacana are abundant at Thale Noi.

Binoculars - As a very rough guide for first-time birders when purchasing birding binoculars, look for a pair that when you divide the first number into the second number you come up with the number five.  7X35 binoculars, for example, equal five when divided.  10X50 binoculars result in five also.  The first number is the magnification.  The second number is the field of vision.  Many binoculars are available that offer good magnification, but without sufficient field of vision, you’ll have difficulty finding the bird.

For a more complete description of binoculars, see our main birding site.

To identify some species of birds, you’ll need to see details.  Powerful binoculars are essential for identifying birds.

Field Guide – there are several field guides for the birds of Thailand.  The best is A Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Boonsong Lekagul and Dr. Philip Round.  There’s a quick reference is on the inside cover.  A map is provided for each bird showing its range and whether it’s a resident, winter visitor, or a passage migrant.  The various bird species are given in high quality drawings. Click here for more info on birding field guides.

Learn the birds in the area – Learn which birds are in the area that you plan on visiting before going there.  This makes positive identification much easier.

Birding groups – There are birding clubs worldwide.  Some of the birding chat groups on the internet can be very helpful.  One of the best is on about.com.