Encountering the Birdlife of Thailand

Thailand, in Southeast Asia, is a lush and tropical country with an array of beautiful birds and other wildlife. Tailormade tours to this superb country take nature enthusiasts to several habitats to look for birds. From the forests of Khao Yai National Park to the slopes of Doi Inthanon and the wetlands at Samut Sakhon, Thailand’s wild spaces are rich in life. Bird watchers can spot Himalayan species in the hills or see the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper in the Samut Sakhon wetlands. Enthusiasts can also visit Thailand’s spectacular Buddhist temples and meet hill tribe people in the north of the country. To ensure the best possible sightings of the wildlife, tailormade tours should include a Thai naturalist to lead the group.

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park is in the west of the Sankamphaeng Mountains, at the western edge of the Khorat Plateau that forms much of eastern Thailand. The highest mountain is Khao Rom, at 1,351 metres. The park’s grasslands and tropical forests are home to an excellent range of wildlife. Tailormade tours take advantage of one of the country's finest nature reserves to look for birds characteristic of Southeast Asia, such as pittas, hornbills, broadbills and trogons, as well as visiting species from further north, including Brown Flycatchers, Thick-billed Warblers and more. Visitors will also have the opportunity to look for some of Thailand’s mammal species, including Asian Elephant and gibbons.

Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon National Park is known as "the roof of Thailand", for containing the country’s highest peak: Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 metres. It is located near the northern city of Chiang Mai. Its biomes are varied, and a visit to its montane forests offers bird watchers the opportunity to see wintering Siberian species, such as Siberian Rubythroat, Scaly (White's) Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail and Radde's Warbler. Doi Inthanon National Park covers an area of hills and mountains where the Karen and Hmong people live. These ethnic minorities live in hill regions across Southeast Asia and have varied cultures and languages. A trip to the national park allows visitors to encounter the Karen and Hmong people, thus increasing their understanding of Thailand’s ethnic and cultural complexity.

Samut Sakhon

The wetlands at Samut Sakhon along Thailand’s coast make an excellent conclusion to tours of the country’s ecosystems and their diverse wildlife. Tailormade tours to Samut Sakhon are a breath of fresh, sea salt air and a chance to see wintering shorebirds. Red-necked and Long-toed Stints, Black-capped Kingfisher and Brown-headed Gull are all possible, as well as a rare star - the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Samut Sakhon is not far from Bangkok, where visitors can finish their trip in an exciting major city, which even offers more nature sightings - Monitor Lizards in Lumphini Park and city cats eating the food left at street-level shrines.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re passionate about wildlife, tailormade tours with Naturetrek include expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to polar expeditions and tours to other spectacular regions on Earth.

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