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Area 6: Southern Thailand

Southern Thailand has an increasingly Sundaic avifauna as one travels down the peninsula making the region unique within Thailand. In the past it was almost entirely covered in rainforest, but widespread deforestation with conversion to palm oil and rubber now restricts forest habitat to the hill slopes with almost no plains level lowland forest remaining. Mangroves are another important bird habitat in this region with some sites on the Andaman coast being quite rich in species. Several shorebird sites are also important and there are several wetlands that add variety to birding options here. There may be nowhere left in southern Thailand that has a complete lowland avifauna, but by visiting a number of sites many of the key species can be found. The main attraction to the south used to be Gurney's Pitta but with it now being functionally extinct in Thailand the chances of seeing one are virtually zero. Althought there are a lot of exciting birds in the south, birding in the forests here is the most challenging in the whole country and great patience is required.

The birding sites are marked on the map below and listed by name below the map.

Laem Pakarang Krung Ching Waterfall ban thung yai meadowlands

1 Khao Pra Bang Khram (Khao Nor Chu Chi)

2 Krabi River

3 Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary

4 Khao Sok National Park

5 Mu Ko Surin National Park

6 Mu Ko Similan National Park

7 Ko Phi Phi

8 Thalebun National Park

9 Hat Nopparat Thara

10 Laem Pakarang

11 Sri Phang Nga National Park

12 Satun Mangroves

13 Ao Phang Nga National Park

14 Krung Ching Waterfall

15. Ban Thung Yai Meadowlands

With a large number of seldom-visited national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, Southern Thailand is an excellent place to explore and with some effort some very rare species may perhaps be found in "undiscovered" sites. There are many species which are either extinct in Thailand or awaiting rediscovery and by visiting some out of the way places birders may be rewarded with something special. Birders should be aware that independent travel in the three troubled provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where there are still bombings and shootings fairly frequently, is extremely unadvisable; the remaining southern provinces are safe including Satun which also borders Malaysia.

Most birding sites can be reached within a few hours of a major city/town and with airports at Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Hat Yai and Narathiwat the region is well serviced for air travel. A lot of time would be required to visit all the major sites and even then it would not be possible to see all the key species such is the scarcity of many of them.

Highlights: Malayan Banded Pitta, White-crowned Hornbill, Mangrove Pitta, Brown-winged Kingfisher, Grey-tailed Tattler, Helmeted Hornbill, Nicobar Pigeon, Beach Thick-knee, Ruddy Kingfisher, Chestnut-naped Forktail, Green Broadbill, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-and-red Broadbill, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Blyth's Frogmouth, Spotted Wood Owl, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Olive-backed Woodpecker, Crested Jay, Malaysian Rail Babbler, Malaysian Honeyguide, Gurney's Pitta, Gould's Frogmouth, Bat Hawk and many more.

Weather: Southern Thailand is hot and humid more or less all the time. The driest time of the year is usually January to April but there can be rain at any time and the seas can frequently be dangerous from May to October. Temperatures are at their highest in March/April when 40C is quite likely in the middle of the day.

 
 
Bird Watching Trips:
If you need help organizing a bird watching trip to Thailand, take a look at the suggested itineraries for ideas on creating a tailor-made trip and contact me for advice: Thailand bird tours.
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Print on demand T-shirts with original designs featuring the Birds of Thailand available now - Thaibirding T-Shirt Store

Black-and-yellow BroadbillDownload a full checklist of the birds of Thailand including all distinct subspecies that are potential splits for the future.

Malayan Banded PittaBird Watching Trips in Thailand - Tailor-made birding tours in Northern, Central & Southern Thailand for groups of all sizes.

Blue-faced MalkohaSri Lanka, 20th Nov - 2nd Dec 2023 - Serendib Scops Owl, Indian Pitta, Malabar Trogon, Spot-winged Thrush, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Pied Thrush: £3275

Steller's Sea EagleSouth Korea, 3-15th January 2024 - Steller's Sea Eagle, Relict Gull, Red-crowned Crane, White-naped Crane, Baikal Teal, Solitary Snipe, Asian Rosy Finch: £3750

Black-headed WoodpeckerCambodia, 12-26th March 2024 - Giant Ibis, Bar-bellied Pitta, Greater Adjutant, Mekong Wagtail, Cambodian Tailorbird, White-rumped Vulture: £3850

Bar-bellied PittaSouth Vietnam, 29th Mar - 9th Apr 2024 - Bar-bellied Pitta, Vietnamese Cutia, Collared Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Grenfinch, Blue-rumped Pitta: £2900

Bornean FalconetNorth Borneo, 24th Aug - 6th Sep 2023 - Crimson-headed Partridge, Blue-headed Pitta, white-fronted Falconet, Whitehead's Trogon, Bornean Bristlehead: £4375

Christmas Island FrigatebirdWest Java & Sumatra, 1-24th August 2024 - Schneider's Pitta, Large Frogmouth, Christmas Island Frigatebird, Javan Banded Pitta, Sumatran Trogon: £4325

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