There are a few places for bird watching in Taman Negara for those interested in this hobby. The first thing you should know is that this is a rainforest area, and one of the oldest in the world dating to 130 million years old.
This means, you will be doing tropical birding here and the main area for bird watching in Taman Negara is no other than around the park headquarters and its surroundings. However, for serious birders, there are a few other places that are great for bird watching.
Recently in late 2016 and early 2017, there has been a new place that opened for birding and is a 10-minute drive out of the main area of Kuala Tahan in Taman Negara.
In total, there are over
Bird Watching in Taman Negara
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| A group of Hornbills perched on a tree at Taman Negara |
To do bird watching here, you should know that Kuala Tahan will be your main gateway into Taman Negara National Park.
Kuala Tahan is a small village town that offers accommodations, local restaurants, floating restaurants, tour desks, and convenient shops.
Kuala Tahan is a small village town that offers accommodations, local restaurants, floating restaurants, tour desks, and convenient shops.
There are no modern cafes, restaurants or shopping malls found here. There are also no ATM machines or pharmacies found here.
So, if you need to get any supplies or special items, make sure you get them before you leave the larger cities.
So, if you need to get any supplies or special items, make sure you get them before you leave the larger cities.
From Kuala Tahan, visitors will take the boat taxi service across the Tembeling River into the national park. Read this article on the best way to go to Taman Negara for those wanting to find out how.
Bird Watching Places in Taman Negara
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| A Great Hornbill was seen at the Mutiara Resort |
Below is a list of places for bird watching in Taman Negara, Pahang which is narrowed down for you. Some of these places are very popular while one of them is a new bird watching spot.
If you are looking for Broadbills, Taman Negara is home to many, which include Green, Banded, and Black-and-yellow Broadbills.
And if you are a fan of Barbets, look out for the Gold-whiskered and Red-throated Barbets, which are not easy to spot.
If you are looking for Broadbills, Taman Negara is home to many, which include Green, Banded, and Black-and-yellow Broadbills.
And if you are a fan of Barbets, look out for the Gold-whiskered and Red-throated Barbets, which are not easy to spot.
When you are here, your bird guide would most likely bring you to the popular ones where you can see the most birds. Again, this all depends on luck, weather and timing.
The list of bird watching places in Taman Negara is;
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| Hornbill Valley in Taman Negara, one of the new bird watching spots here |
Lata Berkoh (Berkoh Waterfalls) - This is one of the good places in the mornings or afternoons where the journey there will allow you to spot many birds. It is a short ride from the main area of Taman Negara.
Hornbill Valley (Lembah Enggang) - One of the very new areas for bird watching in Taman Negara where you can spot hornbills, barbets and many other birds.
This location is actually by the main road and about a 10-minute drive from Kuala Tahan. Your bird guide will drive you to the area where you alight from the vehicle and do bird watching by the road.
This location is actually by the main road and about a 10-minute drive from Kuala Tahan. Your bird guide will drive you to the area where you alight from the vehicle and do bird watching by the road.
The best time is just before 7.00 am and in the late afternoon. A total of 173 species of birds was spotted here on a bird count in April 2017.
One of the star birds is no other than the Helmet Hornbill. The Hornbill Valley in Taman Negara is also gazetted as a conservation area.
Taman Negara Forest Loop Trail - This is the easiest trail where it loops around the back of the Mutiara Resort. The walkway is boarded therefore it is an easy walk without worrying about leeches or bugs on the ground.
One of the star birds is no other than the Helmet Hornbill. The Hornbill Valley in Taman Negara is also gazetted as a conservation area.
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| Lembah Enggang or Hornbill Valley in the morning |
Taman Negara Swamp Loop Trail - Another easy trail at the other end of the resort which is also boarded. Walking here requires silence in order to spot the birds in the bush or canopy. In one section, a swampy area is seen where birds are often spotted, but you need to be silent and slow here.
Tahan Hide Trail - This trail connects from the Forest Loop Trail and takes you all the way to the Tahan Hide, a lookout point for wildlife. Along the way, birds are spotted in the canopy and mid-canopy levels.
Jenut Muda Trail - This is one of the very popular and best trails and is relatively easy. The Great Argus Pheasant is often spotted here along with other star birds like the Banded Pitta, Gould's Frogmouth, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, and many others. Watch for the leeches here though.
Canopy Walk Trail - This is probably one of the active trails, from the park to the canopy walk. However, there are more birds spotted along the walk, versus the canopy walk as sometimes, there are many people on the canopy walk which distracts the birds.
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| The Taman Negara Canopy Walk |
Bukit Teresek Trail - This is the furthers trail at 2.5 km away from the park quarters. However, the journey here will bear fruit as many birds have been spotted in the first part of the trail. The unique Crestless Fireback is also spotted on this trail.
Beyond The Batek Orang Asli Village - This requires you to take a long boat ride upriver, passing the popular ethnic Batek orang asli tribe village. The boat ride will take about 20 to 30 minutes through mild rapids to a spot upriver.
Hornbills are often sighted around here among other birds. But to be honest, I am yet to explore this part, therefore I will update this once I have visited this spot.
Hornbills are often sighted around here among other birds. But to be honest, I am yet to explore this part, therefore I will update this once I have visited this spot.
Around The Mutiara Resort - This is the best for beginners as you can do some casual birding around the resort grounds. There is a local resident Great Hornbill by the name of Abu who is frequently seen in the trees around the resort reception area or the park headquarters area.
Along The Tembeling River - Usually, when you depart Taman Negara, you will take a two-hour boat ride down the Tembeling River to Kuala Tembeling, where your van transfer will be waiting to take you back to KL. It is on this boat ride that you will spot a number of birds along the river.
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| A Coucal spotted along the Tembeling River during a boat trip |
On my journey back, I managed to spot broadbills, kingfishers, raptors, swallows, water birds, and a few others.
The trick is to sit behind the boat nearer to the boat captain, and he can slow the boat down when you want to photograph the birds. And no, he will not stop the boat for you, unless you are the only passenger.
The trick is to sit behind the boat nearer to the boat captain, and he can slow the boat down when you want to photograph the birds. And no, he will not stop the boat for you, unless you are the only passenger.
Star Birds of Taman Negara
Most bird watchers or bird photographers come here in search of the many star birds of Taman Negara.
They are mostly found in popular areas while some of them require some serious trekking and just to highlight, you may not see them all in one trip. Perhaps less than half of the birds below.
The list of star birds in Taman Negara is;
They are mostly found in popular areas while some of them require some serious trekking and just to highlight, you may not see them all in one trip. Perhaps less than half of the birds below.
The list of star birds in Taman Negara is;
- Malaysian Rail-babbler
- Malaysian Blue Flycatcher
- Short-toed Coucal
- Blue-winged Pitta
- Gould's Frogmouth
- Large Frogmouth
- Ferruginous Wood-Partridge
- Mountain Peacock Pheasant
- Crestless Fireback
- Barred Eagle Owl
- Bay Owl
- Masked Finfoot
- Great Argus
- Malaysian Peacock Pheasant
- Black-and-white Bulbul
- Rufous-tailed Sharma
- Red-legged Crake
- Storm’s Stork
- Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle
- Bat Hawk
- Jambu Fruit Dove
- Rufous-collared Kingfisher
- Olive-backed Woodpecker
- Great Slaty Woodpecker
- Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker
- Trogons
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| Some birds spotted sitting on a tree along the Tembeling River |
For the avid birder, there are of course the best and worst times to do bird watching. From my point of view, as an amateur bird watcher, the worst time for this is during the school holidays, weekends, public holidays and the rainy season.
I would advise booking your visit for a weekday, as the best bird guides would be free and there would be very few people around the national park.
This way, you can fully enjoy your birding in Taman Negara without distraction and noise.
Where To Stay In Taman Negara?
This way, you can fully enjoy your birding in Taman Negara without distraction and noise.
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| One of the chalets at Mutiara Taman Negara |
The golden question for birders. Depending on your budget, there are basic air-condition rooms from the many budget hotels in Kuala Tahan. Even cheaper, there are homestays available. But for optimum relaxation, there is the Mutiara Taman Negara Resort.
The resort is located in the national park where the park headquarters is. This is luxury in the rainforest and an average room would cost around RM350.00 (USD 80.00) per person, but you know you will get a good night's rest here.
Your second choice would be the general guest houses which cost around RM120 to RM140 per room. They are basic, with attached bathroom, hot water, and air condition.
The resort is located in the national park where the park headquarters is. This is luxury in the rainforest and an average room would cost around RM350.00 (USD 80.00) per person, but you know you will get a good night's rest here.
Your second choice would be the general guest houses which cost around RM120 to RM140 per room. They are basic, with attached bathroom, hot water, and air condition.
What is the Weather in Taman Negara?
Just to get you in the right attire, the weather in Taman Negara is pretty hot and humid with temperatures around 74°-88°F (23°-31°C).
Humidity gets really high in the late mornings and afternoons and you can expect random showers unless it is the rainy season from October to January.
Personally, many say that it is not recommended to do bird watching in Taman Negara during the rainy season.
Humidity gets really high in the late mornings and afternoons and you can expect random showers unless it is the rainy season from October to January.
Personally, many say that it is not recommended to do bird watching in Taman Negara during the rainy season.
In general, you need to be as comfortable as you can be. Shorts, T-shirts or short-sleeved light material clothes are recommended, along with comfortable hiking or trekking shoes. A hat is optional as you would most likely be in the rainforest under the canopy.
What to Prepare For Taman Negara?
Just like any other rainforest, you need to have a poncho or raincoat, lots of drinking water, leech socks (if you truly are scared of them), very basic first aid kit, energy bars and insect repellent (the local ones please).
Other than that, you will perspire quite a bit during your walks, so you may need to bring along a towel or tissue for this.
Other than that, you will perspire quite a bit during your walks, so you may need to bring along a towel or tissue for this.
If you are lugging a bazooka lens with a massive tripod, I would recommend you use a comfortable shoulder pad to carry your gear.
A good pair of binoculars is recommended as the thick rainforest can be tricky to spot birds in Taman Negara.
For me, I use the mid-level Omicron Savvy IV HR binoculars to spot birds. They are affordable and very easy to use, as I have brought the binoculars around the world with me.
During my last trip for bird watching in Flores, Indonesia in late 2016, the binoculars served me pretty well as I managed to spot quite a lot of birds.
Booking a Bird Watching Tour in Taman Negara
A good pair of binoculars is recommended as the thick rainforest can be tricky to spot birds in Taman Negara.
For me, I use the mid-level Omicron Savvy IV HR binoculars to spot birds. They are affordable and very easy to use, as I have brought the binoculars around the world with me.
During my last trip for bird watching in Flores, Indonesia in late 2016, the binoculars served me pretty well as I managed to spot quite a lot of birds.
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| Some of the river birds around Taman Negara |
For those interested, you can contact me to arrange for your booking. I am in contact with one of the local bird tour operators in Taman Negara.
There are many other places to do bird watching in Malaysia, while over the years, I have been pretty much active doing bird watching in Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo.
So, for the Peninsular, this place was an eye-opener as the many birds spotted was quite interesting. You can also read this article for a complete list of birding events in Malaysia, for the serious birders.
So, for the Peninsular, this place was an eye-opener as the many birds spotted was quite interesting. You can also read this article for a complete list of birding events in Malaysia, for the serious birders.
Conclusion
My recent trip to Taman Negara was done with the company above where it took a four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. I stayed at the Mutiara Taman Negara and explored the many places around here.
This is also my first time doing bird watching in Taman Negara, and it was a fruitful trip with quite a number of birds spotted.
I am planning to go back for another round of birding here as there are still many places that I want to visit here.
This is also my first time doing bird watching in Taman Negara, and it was a fruitful trip with quite a number of birds spotted.
I am planning to go back for another round of birding here as there are still many places that I want to visit here.
