Borneo Birds Identification & Where to See Them
Welcome, ornithologists and other bird enthusiasts, to our Adventures in Borneo – Borneo Birds Photo Collection & Identification Page. Through our many travels and explorations in Borneo, we present to you our images of all the interesting and remarkable birds we have encountered over the past years. From the frequently spotted to the rarely seen, discover a variety of species of birds on this page and learn more about each of them with the descriptions we have provided on each individual album page.
To know the birds on this page is to know Borneo. Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is split between three countries – Brunei Darussalam, the states Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia and Kalimantan of Indonesia. Within its vast area, Borneo is home to more than 600 species of birds. More than 300 species are typical of the tropical evergreen rainforest that in prehistory covered the island and today is still one of the major habitat types.
There are various locations in Borneo where bird enthusiasts can embark on their birding tours. Among the habitats worth mentioning are montane forests, peat-swamp and heath-like forests, lowland forest, rivers and lakes. Montane forests of Borneo are cooler, damper, more stunted, mossy and shrouded in mist because of the increasing altitude. The amazing species of birds you can find in this environment is abundant, such as Indigo Flycatcher, Short-tailed Magpie and the endemic Bornean Mountain Whistler which can be spotted at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinabalu Park. Our Kinabalu Park Day Trip and 2D/1N Hiking Kinabalu Park trip can be uniquely tailored for birding with our sharp eyed and highly experienced senior birding guide Jason.
Known to be a habitat with a rich bird community, the lowland forest of Borneo holds the most bird species. Birders can expect to see a variety of broadbills, pittas, kingfishers, birds of prey and more including the endemic White Crown Shama and our national bird the Rhinoceros Hornbill which can be spotted in Sabah’s largest wildlife reserve in Tabin. Tabin Wildlife Reserve is ideal for birding due to the abundant light of the secondary forest. The enchanting 130 million year old rainforest, Danum Valley in Sabah is where birders can spot endemic species such as the Bornean Wren-Babbler and Dusky Mania. Another excellent location for bird watching in Borneo are rivers and lakes. Where the banks of the rivers remain forested, they can be important for birds such as Oriental Darters and the rare Storm’s Stork. In Sabah, Kinabatangan River has one of the world’s richest ecosystem. The world’s smallest raptor, Bornean White Fronted Falconet which is also endemic and restricted to Sabah, can be spotted at this river. We offer specialised birding packages to all the above mentioned locations.
All our Borneo Birds were photographed in the wild by Richard Swann, our Managing Director and wildlife enthusiast. They can be seen in any one of our wildlife programs in Borneo, and we can take you there! Book our wildlife and birding tours instantly online. All you have to do is visit our Wildlife Tours page, select the program that interests you and have your place confirmed efficiently. For customised multi-location trips you can also speak to our Travel Centre team and let them plan a specialised package for you by contacting them at (+6) 012 866 1935 or info@DownbelowAdventures.com.
Babblers & Relatives
Tropical birds that are diverse in size and coloration, characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
Barbets & Woodpeckers
Though from different family, Barbets and Woodpeckers are members of the Piciformes order.
Bee-eaters
Bee-eaters are vibrantly coloured insectivorous birds with a large head and a long downcurved bill, typically having long central tail feathers.
Broadbills
A small, colourful bird of the Old World tropics, with a stocky body, a large head, and a flattened bill with a wide gape.
Bulbul
A tropical Asian songbird, typically having a crest, drab plumage, and a melodious voice.
Crows
The Corvidae family includes crows, jays, ravens and magpies.
Flowerpecker
A very small songbird with a short bill and tail, feeding chiefly on insects in flowers and found in Australasia and South East Asia.
Flycatchers & Whistlers
A flycatcher is a perching bird that catches flying insects, especially in short flights from a perch. A whistler is a robust songbird with a strong and typically hooked bill and a loud melodious call.
Frogmouths
A frogmouth is a nocturnal bird resembling a nightjar.
Gamebirds
Birds of a large group that included pheasants, grouse, quails, guinea fowl, and more.
Gulls, Terns & Waders
Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. They include the gulls, terns and waders.
Herons, Storks, Darters
Long-necked birds typically found in fresh water where they hunt their food.
Hornbill
A medium to large tropical Old World bird, having a very large curved bill that typically has a casque.
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are small to medium-sized birds brightly coloured birds. Most species are found in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Leafbirds & Shrikes
Leafbirds occur over a wide range in south and southeastern Asia, specifically the Greater Sunda Island and India. A shrike is a songbird with a strong sharply hooked bill, often impaling its prey of small birds, lizards, and insects on thorns.
Pittas
A small ground-dwelling bird with brightly coloured plumage and a very short tail found in the Old World tropics.
Rails & Allies
A secretive bird with drab grey and brown plumage, typically having a long bill and found in dense waterside vegetation.
Raptors & Owls
Raptors and owls are birds of prey that feeds on animal flesh, distinguished by a hooked bill and sharp talons.
Sparrows & Munias
Sparrows and munias are small birds each with their own interesting & distinctive features.
Starlings & Mynas
Gregarious Old World songbird with a straight bill, typically with dark lustrous or iridescent plumage but sometimes brightly coloured.
Sunbirds & Spiderhunters
Sunbirds and spiderhunters are nectar-feeding birds and both have a distinct long downcurved bill.
Swallows
A migratory swift-flying songbird with a forked tail and long pointed wings, feeding on insects in flight.
Thrushes & Relatives
A small or medium-sized songbird, typically having a brown back, spotted breast, and loud song.
Trogons & Drongos
A trogon is a bird of tropical forests, with a long tail and brilliantly coloured plumage. A drongo is a songbird with glossy black plumage and typically a long forked tail and a crest, found in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia.
Warblers
Small birds which have brown, grey, or greenish plumage, some having brighter colours.
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are generally medium-sized slender birds. Most species live in trees, though a sizeable minority are ground-dwelling.
Every Group Program Is Customised. Some Popular Examples Are Below.
Dedicated for fun-loving individuals, solo travellers and wanderers, this is an exciting program offering the best experiences Sabah Borneo has to offer.
A one month program that inspires people from any walk of life, any age, race or background to join together & challenge themselves with new experiences in Sabah, Borneo.
Open up a whole new world of opportunities by enrolling in a professional diving internship.
We are passionate about conservation and offer a number of rewarding, enriching awareness projects you can join and contribute to the environment.
Coral reefs are key to marine biodiversity. This program is a conservation awareness project aimed to educate and inspire the younger generation to understand the benefit of preserving coral.
We believe in opportunity, education, conservation and ecotourism. Throughout the year we conduct expeditions for school, university and gap year groups to join these rewarding and educational programs.
Testimonials
It doesn’t get any better than Downbelow!
They planned our entire 2 week stay in Borneo, we didn’t have to lift a finger. We saw everything you can imagine; Pygmy Elephants, Orang Utans, Proboscis Monkeys, Crocodiles, Horn bills!They know all the best local spots and really take care of you which is so important when traveling somewhere new!
Tamsin & Phil, Independent TravellersOne stop shop for marine and wildlife adventure
I spent a month with Dive DownBelow studying to be a PADI Open Water Instructor. Great location (near markets, shops and cafes), professional staff and a fun experience all round.
Carl Charter, GoPro InternA very memorable holiday!
The whole Dive Downbelow team is great and this was a huge contributor to us having a very memorable holiday with you. Thank you for your help all through the trip, and also thank you to Tim who was very professional, patient and made our diving course so enjoyable and successful.
Dmitry & Helen, Independent TravellersOur Commitment to Conservation!
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM 
During the past 15 years the company has established itself as a leading conservation and education provider locally and on the international platform. At Downbelow we are committed to responsible tourism. We design experiences and provide courses that foster appreciation, awareness and conservation of our environment and development of local people. In the course of this labour of love, our effort has been acknowledged by various publications and awards. To date, Ghost Net Removals, Underwater and Beach Clean Ups, Coral for Life, Tree for Life & Project Aware remain a large focus of our day to day life Downbelow!