As Bird Watching in Malaysia grows, more birders have been heading here in recent years to spot some of this tropical country’s beautiful and endemic birds. Over the years, niche tourism players have also been actively promoting Malaysia as a bird-watching destination, and with good response.

Bird Watching in Malaysia

Malaysia is home to over 795 species of tropical birds, which live in many different types of terrain. The birds are mainly found in lowland rainforests, montane areas, swamps, and waterbirds by the sea.

Local birdwatchers have also doubled in number in the last five years due to the ongoing publicity done by various tourism departments and NGOs. Some states in Malaysia, namely Sabah, Sarawak, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Langkawi have also taken the initiative to promote birding as an activity.

Malaysia is a Birdwatching Paradise

In an exciting move, Tourism Malaysia has also put in the initiative to promote bird watching in Malaysia. Back in 2015, they conducted a closed-door seminar with industry players at an event called ‘Malaysia, a Preferred Birding Destination’.

This seminar, which was concluded at a hotel in Cyberjaya with various tourism boards, tourism players, and birding enthusiasts, focused on elevating the niche interest as one of Malaysia’s main niche tourism attractions.

The birding seminar also brought together some 100 participants comprising government officers from;

• Ministry of Tourism and Culture
• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
• Tourism Malaysia
• Forestry Department
• Department of Wildlife and National Parks
• Tourism promotions boards
• Researchers and academicians
• Nature and birding societies
• Nature guides
• Travel agents
• Nature photographers

Over the two days of the birding seminar, the mixed group shared experiences and best practices, imparted knowledge on birding and proposed specific ideas for developing and marketing the niche interest in identifying marketable birding areas for tourists.

Documenting the inventory of birds in Malaysia, developing the human resources to support birding tourism, proposing an entity and blueprint to push the birding agenda forward, and marketing and promotional strategies were also discussed.

Why is Malaysia perfect for Bird Watching? 

1. Diverse Habitats for Birds

Malaysia’s biodiversity is nothing short of extraordinary. The country’s varied ecosystems include virgin rainforests, coastal mangroves, highland areas, and isolated islands—each home to unique bird species. Whether in Peninsular Malaysia or Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak), you’ll encounter different species suited to those environments. The Tropical Rainforest of Malaysia is especially rich in flora and fauna, with vast, unspoiled jungles that house many endemic and endangered birds.

2. A Vital Stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

As part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network, Malaysia is a critical stopover for migratory birds travelling between Southeast Asia and Australia and the breeding grounds in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Siberia. The flyway network is essential for bird species migrating to and from their seasonal territories, as it provides vital resting and feeding spots for birds during their long migratory journeys.

Bako Buntal Bay in Sarawak on the island of Borneo was recently recognised as a critical site in this flyway, reflecting the growing importance of Malaysia’s wetlands and coastal habitats to the migratory bird population.

3. A Rich Variety of Species

Malaysia is home to over 825 recorded bird species, of which more than 60 are endemic to the country, making it a premier destination for birdwatching. These include species that are found only in the rainforests of Borneo and the mountainous areas of Peninsular Malaysia.

Some of the iconic birds you can expect to spot in Malaysia include:

• Hornbills (e.g., the Rhinoceros Hornbill)
• Malaysian Peacock Pheasant
• Eurasian Wigeon (migratory)
• White-crowned Shama
• Bornean Bristlehead
• Bornean Ground-Cuckoo
• Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

4. Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has identified 55 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) throughout the country, many internationally recognised for their therecognisedrsity value. These areas are crucial for the conservation of both migratory and endemic species. Some of the most famous IBAs include:

• Taman Negara (Peninsular Malaysia) – Malaysia’s largest national park and a key site for tropical birds.
• Danum Valley Conservation Area (Sabah, Borneo) – A prime site for spotting Bornean endemics.
• Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Borneo) – Known for highland species like the Mountain Black-eye and Bornean Whistler.
• Kota Samarahan Wetlands (Sarawak) – Key for migratory shorebirds.

These IBAs serve as safe havens for native and migratory birds and are vital for the ongoing efforts to conserve Malaysia’s birdlife.

5. Endemic and Rare Birds

Malaysia is particularly famous for its endemic species, many of which can only be found within the country, particularly on the island of Borneo. Some of these species are rare and highly sought-after by birdwatchers:

• Bornean Pitta (endemic to Borneo)
• Bornean Bristlehead
• Malayan Rail-babbler
• Black-crowned Pitta (found in Malaysia and Borneo)

These endemics are part of the country’s charm, drawing international birders who come back year after year to try and spot these elusive species.

6. Birdwatching Tourism

Malaysia’s birdwatching tourism is growing as more international birders discover the country’s diverse birdlife and unique ecosystems. It’s not just the novices but also seasoned birders who flock to Malaysia’s forests, mountains, and wetlands to witness firsthand the variety and beauty of the birds. Local tour operators often offer birding tours that take participants through some of the country’s best birding spots, with expert guides who know where to find the most elusive species.

7. Best Time to Visit

The best time for birdwatching in Malaysia is generally during the dry season, from March to October when many migratory birds pass through the country. For those hoping to spot a large variety of species, the migratory months between September and April are ideal, as many species come to rest in Malaysia’s wetlands and forests.

Birdwatching Destinations in Malaysia

Many notable bird-watching destinations are found all over Malaysia, including Malaysia Borneo.

Sabah would be the forerunner in this, as the northernmost state of Borneo, Malaysia, has been actively promoting bird watching for the last thirty years.

Sabah 

• Danum Valley
• Kinabatangan River
• Maliau Basin
• Kinabalu National Park
• Crocker Range National Park
• Kota Kinabalu Wetlands

Sarawak

• Bako National Park
• Borneo Highlands
• Mulu National Park
• Paya Maga
• Bakelalan
• Bario

Pahang

• Fraser’s Hill
• Cameron Highlands
• Awana, Genting Highlands
• Taman Negara
• Cherating

Langkawi

• Langkawi GeoPark
• Kumbang Badak
• Datai Area

Negeri Sembilan

• Tanjung Tuan

Perak

• Matang Forest Reserve

Selangor

• Kuala Kubu Baru
• Kuala Selangor
• Putrajaya

Other states around Malaysia also provide great bird-watching places but require more knowledgeable bird guides. Bird watchers can do this by booking a specialised trip with specialised bird tour companies in Malaysia, or you can contact Birdwatching Asia to recommend them.

One of Malaysia’s newly discovered bird-watching spots is the Hornbill Valley or Lembah Enggang, located just outside of Taman Negara. Several bird species were spotted here, including hornbills and other endemic birds.

Bird Festivals in Malaysia

Numerous bird-watching festivals and events are held all over Malaysia, some of which are held yearly. The most popular festivals include the Borneo Bird Festival, Wings of KKB, and Fraser’s Hill Bird Race.

Other events tend to be more nature-related or bird-count events every year. See this list of bird-watching events in Malaysia to learn more; it provides an almost complete list.

Borneo Bird Race

Malaysia’s premier bird race, organised by the porganisedSabah, saw 11 countries participate in a bird race that travelled to three regions in Borneo. The race is held every few years and is extremely niche, as the entire circuit takes almost two weeks to complete.

Below are various photos of bird watchers in Malaysia during the Borneo Bird Race, which took participants throughout the stunning island of Borneo. During this exclusive birding event, participants visited birdwatching locations in Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. Anyone interested can get more information from this article on the Borneo Bird Race.

Omicron is one of the preferred birdwatching binoculars in Malaysia.

Thousands of birders or bird watchers are visiting Malaysia, especially Sabah Borneo, as bird watching in Borneo is growing quickly. Sabah is also the only state in Malaysia that is highly engaged in birding tourism for Malaysia, where it has been promoted aggressively.

You can also check my list of the best bird-watching places in Malaysia, which I compiled based on tourist-friendly commercial areas. The above compilation is recommended for serious and new birders visiting Malaysia. You can also visit my other site, highlighting more birdwatching locations in Malaysia.

Over the last five years, this outdoor hobby has grown tremendously around the country, and right now, this is the perfect moment to promote bird watching in Malaysia to the world.