The equatorial jungles of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo harbor one of the most colorful and diverse assemblages of birds in the world. Only the avifauna of the Amazon Basin is in the same league. Our tour will visit all of the premier sites. After our morning arrival in Kuala Lumpur, we leave the bustling capital for the coastal town of Kuala Selangor. Nearby Taman Alam Nature Reserve affords us access to mangroves, woodland, and wetlands. One of the first species we may encounter is Red Junglefowl, the progenitor of the modern chicken. On a more exotic note, here, too, we have chances for Chinese Pond-Heron, Chestnut–bellied Malkoha, and the gorgeous Mangrove Pitta. Pittas, the original, holiday-colored eggs-on-legs are characteristic of the entire region. Cool compared to the lowlands, our next destination is 4,000-foot-high Fraser’s Hill. Some of the montane species we hope to encounter as we explore Fraser’s Hill include Black Eagle, Blue-winged Leafbird, Fire-tufted Barbet, Black-and-maroon Oriole, and the stunning Red-bearded Bee-eater. After two full days in this avian playground, we transfer to the Tembeling River, and then boat into Taman Negara National Park. Taman Negara embraces a lowland rainforest preserve covering over 1675 square miles, the largest protected area in all of peninsular Malaysia. Trails and waterways radiate into the wilderness. During our three days here we’ll become acquainted with a bird community whose members include Crested Fireback, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Red-naped and Scarlet-rumped Trogons, and Garnet, Blue-winged, Banded, and Hooded Pittas. Masked Finfoot, Gould’s Frogmouth, Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant, and Crested Jays are among other reclusive species we might find. Boating, driving, and flying the following day, we’ll arrive in the city of Kota Kinabalu on Borneo’s northern coast. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and it boasts 30 species of endemics. Our first destination is the fabled Danum Valley. Basing at the comfortable Borneo Rainforest Lodge, we’ll walk under the ancient dipterocarps on well-groomed trails seeking species such as Crested Serpent-Eagle, Green Imperial-Pigeon, and the bizarre Bornean Bristlebird, probably the only representative of its family. Here, too, is the Great Argus, a pheasant that merits its name, and no fewer than eight species of pittas. Transiting past the Gomontong Caves, we’ll stop to sort out Black-nest, Edible-nest, and Mossy-nest Swiftlets, speedsters best identified by their distinctive homes, and perhaps take a peek at Black-headed Pitta, before pushing on to Sukau. The Kinabatangan River at Sukau is bordered by riparian groves that constitutes the last strip of natural forest in a landscape converted to miles of commercial oil palms. Here again both trails and waterways will enable us to approach a phenomenal concentration of birds and mammals. Probably the most sought-after of all is the critically endangered Orangutan. Other primates include Silvered Langurs, Pig-tailed Macaques, and the Proboscis Monkey. Also present are Asian Elephants and incredibly rare Sumatran Rhinoceros. Among the birds are Oriental Darter, Storm’s Stork, Blue-eared Kingfisher, and Blue-throated Bee-eater. The climax of our tour is our ascent of Mt. Kinabalu. Just a short distance from the city of Kota Kinabalu, this 13,455-foot elevation peak is the single highest summit between the Himalayas and Mt. Jaya in New Guinea. Our mile-high-plus cabins are situated inside a cool forest with avian neighbors such as Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, Black-sided Flowerpecker, and Fruithunter. Pioneer naturalist Whitehead had two other endemics named for him as well, Whitehead’s Broadbill and Whitehead’s Trogon. We have an excellent probability of seeing all three of the "Whitehead’s", as well as Whitehead’s Pygmy Squirrel, a rodent with whiskers longer than its body. Other birds we’ll watch for during our final three days of the tour feature such knock-outs as Bornean Treepie, Indigo Flycatcher, Maroon Woodpecker, and Blue-banded Pitta. If tropical birding is your pleasure, join us this spring in Malaysia and Borneo. Lodging varies from good to luxurious, the food is great, and the birding is among the finest in Asia.

Leaders: Glen Valentine & Mano Tharmilangan

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