LAOS- BIRDS

BIRDS

With over 700 species recorded to date and new species being added to the country list almost monthly ,Laos is one of the most exciting and least known  birding locations in the world. In recent years as the country has embraced ecotourism the opportunities are expanding rapidly for visitors to see a variety of beautiful and rare species. 

The Northern Highlands of the country hold numerous species associated with Northern Thailand and the North Eastern Himalayas. A huge diversity of babblers as well as Blyth’s Kingfishers, Rufous necked Hornbill , Beautiful Nuthatch, Short tailed Parrotbill and Yellow Vented Warbler can be found in the forests of the North.

The Mekong Plain supports areas f dry deciduous forest inhabited by Rufous-winged Buzards, Black headed Woodpeckers and Small Minivets.Ban SIvilai s a community owned and operated bird conservation zone in this area.

The Mekong itself provides an important flyway for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl as well as localized sandbank species such as Small Pratincole ,River Lapwing , Great Thick Knee and River Tern .

The Southern portion of the Mekong Plain along the Cambodian border is home to the incredibly rare White – shouldered and Giant ibis as well as small populations of White-rumped and Red –headed vultures ,Lesser Adjutantsm ,Sarus Cranes and White winged Ducks. The most exciting discovery in the area in recent years has been the description of a new species to science, the Mekong Wagtail. This species was found, within the past decade, to live on sandbanks in the Mekong and a few of its tributaries in southern Lao and Cambodia.

Perhaps the most exciting areas for birding in the country is along the Annamite Range that marks the border with Vietnam. In recent years any species once thought to be found only in Vietnam have been discovered in Lao. 

Species such as Short tailed Scimitar Babbler, Yellow-billed Nuthatch and the recently described Black crowned Barwing are all readily found. Slightly more widespread species include White- winged and Indochinese Green Magpies as well as the shy and difficult to see Crested Argus and Blue naped Pitta.

Another area worthy of mention is the impressive strip of karst limestone that divides the Mekong Plain from the Annamite Range in central Laos. This beautiful landscape is home to the enigmatic Sooty Babbler. Despite being locally common this species went unseen for decades until being “rediscovered “in the 1990’s.