Just outside of Phnom Penh there is a whole world of birds just waiting to be discovered. Here is our list of the top 10 bird species to find around Phnom Penh.
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1. Cambodian Tailorbird
Scientific Name: Orthotomus chaktomuk
IUCN Classification: Near Threatened
Interesting Facts: One of two truely endemic (species only found in one country) species in Cambodia. This recently-described species (in 2012) is found within the extent of the seasonally flooded dense scrub within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac Rivers in Cambodia.
2. Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater
Scientific Name: Merops philippinus
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: This is a wintering bird species to Cambodia but some of them are breeding in Cambodia too. We found some young birds across the country and some nesting colony in Bengal Florican site this year.
3. Brown Shrike
Scientific Name: Lanius cristatus
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: This species will be arriving in Cambodia in late Aug or early Sep after bred in Siberia and China and stay here until May.
4. Brown-throated Sunbird
Scientific Name: Anthreptes malacensis
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: A small beautiful nectaridea feeder species which is common in the city, farm land, garden, country side and village edge. A pairs of them always breed in SVC’s garden.
5. Olive-backed Sunbird
Scientific Name: Cinnyris jugularis
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: Very wild spread species can be found in varity of habitat across the country, it is a native species to Cambodia.
6. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Scientific Name: Dicaeum cruentatum
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: This is a smallest bird species feed on fruit and can in many different habitat.
7. Indochinese Paradise Flycatcher
Scientific Name: Terpsiphone affinis
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: A small size bird and can be larger when the tail is fully grown on male. We have two different morphes in Cambodia- brown and white. Some of SVC’s have seen both morphes and can be found edge of the dense forest, semi-evergreen and evergreen forest.
8. Asian Green Bee-eater
Scientific Name: Merops orientalis
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: Very beautiful green bird mainly occurred in the open habitat, rice field, farm land, dry dipterocarp forest and shrub land.
9. Greater Coucal
Scientific Name: Centropus sinensis
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: Well hidden bird in reed bed and shruby areas it has a dark body and deep brown wings. Occurred in the dry forest and wet land habitat.
10. Lesser Coucal
Scientific Name: Centropus bengalensis
IUCN Classification: Least Concern
Interesting Facts: Quite similar to Greater Coucal with a bit smaller size with pale fragement streaks on it body, and occurred in the wetland habitat.