The Best Places for Birding in Bangkok

The Best Places for Birding in Bangkok

Posted By Mark Philip

It’s well-known that Thailand is home to a wide and diverse range of wildlife, with various aspects of it being somewhat on the rare side. Needless to say, birds feature within this scope of wildlife in no small numbers, and even within concentrated urban areas it is possible to spot the most amazing varieties of our fine, feathered friends.

Anyone with a discerning eye may notice birds pretty much everywhere in Thailand, but those visitors to Bangkok more interested in an in-depth approach to bird-watching might want to venture towards the more natural spots of the city that are rich pickings as far as bird varieties go.

As the city of Bangkok is located in the middle of the lower delta of the Chao Phraya, and extends all the way out to the coastline of the inner gulf, the region is considered one of the main wetlands in SE Asia. This is so much the case that it is, in fact, recognised as an ‘Important Bird Area’ (IBA) by the BirdLife International Organisation.

A large proportion of the many birds worth checking out in Thailand can be found in any of Bangkok’s parks that are close enough to the city centre for anyone staying in the central regions of the city to find. Visiting any of these parks provides a good enough introduction to the birds of Thailand at any time of the year, although the species of migratory birds may be variable.

Image by Lenny Worthington sourced from wikimedia commons

A broad selection of the commonly-seen birds in the country can be found, along with the occasional surprise species when migratory seasons occur and these parks are stop-off points for migrants of a wide variety of bird species.

The area of Bangkok supports mainly water birds and these passing migratory species, and this region alone is thought to contain at least 20 species of endangered birds, although unfortunately, it has been reported that little is apparently being done by way of conservation.

All of the parks in Bangkok can be great for a morning’s (or indeed a late afternoon’s) birding, but we have included two today that are likely to be the most rewarding for bird-watchers of any description.

So here is our guide to what could be considered the best places for birding in Bangkok.

1. Suan Rot Fai (Train Park)

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

This vast and welcome green space in what is a densely-populated city, is one of 3 parks right next to each other.

Also known as Vachirabenjatas Park, this one is the largest by far and is directly behind Chatuchak Park, which is right next to an MRT station of the same name as well as a BTS stop (Mor Chit). Local people frequent the park for a variety of activities, but namely for walking, jogging and cycling.

For birders in Bangkok with only a morning or afternoon to spare, Suan Rot Fai offers the chance to glimpse somewhere in the region of 40 bird species.

Image by Rushen from creativecommons.org

Suan Rot Fai is the best place to catch sight of birds such as the Coppersmith Barbet, the Indian Roller, the Pied Fantail, the Olive-backed Sunbird, and the Oriental Magpie Robin to name just but a few (for the purpose of any  ‘trainspotter’ readers).

Being in the park when migrants have settled temporarily is one of the best aspects of birding in Bangkok, with anything being likely to turn up outside of the monsoon season. This is when you might catch sight of the odd Asian Brown Flycatcher, perhaps a Taiga Flycatcher, and even the Common Kingfisher.

Much rarer migrants have been known to put in an appearance, however, with some examples of lesser-seen birds that are sometimes sighted in the park being Forest Wagtails, Siberian Blue Robins, and Asian Paradise Flycatchers, just to skim the surface.

There is also some probability, apparently, that occasional caged birds make their habitat here, having escaped from the very nearby Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Location: Chatuchak, Bangkok (BTS Mor Chit/Mrt Chatuchak)

2. King Rama IX Park (Suan Luang Rama IX) 

Image by NuCastiel sourced rom wikimedia commons

So this is another large park, situated in the easterly region of suburbian Bangkok, and originally opened as a tribute to King Bhumiphol (Rama IX).

This is an impeccably well-kept and carefully manicured area of greenery comprising planted borders and sports areas. OK, there might be the odd corner or pond that looks somewhat overgrown, and there are plenty of aged trees which can attract and contain some interesting bird species.

This park is obviously one of the main green spaces of Bangkok, and not surprisingly, it attracts both migratory and local birds. Again the park is a popular place for joggers and walkers, and it can get quite busy, so it is a good idea to arrive early on in the morning if possible.

Image by NuCastiel sourced from wikimedia commons

As the location of King Rama IX is on the outskirts of Bangkok, rather close to a reservoir, it is no real surprise to see droves of different species of birds of a morning here. In fact this might be the ideal place to come for a spot of birding if you are just in the city for a short while and only have few hours or so to spare for this activity.

Most of the bird species here tend to be the ones more common to the region, with a few waterbirds and a few varieties of migratory birds at certain times of the year. The birds in this Bangkok park are relatively easy to pick out due to the lack of dense areas of vegetation, with some of the species that may be of interest to birders here including such strains as the Plain-backed Sparrow, the Black-collared Starling, Small Minivets and Pink-necked Green Pigeons.

Image by Lenny Worthington sourced from wikimedia commons

Coppersmith Barbets can be found here too, as they can in the other parks of Bangkok, along with a few other colourful species, including the Common Lora and the Lineated Barbet, the likes of which offer perfect opportunities to practice your photography of birds.

This particular Bangkok park is known to have something of an influx of different species of birds during migratory periods. These varieties may include such species as the Asian Brown and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher along with Easter Crowned and Yellow-browed Warblers, Black-winged Cuckoos and Ashy Drongo, which are all spotted quite regularly in this region, although apparently many much rarer migrants also stop by on occasion.

Bangkok Bird Walks

The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST) runs regular early morning ‘Bird Walks’ in both of the parks featured in this post.

BCST began the activity more than a decade ago, with the walks designed to help enthusiasts in exploring 100 or more species of birds.

The walks are organized for the first Saturday (Rot Fai Park) and Sunday (King Rama IX Park) of each month, and on the second Sunday of each month the group explores the 3^rd park in the immediate vicinity of Suan Rot Fai, the Queen Sirikit Park, which is right opposite to JJ Mall.

The BCST Bird Walk is basically a guided walk around the park with bird experts able to point out and identify the bird varieties.

Image by Rushen sourced from creativecommons.org

They can also imbue participants with various interesting facts or key points regarding the identification of certain bird species. Binoculars can even be borrowed and the bird leaders. All of the walks are free of charge, and registration for the walk starts at 7:30am.

Bangkok’s Bird Walks are a chance to get out, appreciate the natural world, and get to know some feathered friends as an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Bird Walk Schedule

Every first Saturday of the month at Vachirabenjatas Park (Suan Rot Fai), meeting at the main entrance, near the old train carriage, at 7.30 am

Every second Sunday of the month at Queen Sirikit Park meeting at Chaloem Phrakiat 72 Phansa Building (white building next to the car park near Children’s Discovery Museum) at 7.30 am

Every third Saturday of the month at Phutthamonthon Park, meeting at the first shelter on the right side of the big Buddha statue, at 7.30 am

Every first Sunday of March, June, September & December at Suan Luang Rama IX Park, meeting at Sala Salairuen near Rachawadee Gate (Chaloem Phrakiat Ratchakan Thi 9 Rd.) at 7.30 am.

Image by somchai@2008 sourced from creativecommons.org

Birding Tours in Bangkok and Thailand

It is also possible to organise a few days of bird-watching by way of a tour, whether you are planning to visit either Bangkok, or other regions such as Phuket of Chiang Mai.

Ideal if you fancy a bit of birding in and around the capital city, or maybe a trip out to nearby national parks, then Thaibirding.com can help you to organize all aspects of your bird-themed holiday.

Tours or day trips are arranged on request, at your own pace and in your choice of region. Thaibirding caters to birders of all levels of experience, designing a personalized tour around your target species which can include accommodation and vehicle hire.

Check out Thaibirding.com for more information

Contact: nickupton@thaibirding.com