Birds in Chiang Dao

          At the moment of writing nearly 300 bird species have been discovered around Doi Chiang Dao. The region is less visited than other parks, as Doi Inthanon NP or Doi Suthep. So probably more will be found in the next years.
Chiang Dao is known for specialities as Deignan's Babbler (an endemic to this region), Hodgson's Frogmouth, Giant Nuthatch and Hume's Pheasant.
There has been some discussion about Deignan's Babbler. Some consider it conspecific with Rufous-fronted Babbler.

          Hume's pheasant occurs in the Indian states north of Bangla Desh (Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh), in Myanmar and China (Cynangxi & Yunnan provinces) and in NW-Thailand. In Thailand, this species was feared extirpated, but now there are several sightings annually. It has the status of being globally threated. Protection is needed.

         Also Giant Nuthatch is globally threathed. It has been found in centre of Myanmar (though no recent records) and in the Chinese provinces Yunnan, SW Guizhou (where all rare). In Thailand it is only found in the NW (in at least 3 protected areas). Doi Chiang Dao is probably the easiest place to find it.
But the region harbours many more interesting species. On the steep trail towards the summit all 3 species of Tesia have been found! Also Rufous-faced Warbler has been seen on the same trail. This species hasn't been seen in Thailand for many years.

         Also Black-tailed Crake occurs in a pond in the mountains, his typical habitat. Apart from Doi Inthanon, this is Thailand's second known location.
Further there are goodies as White-crowned Forktail, Eye-browed and Streaked Wren-Babbler, White-hooded Bulbul, Crested Finchbill, Spectacled Barwing, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, Rusty-naped Pitta, Scarlet Finch and some Redstarts (White-bellied, Blue-fronted and Daurian).

        But the lack of lowland forests means that species who are regular found up to 800/1000 m are lacking or are uncommon around Chiang Dao. Barbets as Lineated, Green-eared and Coppersmith, woodpeckers as White-bellied, Great Slaty, Rufous and Heart-spotted as well as Blue Magpie have been seen, though very infrequently.

        Further can we say that due to excessive hunting some species are getting rare.
Hornbills haven't been seen for the last 5 years. Also pigeons are now not easy to see and some other species (esp. Galliformes) are only common within the enclosures of the monastery Wat Tham Pha Phlong.

       For practical reasons birdnames follow P.Round & B.Lekagul's "A guide to the birds of Thailand". (Between brackets are the more used names.)

Bird list of Chiang Dao  >>