Myanmar (Burma) Birding / Birds Watching Trip Report
Woodpecker & Other Birds Survey
In Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park
Central Myanmar
During the raining season
27 August – 24 September 2006

Woodpecker & Other Birds Survey Team at Nine Miles Camp (Photo by Martjan Lammertink )
By
Thet Zaw Naing
Team members: Thet Zaw Naing, Martjan Lammertink (Nethrelands), Utami Setiorini (Indonesia), Marlene A. Wagner (USA), Naing Linn, Ko Ye, Kyaw Naing Oo, Ko Lay, Zaw Htoo Aung, Zaw Tun Aung, Kyaw Lin, Cho Maung Maung, Mya Aung, Kyaw Zin Aung and Aung Naing
ITINERARY
27 August
Survey team was departed by train for Mandalay at afternoon.
28 August
Up on arrival Mandalay proceed by car to Yinmar Pin via Monywa. Birding stops en-route. Night stop at forest guest house in Yinmar Pin.
29 August
Drive to Thitya Pin and then proceed by elephant to Ka Paing. Night stop at Ka Paing.
30 August
Birds watching at Ka Paing.
31 August
Move by elephant to Pwint Gyi and build the transect routes at Pwint Gyi.
1 – 6 September
Birds survey at Pwint Gyi.
7 September
Move by elephant to Paya Wa. Birds watching along the way.
8 – 15 September
Birds survey at Paya Wa.
16 September
Move by elephant to Nine Miles. Birds watching along the way.
17 – 22 September
Birds survey at Nine Miles.
23 September
Back by elephant to Thitya Pin and proceed by car to Yinmar Pin. Birds watching along the way. Night stop at forest guest house in Yinmar Pin.
24 September
Return to Yangon via Mandalay.

Team members prepare to cross a rain-swollen river at Phayarwa (Photo by Martjan Lammertink)
NOTES ON SITES SURVEY
Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park is established in 1984 for conservation unspoiled biodiversity. It islocated at N 22 ˚ 30’ and E 94 ˚ 20’ in Central Myanmar. The park is 1,605.79sq km in size with a well forested mountainous area and the least disturbed forest types in Myanmar. Forest types vary from dry upper mixed deciduous forest on the high ridges and slopes to moist upper mixed deciduous forests on lower slopes; semi indaing (Dipterocrap) forest, high indaing forest or pine forests occur in patches on the top of some high ridges.
We surveyed mainly three base camp sites at different elevation namely Pwint Gyi, Phayarwa and Nine Miles. At each site we put out straight 2.2 km transect routes heading north, south, west and east from base camp to do birds survey. Each day, the bird survey team divided into four groups for carry out the detail research at four different transects. Some bird survey team members conducted the research at the current study site and other bird survey team members moved ahead and prepare the camp and transect routes at the next locality.

One birds survey team member record the data (Photo by Martjan Lammertink )
Ka Paing
Ka Paing is a large village which is situated at N 22 ˚12’42.1’’ and E 94 ˚40’34’’. It is located near the Alaungdaw Kathapa. It is covered by cultivated lands and some degraded forests. But about 4 km far from south-west of the village has nearly primary forests. We did not choice for research survey site at here. We conducted only one day bird watching. A total of 79 bird species recorded at here.
Pwint Gyi
It is located at N 22 ˚14’34.2’’ and E 94 ˚37’57.9’’ and about 250 masl in buffer zone of the pack. This site is covered by undistributed secondary Dipterocrap forests. At here we recorded 15 Woodpecker species and 118 other bird species include Oriental Bay Owl Phodilus badius which is previously unseen in the park or anywhere else Central Myanmar.
Paya Wa
This site is located at N 22 ˚19’11.2’’ and E 94 ˚29’0.28’’ and above 500 masl in the core area of the park. It is covered by virgin high Dipterocrap forests. 14 Woodpecker species and 97 other bird species were recorded at here.
Nine Miles
Nine Miles is located at N 22 ˚17’3.2’’ and E 94 ˚ 36’0.4’’ and about 350 masl in buffer zone of the park. It is cover by undistributed secondary and primary Dipterocrap forests. 14 species of Woodpecker and 77 other bird species were recorded at here.

Virgin high Dipterocrap forest (Photo by Martjan Lammertink )
RECORDED BIRD SPECIES
During the raining season survey, despite the bad weather, a total of 198 bird species include 18 species of Woodpecker were recorded.

White-bellied Woodpecker (Photo by Thet Zaw Naing )

Pale-headed Woodpecker (Photo by Thet Zaw Naing )
Species |
Location |
Ka Paing |
Pwint Gyi |
Paya Wa |
Nine Miles |
PHASIANIDAE: Francolins, pheasants & Junglefowl |
|
|
|
|
Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus |
UN |
UN |
|
|
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus |
|
R |
R |
R |
Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos |
|
|
R |
R |
PICIDAE: Piculets & typical woodpeckers |
|
|
|
|
Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus |
|
UN |
UN |
UN |
White-browed Piculet Sasia ochracea |
|
UN |
UN |
UN |
Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia |
|
UN |
UN |
UN |
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus |
|
C |
C |
C |
Stripe-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos atratus |
|
|
|
|
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis |
R |
|
|
|
Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus |
|
UN |
C |
UN |
Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha |
|
C |
C |
C |
Streak-breasted Woodpecker Picus viridanus |
|
R |
|
|
Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus |
|
R |
|
|
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus |
|
C |
C |
C |
Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus |
|
R |
R |
UN |
Himalayan Flameback Dinopium shorii |
|
UN |
UN |
UN |
Common Flameback Dinopium javanense |
R |
R |
R |
R |
Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus |
|
C |
C |
C |
Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis |
|
UN |
UN |
C |
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis |
|
|
R |
R |
Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus |
|
R |
UN |
C |
MEGALAIMIDAE: Asian barbets |
|
|
|
|
Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata |
|
C |
C |
C |
Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica |
R |
C |
C |
C |
Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis |
|
C |
C |
C |
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala |
|
|
UN |
R |
BUCEROTIDAE: Asian hornbills |
|
|
|
|
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis |
|
|
R |
R |
Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris |
|
UN |
UN |
UN |
UPUPIDAE: Hoopoes |
|
|
|
|
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops |
R |
|
|
|
CORACIIDAE: Rollers |
|
|
|
|
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis |
C |
UN |
|
|
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis |
|
|
R |
|
TROGONIDAE: Harpactini: Asian trogons |
|
|
|
|
Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus |
|
|
R |
UN |
HALCYONIDAE: Larger kingfishers |
|
|
|
|
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis |
R |
R |
|
|
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata |
|
|
R |
|
CUCULIDAE: Old World cuckoos |
|
|
|
|
Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus |
|
R |
|
|
Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus |
R |
|
|
|
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus |
|
|
R |
|
Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephanus |
|
|
R |
|
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii |
|
R |
|
|
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus |
UN |
UN |
|
|
Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus |
|
|
R |
|
Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris |
R |
R |
|
|
Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis |
R |
UN |
UN |
UN |
CENTROPADIDAE: Coucals |
|
|
|
|
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis |
R |
R |
R |
R |
Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis |
|
|
R |
|
MEROPIDAE: Bee-eaters |
|
|
|
|
Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni |
|
|
R |
|
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Chestnut-headed Bee-Eater Merops leschenaulti |
C |
C |
C |
C |
PSITTACIDAE: Parakeets |
|
|
|
|
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria |
C |
C |
|
|
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri |
|
C |
|
|
Grey-headed Parakeet Psittacula finschii |
|
C |
|
|
Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata |
|
UN |
|
|
Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri |
|
C |
|
|
APODIDAE: Swifts |
|
|
|
|
Himalayan Swiftlet Collocalia brevirostris |
|
R |
|
|
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus |
|
|
R |
|
Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus |
|
R |
|
|
HEMIPROCNIDAE: Treeswifts |
|
|
|
|
Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata |
|
C |
UN |
UN |
TYTONIDAE: Bay owl |
|
|
|
|
Oriental Bay Owl Phodilus badius |
|
R |
|
|
STRIGIDAE: Typical owls |
|
|
|
|
Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia |
|
R |
R |
R |
Collared Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena |
|
|
R |
|
Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides |
|
UN |
R |
R |
CAPRIMULGIDAE: CAPRIMULGINAE: Typical nightjars |
|
|
|
|
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus |
|
R |
|
|
COLUMBIDAE: Pigeons & doves |
|
|
|
|
Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea |
|
R |
|
|
Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia |
R |
R |
|
|
Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis |
|
|
R |
|
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis |
C |
C |
R |
R |
Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica |
|
R |
|
|
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto |
|
R |
|
|
Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora |
|
|
|
R |
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera |
|
V |
|
|
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica |
|
|
R |
|
RALLIDAE: Rails, gallinules & coots |
|
|
|
|
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus |
|
R |
|
|
TRINGINAE: Sandpipers |
|
|
|
|
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos |
R |
|
|
|
CHARADRIINAE: Lapwings |
|
|
|
|
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus |
|
R |
|
|
ACCIPITRINAE: Hawks & eagles |
|
|
|
|
Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes |
|
|
|
UN |
Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus |
|
R |
|
|
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus |
|
|
R |
|
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus |
|
|
R |
|
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela |
R |
R |
UN |
|
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus |
|
|
R |
|
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo |
R |
|
|
R |
Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus |
|
|
R |
|
Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis |
|
R |
|
|
FALCONIDAE: Falcons |
|
|
|
|
White-rumped Falcon Polihierax insignis |
|
R |
R |
|
Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens |
|
|
R |
UN |
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus |
R |
|
|
|
Oriental Hobby Falco severus |
|
|
R |
|
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus |
|
|
|
R |
ARDEIDAE: Egrets & herons |
|
|
|
|
Little Egret Egretta garzetta |
R |
R |
|
|
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis |
C |
C |
|
|
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii |
|
|
R |
|
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax |
|
R |
|
|
CICONIIDAE: CICONIINAE: Storks |
|
|
|
|
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus |
R |
|
|
|
PITTIDAE: Pittas |
|
|
|
|
Blue-naped Pitta nipalensis |
|
|
R |
|
IRENIDAE: Fairy bulebirds & leafbirds |
|
|
|
|
Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella |
R |
|
|
|
Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons |
C |
C |
C |
C |
LANIIDAE: Shrikes |
|
|
|
|
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus |
C |
C |
|
UN |
Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides |
C |
C |
|
|
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach |
C |
C |
|
|
CORVINAE: Corvini: Jays, magpies, treepies & crows |
|
|
|
|
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius |
|
|
|
UN |
Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha |
R |
UN |
C |
UN |
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda |
UN |
UN |
C |
C |
Hooded Treepie Crypsirina cucullata |
R |
|
|
|
House Crow Corvus splendens |
UN |
|
|
|
Artamini: Woodswallows |
|
|
|
|
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus |
R |
R |
|
|
Oriolini: Orioles, cuckooshrikes, minivets & flycatcher-shrikes |
|
|
|
|
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis |
R |
UN |
R |
C |
Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei |
R |
UN |
UN |
C |
Indochinese Cuckooshrike Coracina polioptera |
|
R |
|
|
Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos |
|
UN |
|
|
Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Swinhoe's Minivet Pericrocotus cantonensis |
|
|
UN |
|
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus |
UN |
|
|
|
Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus |
|
UN |
|
|
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike Hemipus picatus |
|
C |
C |
C |
DICRURINAE: Rhipidurini: Fantails |
|
|
|
|
White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola |
|
C |
UN |
UN |
Dicrurini: Drongos |
|
|
|
|
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus |
C |
UN |
UN |
UN |
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus |
UN |
UN |
C |
C |
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus |
UN |
C |
C |
C |
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer |
|
|
|
R |
Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus |
|
|
UN |
UN |
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus |
|
C |
C |
C |
Monarchini: Monarchs & paradise-flycatchers |
|
|
|
|
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi |
|
UN |
|
|
AEGITHININAE: Ioras |
|
|
|
|
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia |
UN |
UN |
UN |
UN |
MALACONOTINAE: Vangini: Woodshrikes |
|
|
|
|
Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis |
|
R |
|
|
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus |
|
C |
C |
C |
MUSCICAPIDAE: TURDINAE: Thrushes |
|
|
|
|
Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus |
|
R |
R |
|
MUSCICAPINAE: Muscicapini: Old World flycatchers |
|
|
|
|
Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva |
|
C |
UN |
UN |
Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra |
|
R |
|
|
Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris |
|
|
|
R |
Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides |
|
C |
C |
C |
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae |
|
C |
C |
C |
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis |
|
|
C |
UN |
Saxicolini: Chats & allies |
|
|
|
|
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis |
C |
C |
UN |
C |
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus |
UN |
C |
C |
C |
Black-backed Forktail Enicurus immaculatus |
|
R |
R |
R |
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura |
|
|
R |
|
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata |
C |
C |
|
|
STURNIDAE: Sturnini: Starlings & mynas |
|
|
|
|
Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra |
C |
C |
|
|
Vinous-breasted Starling Sturnus burmannicus |
C |
C |
|
|
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis |
C |
|
UN |
|
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus |
UN |
R |
|
|
Hill Myna Gracula religiosa |
|
C |
C |
C |
SITTIDAE: SITTINAE: Nuthatches |
|
|
|
|
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea |
|
C |
C |
C |
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis |
|
C |
C |
C |
PARINAE: Typical tits |
|
|
|
|
Great Tit Parus major |
|
C |
C |
C |
HIRUNDININAE: Martins & swallows |
|
|
|
|
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica |
C |
C |
R |
UN |
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica |
UN |
|
|
|
Striated Swallow Hirundo striolata |
|
R |
|
|
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus |
|
|
|
R |
PYCNONOTIDAE: Bulbuls |
|
|
|
|
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus |
R |
C |
C |
C |
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer |
C |
C |
|
UN |
Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi |
C |
C |
|
|
Olive Bulbul Iole virescens |
|
|
C |
C |
CISTICOLIDAE: African warblers (Cisticolas & prinias) |
|
|
|
|
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis |
UN |
R |
|
|
Hill Prinia Prinia superciliaris |
R |
UN |
|
|
Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii |
C |
C |
UN |
C |
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata |
R |
|
|
|
SYLVIIDAE: ACROCEPHALINAE: Warblers & tailorbirds |
|
|
|
|
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius |
C |
C |
C |
C |
Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis |
|
R |
|
|
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus |
|
|
R |
|
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus |
|
|
UN |
UN |
Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris |
|
|
R |
|
Pale-legged Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes |
|
R |
|
|
GARRULACINAE: Laughingthrushes |
|
|
|
|
White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus |
|
R |
C |
C |
Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger |
|
C |
C |
C |
Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis |
|
|
C |
C |
SYLVINAE: Timaliini: Babblers |
|
|
|
|
Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps |
R |
UN |
C |
C |
White-browed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps |
|
|
R |
|
Rufous-fronted Babbler |