Habitats

Malaysia is separated into two main birding regions - Peninsular Malaysia, and the states of Sabahand Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Many birds are common to both geographic areas though some species, known as endemic, are unique to a certain location,  such as the Malayan Whistling Thrush in the peninsula and the Bornean Blue Flycatcher and Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker in Sabah.

Underscoring the importance of forests, birding activities are concentrated in three distinctive habitat types - montane forests, lowland rainforests and mangroves. Montane forests generally occur above an elevation of 900 metres, where species such as the Mountain Peacock-Pheasant and Mountain Blackeye thrive, in the cool damp climates and stunted trees of these high altitude regions.

Lowland rainforests, including freshwater swamp, peat and hill dipterocarp forests, remain the most extensive habitat for over 200 birds and are crucial to Storm's Stork and Green Imperial Pigeon.

Other birds such as the Common Kingfisher depend on the mangrove forest ecosystems where salt and freshwater environs meet on the coastline fringe. While each habitat provides an excellent birding experience, try to visit several sites in different ecological zones to enjoy the variation in birdlife.