VIETNAM TOUR REPORT 2023

2 - 23 / 26 March 2023

by Dáni Balla

It was the second time Birdquest completed this itinerary in Vietnam, seeing as many as possible of the specialties of the country. Our 2023 tour did a good job collecting endemic and range-restricted birds in the country and recorded a total of 450 bird species complemented with some unforgettable mammal sightings. Starting in the lowland rainforest of Cat Tien and reaching the highest peak of Indochina, during the extension, almost all possible habitats were birded in the region with such highlights seen as Bar-bellied Pitta, Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant and Orange-necklaced Partridge in Cat Tien as a start. Driving further north around Da Lat we had great views of Blue Pitta, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Collared Laughingthrush, Black-crowned Parrotbill and Vietnamese Cutia. Exploring the Central Highlands which were rewarding us with Austen’s Brown Hornbills, the very localized Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Annam Prinia to name a few. Ngoc Linh is famous for the Golden-winged Laughingthrush which we had superb views of aside of Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Indochinese Fulvetta, ‘Annam’ Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Rusty-capped Fulvetta and Black-crowned Barwings in probably the most magnificent forest on the whole tour. Reaching further north Indochinese Wren-Babbler, Red-collared Woodpecker, Sooty Babbler and Annam Limestone Babbler were seen amongst many others while Red-shanked Doucs were just amazing on a few spots. The main tour ended birding around Tam Dao where Grey Laughingthrush and Short-tailed Parrotbill were the main targets we saw well!
On the extension in the northwest we managed superb views of Pale-throated Wren-Babbler while Black-faced and Blue-winged Laughingthrush, ‘Tonkin’ White-browed Fulvetta, Collared Yuhina were added in the meantime, just to name of few of the best there.

After leaving Ho Chi-Minh city we reached Cat Tien National Park, the best-preserved lowland rainforest in Vietnam. Spending four nights here tells us that there is a lot to see here! Our first morning started with a Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl before heading out to start birding. One of the star species of the park, the Bar-bellied Pitta was bagged soon together with the trickier Blue-rumped Pitta on our first morning, after the gibbon chorus went silent. Our time spent in the area turned out to be focused on the Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant as it took several attempts to see it, but finally a magnificent male appeared at a feeding station to amaze us. On the trails we found Grey-faced Tit-Babblers together with the more widespread Pin-striped ones. With some work and persistence, we finally had views of a Pale-headed Woodpecker pair and a group of three Orange-necked Partridges were seen feeding near the road. The forest floor is always worth concentrating on and that is how we managed to spot Siamese Fireback from the car, while Green-legged Partridge, Siberian Blue Robin and Puff-throated Babblers entertained us at the feeding stations. Black-and-buff and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers were seen around the HQ area which also had numerous Golden-crested Mynas every day. Birding along the forest edge resulted in us seeing Swinhoe’s Minivets, Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, many Vernal Hanging-Parrots, the always loud Green-eared Barbets and a close Orange-breasted Trogon amongst many other great birds. Once, staying out until dark in the forest produced a pair of Collared Falconet, a couple of loud Red-breasted Parakeets going to roost before the sun disappeared and Blyth’s Frogmouth and Brown Boobook in the dark. We had short excursions on the more open areas in the park where the tall grassy wetland gave us Lanceolated Warbler and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler. In the reeds, Chestnut-capped Babblers were skulking and Black-browed Reed Warbler climbed out more into the open. The farmed plots further down held fantastic Green Peafowls for us and this area was the place where we found Plain-backed Sparrow – such a nice bird – and some species perching more in the open such as Indochinese Roller and Vinous-breasted Starlings.

The forest covered pass near Di Linh was our next location to bird after leaving Cat Tien. The site used to be the best to find the endemic Orange-breasted Laughingthrush but uncontrolled trapping during the Covid years ended in a tragedy and currently there is not a single known site where the species still occurs. We hope that a ray of light might shine through soon and a new spot will be discovered where the species still thrives in the wild. Our first afternoon birding was very quiet and was luckily interrupted by news from a local that the nearby blind had a Blue Pitta, which we went for immediately. We didn’t have to wait too long before a male appeared showing the rusty tint on its breast, characteristic of the local willoughbyi race, in front of us. Next morning started in another hide with another Blue Pitta and Large Scimitar-Babbler putting up a show for us, White-throated Rock Thrush, Orange-headed Thrush, Blue-and-white Flycatcher also showing well, a female Siberian Thrush being the icing on the cake. While birding on the local trails we saw Alström’s Warbler, Long-tailed Broadbill, Red-vented Barbet and the first Vietnamese Greenfinch of the tour. A birding stop before lunch in a more open area surprised us with a Yellow-legged Buttonquail which we flushed near the trail.

The famous Da Lat plateau, home for several local forms and endemic species was the next main birding area on the tour. On our first afternoon we concentrated on the higher open grasslands where we tricked the Dalat Bush Warbler into views and had our first Burmese Shrikes, Blyth’s Leaf Warblers and robinsoni race Black-headed Sibias. In the dark we had fantastic views of Grey and Large-tailed Nightjars and a Hodgson’s Frogmouth, which we had failed to see at Di Linh, so it was a nice gripback. The next few days we explored the forests in the area and enjoyed close views of some of the specialties from the local hides in the BiDoup Nui Ba National Park. Amazing close encounters with a small flock of Collared Laughingthrush, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails, Grey-bellied Tesia, White-tailed Robin, decorata Large Niltava and noisy Mountain and Black-crowned Fulvetta were enjoyed from hides. Birding in the nearby Ta Nung Valley we found the endemic Grey-crowned Croicias, a surprise Eye-browed Thrush and gems like the local johnsi subspecies of Black-throated Sunbird, sometimes referred as Langbian Sunbird and annamensis Mrs. Gould’s Sunbirds. Also, the best views of a feeding White-cheeked Laughingthrush flock were obtained here.
In the pine forests of the area, we worked hard to finally see a noisy group of three Vietnamese Cutias, while the meridionalis race of Red Crossbill, the endemic Vietnamese Greenfinch, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch and Slender-billed Oriole were also found. After successful hide sessions birding on roadsides and along the forests produced margaritae Common Green Magpie (or Yellow-crowned Green Magpie), Black-headed Parrotbill and Dalat Shrike-Babbler (which is now lumped back into White-browed) while listening to a Langbiang Shortwing singing in the background. The canopy was loaded with Barbets from which Indochinese and Necklaced were the special ones we saw in the region. The Tuyam Lam lake near the town has some superb birding and leisure spots where we saw a flock of Little Cormorants and an Osprey.
On the day leaving the area we had a brief stop in a nice valley where Long-tailed and Silver-breasted Broadbills and a beautiful male Asian Fairy-bluebird were highlights. Bar-backed Partridge remained a heard-only.

A long drive to Mang Den was interrupted with a stop at Lak Lake where Cinnamon and Yellow Bitterns were seen on the floating vegetation while the trees on the shore were occupied by Black-collared Starlings, Great Mynas, Vinous-breasted Starling and some of us even saw a few White-shouldered Starlings pass by. Further north another stop in the afternoon was made to see the endemic Annam Prinia, while Yellow-eyed Babbler, Grey-breasted Prinia and a Siberian Rubythroat were nice additions to our list at the same spot.
In Mang Den we had nice sunny and warm weather which we did enjoy but it seemed it was not the best to find birds. The activity after the early mornings dropped rapidly, but still we managed to find our number one target here, the Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush. The story of this species is very similar to its Orange-breasted sibling as almost all the known birds were trapped out from this site in the past few years. Despite sometimes struggling to find the birds we still managed to see other great species like Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Rufous-faced Warbler, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Speckled Piculet, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Pale-footed Bush Warbler while birding on forest trails or just the main road. Black-hooded Laughingthrushes were teasing us many times and the only views we managed of them were a short glimpse as two birds passed the trail in front of us. A group of Austen’s Brown Hornbill was a delight to see as we followed them a few hundred meters along the road and Grey-faced Buzzard was giving the best views here on the tour.

On the way to Ngoh Linh a stop at Kontum Dakto wetlands was rewarding us with Wire-tailed Swallow, Indochinese Bushlark, a visible Dusky Warbler and Little Ringed Plovers as one of the few shorebirds of the tour.
Ngoh Linh is a mythical and remote area where the forest has several great species but when climbing the trail, we realized that it also is one of the best and most intact forests we would enter during the whole tour. As with many sites nowadays, birds are fed here and arriving at the dedicated spot we were almost immediately treated with views of Golden-winged Laughingthrush beyond our hopes. While admiring the birds, we recognized a strange relationship between a Golden-winged Laughingthrush and a Red-tailed Laughingthrush as they acted like a pair and finally, we even saw them copulating – not sure it is a good sign for a species with such small distribution and probably low genetic diversity. The site had even more on offer, including the similarly mythical Indochinese Fulvetta and other great species like Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Snowy-browed and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers and friendly Brown-crowned Scimitar Babblers (former Coral-billed) to name a few. A definite highlight was spotting robsoni Golden-breasted Fulvetta (Annam Golden-breasted Fulvetta) as it moved in the dense bushes in front of us. Trekking further up we found the near-endemic Black-crowned Barwing and we enjoyed nice views of Green-tailed Sunbirds. When heading back a feeding flock had some new birds for us including Green Shrike-babbler which strangely occurs here isolated from its main distribution area, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, White-spectacled Warbler and Ashy-throated Warbler. Reaching the road, we birded the area in the afternoon and the next morning to see a distant singing Red-tailed Minla, find Ferruginous Flycatcher and track down a White-winged Magpie after hearing it calling for several frustrating minutes. Before leaving the area a couple Black-crowned Barwing showed well again.

After a longer drive while enjoying the undulating hills and changing landscape we arrived at our next hotel on the seacoast. We had a short time for birding in the garden where Masked Laughingthrush and Grey-capped Greenfinch were rapidly collected. Peter also had a weak Grey-backed Thrush falling into his hand which we released after everyone had a look.
Arriving at Bach Ma early in the morning we did some birding outside the gate finding Pale-legged Leaf Warbler and enjoying the local Asian Palm Swifts. After entering the park, we had a short walk in the lower section’s habitat where we found Black-browed Fulvettas and a surprise Banded Kingfisher which we missed in Cat Tien. On the higher elevations the weather was dry and clear which was not ideal for birding here, activity was very low. Next morning’s weather was less delightful but much better for birds. From our van we had great views of a Silver Pheasant pair, on the trails we found the black crowned gayeti race of Sultan Tits, Indochinese Green Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Green Magpie, Black-throated Laughingthrush, White-gorgeted Flycatcher and Grey-crowned Bushtit (the local annamensis race of Black-crowned).

Birding in the forests close to Khe Sanh (Sa Mu Pass) and along the Lao border to Phong Nha were the next on our itinerary. We were concentrating on Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush which tricked us and remained heard-only despite our many attempts to see it. Necklaced and Moustached Barbets were seen here, Greyish-crowned Leafbirds (lumped back to Orange-breasted) were seen singing, we enjoyed Blue-bearded Bee-eaters sitting in nice light and we spotted a group of Crested Mynas from the bus. A small stream had White-crowned Forktails and our long-awaited Indochinese Wren-Babbler finally called from a hillside. With careful placement of the speaker and positioning of the group we could call down the bird which was moving in front of us for a few minutes. During our birding in the area, we met Red-shanked Douc Langurs. Several individuals of this beautiful primate were showing well as they moved in the tallest trees.
In Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park’s picturesque limestone habitat specialties seen were the localized Limestone Leaf Warbler and the strange Sooty Babbler, both immediately present on our arrival in the area. Before evening we watched Indochinese Black Langurs (Hatinh Langurs) climbing up the limestone cliff to occupy their roosting sites.
Birding early morning, scanning the open forest habitat from above, we saw a pair of nest-building Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Black-winged Cuckooshrikes and Sultan Tits to name a few. Later on, a surprise pair of Oriental Hobbies were watched as they were doing their courtship. Before lunch, we got ourselves on a pair of Spot-necked Babblers along the road. In the afternoon we spotted a pair of Pin-tailed Green Pigeons above us in the canopy and the rice paddies gave us Black Bittern, Pin-tailed and Common Snipes.

A drive to Cuc Phuong the following day with birding at the Van Long Nature Reserve was on our itinerary. The wetland had good numbers of Asian Openbills in the afternoon. Other birds new to the tour at the wetland were a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Garganey and White-browed Crake.
In Cuc Phuong we started in the local hide in the morning, which turned out to be a lucky decision as it started raining while we were there and stopped before we got out. From the hide we enjoyed the show put up by Japanese and Black-breasted Thrush while two Rufous-tailed Robins were stealing mealworms and a Tonkin Partridge was skulking in the back, unfortunately not visible for everyone. Birding in the rest of the day was about locating Red-collared Woodpeckers which were quiet that day. We tried once for Eared Pitta and had a bird answering twice, but we had no real chance finding it as it was too far inside the shrubbery. Walking back to have lunch we had the best views of Fork-tailed Sunbird.
Later in the afternoon we tried for the localized Annam Limestone Babbler and saw three birds hanging around and calling in the forest. A singing White-tailed Flycatcher was lured in and a Chinese Blue Flycatcher surprised us on the same spot.
The second morning we started early trying for the Red-collared Woodpecker again and luckily, we found a responsive but very elusive pair which flew in and stayed in cover most of the time before leaving the site. Other birds seen in the park included a Rosy Minivet, Bianchi’s Warblers and Rufous-throated Fulvetta. Owling after dinner only resulted in a heard Brown Wood Owl and Mountain Scops Owl coming close but not visible, though we found a roosting Chinese Blackbird and a Rufous-tailed Robin sleeping unexpectedly high in the canopy.

We had our last longer drive to Tam Dao crossing Ha Noi on the way today. Birding in Tam Dao is now limited to a single trail of a thousand steps. We started our exercise on our first afternoon spotting Fujian Niltava and a Red-flanked Bluetail near the trail. Climbing further up Grey Laughingthrush and Common a Green Magpie were teasing us but remained unseen the first try. Ending the day with a beautiful Chestnut Bulbul singing above us, as we reached the highest point, was pleasing. Next morning in the fresh air we started our track up the stairs. A Grey-backed Thrush was feeding near the trail and not much further up our climb was interrupted by calling Common Green Magpies, which we tried to localize. Eventually it turned out that they were part of a feeding flock and other members started to reveal themselves so we did see a party of Grey Laughingthrushes, Ratchet-tailed Treepies and Common Green Magpies surrounding us, an incredible start of the day. Forcing ourselves to the top we found Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babblers, David’s Fulvetta and Golden Babblers, while Grey-crowned and Chestnut-crowned Warbler were spotted on the way down. The weather was unusually hot and dry and we turned back to have lunch, while Peter decided to stay and chase his last lifer on the hill, the Short-tailed Parrotbill. As we returned back, we only had to follow him to the spot he just found a bird, which luckily was still hanging around – a big thanks was the least he deserved from us. On our last evening we gave a last try to the Mountain Scops Owl and with patience we finally managed to see both birds of a pair. On the last morning here, and the last morning of the main tour, we first drove to lower elevations and found Red-billed Blue Magpies, incredible numbers of the pale bellied rhizophorae form of Olive-backed Sunbird and a collurioides Burmese Shrike. When we went back to the stairs, there was a huge flock active along the way. We started harvesting picking out yet another Short-tailed Parrotbill, Sulphur-breasted and Claudia’s Leaf Warblers, Grey-throated Babblers and Golden Babblers as a finish of the main tour. We drove back to Hanoi and left the ones behind not joining the extension.

Driving to Sapa is a relatively fast journey thanks to the motorway. No birding was done on the first afternoon as we arrived at our nice hotel in the early evening. The next day we got up to the top of Fansipan Mountain with the new cable car. The ride itself is a magnificent one but as one is looking around from the ‘Roof of Indochina’ the vast mountain range reveals itself and the breath-taking scenery shocks any visitors. We were treated to beautiful weather on the top, though strong wind was sometimes disturbing and probably was limiting bird activity. Our first birds spotted was a pair of confiding White-browned Fulvetta from the local valentinae race also referred as Tonkin Fulvetta. The trail on the top is not one of thee easiest ones but depending on the day can be fruitful. The main target in the higher elevations here is the Bar-winged Wren-Babbler of which we heard several singing far above the trail and got short views of one after luring it closer. We were lucky to find a pair of Black-faced Laughingthrushes displaying and collecting nest material, while a pair of Blue-winged Laughingthrushes were seen crossing a small valley after answering the tape for several minutes. We had a chance to observe a feeding party of Stripe-throated Yuhinas joined by Bar-throated Minla, Grey-crowned Warbler and a surprise Crested Finchbill. White-collared Yuhinas were coming close a few times. Chestnut-headed Tesia was performing for us several times, sometimes coming closer than half a meter.
The second morning of the extension, we rapidly collected White-capped Redstart, Rufous-bellied Niltava at a waterfall and a roadside Manchurian Bush Warbler as a bonus before trekking our way higher on the foothills of Fansipan mountain in search for our main target, the localized and near-endemic Pale-throated Wren-Babbler. Our constant effort finding the species paid off when finally Quang spotted a bird coming closer. It started singing just a few meters from us and we had an incredible sighting of this forest gem. We walked the same trail back which gave us White-browned Bush Robin, Sapphire Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler, Pygmy Cupwing and Himalayan Cuckoo to name a few of the seen birds. On the way back to lunch a Black-capped Greenfinch was seen from the bus, to whet our appetite. After lunch and a short break, we went back to the same area and tried another trail where after a quiet hour we bumped into a feeding flock which had Clicking and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, Black-faced Warblers, a Pygmy Flycatcher pair, Chestnut-flanked White-eye and several Leaf Warblers including Ashy-throated and Pallas’s. On the way back to the hotel we stopped to check a perched bird near the road which turned out to be a Rosy Pipit, a nice addition to the list.
On our last morning of the tour we had an easy walk in the Ham Rong gardens and were enjoying good birding activity in the morning. Several Chestnut-flanked White-eyes were seen, a pair of Black-throated Sunbird and Small Niltava was hanging around. A bigger feeding flock had Whiskered Yuhina and a Red-billed Leiothrix. The dense vegetation in the top had a small flock of Parrotbills, both Ashy-throated and Vinous-throated were showing well while a Siberian Rubythroat was feeding in the same area. Around the top we managed to lure a Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler into view and a White’s Thrush was seen feeding between the flowering plants as one of the last birds of our tour.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

BIRDS

Garganey Spatula querquedula

Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata Non-leader. Seen in a flock of Garganey by a tour participant.

Gadwall Mareca strepera

Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis Heard-only

Bar-backed Partridge ◊ Arborophila brunneopectus Heard-only

Orange-necked Partridge ◊ Arborophila davidi Near endemic, three birds seen extremely close near the trail in Cat Tien

Silver Pheasant ◊ Lophura nycthemera A pair ssp. beli seen in Bach Ma and a surprise male nominate race flushed with the bus in Bach Ma

Siamese Fireback ◊ Lophura diardi We stopped the bus to watch them as they were slowly walking back into the forest in Cat Tien

Green Peafowl ◊ Pavo muticus

Green-legged Partridge ◊ (Tonkin P, Chestnut-necklaced P) Tropicoperdix chloropus Potentially split in the future. The race cognacqi seen in Cat Tien, ssp. merlini (a.k.a. Annam Partridge) heard-only in Bach Ma and ssp. tonkinensis (a.k.a. Tonkin Partridge) seen briefly in Cuc Phuong.

Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant ◊ Polyplectron germaini A male finally came in front of the hide in Cat Tien

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

Great Eared Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis

Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka

Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus

Hodgson’s Frogmouth ◊ Batrachostomus hodgsoni Seen near Dalat, after heard-only at Di Linh

Blyth’s Frogmouth ◊ Batrachostomus affinis Seen in Cat Tien

Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris

Germain’s Swiftlet Aerodramus germani

Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis

Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus

Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis

Cook’s Swift ◊ Apus cooki

House Swift Apus nipalensis

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis Heard-only

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus Seen by a few flying by from the bus in Cat Tien, heard-only for the rest as it answered the tape after stopping

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus

Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus

Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus

Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii

Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris

Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides Heard-only

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx nisicolor

Indian Cuckoo Cuculus Micropterus Heard-only

Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus

Rock Dove (introduced) Columba livia

Ashy Wood Pigeon ◊ Columba pulchricollis Heard-only

Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

Barred Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia unchall

Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

Zebra Dove (introduced) Geopelia striata

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicinctus

Ashy-headed Green Pigeon Treron phayrei

Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon Treron apicauda

Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea

Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio [poliocephalus] viridis

White-browed Crake Poliolimnas cinereus

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Heard-only

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki One flushed near Di Linh and watched until it landed

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans

Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax seen by one and heard-only for most of us in Cat Tien

Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

Great Egret (Eastern G E) Ardea [alba] modesta

Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus

Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela

Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus

Shikra Accipiter badius

Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus

Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus

Oriental Bay Owl ◊ Phodilus badius Heard-only, a distant bird near Dalat

Brown Boobook (B Boobook) Ninox scutulata

Collared Owlet Taenioptynx brodiei

Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides

Mountain Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus After several heard finally a pair seen at Tam Dao on the last night of the main tour

Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia Heard-only, a very distant bird near Dalat

Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl ◊ Bubo nipalensis Our first bird on our first morning in Cat Tien

Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica

Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios

Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris

Austen’s Brown Hornbill ◊ (Northern Brown H) Anorrhinus austeni A small flock seen near Mang Den

Indochinese Roller Coracias affinis

Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella  A surprise male seen in Bach Ma after heard-only birds in Cat Tien

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Non-leader

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni

Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti

Great Barbet Psilopogon virens Heard-only on the extension

Red-vented Barbet ◊ Psilopogon lagrandieri

Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus Seen by a few and heard-only for the rest

Green-eared Barbet ◊ Psilopogon faiostrictus

Golden-throated Barbet Psilopogon franklinii Heard-only in Tam Dao

Necklaced Barbet ◊ Psilopogon auricularis

Indochinese Barbet ◊ (Annam B) Psilopogon annamensis

Moustached Barbet ◊ Psilopogon incognitus

Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon duvaucelii

Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus

Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus

White-browed Piculet Sasia ochracea

Heart-spotted Woodpecker ◊ Hemicircus canente

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus canicapillus

Stripe-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos atratus

White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis Heard-only

Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus

Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus

Red-collared Woodpecker ◊ Picus rabieri A shy pair seen in Cuc Phuong

Grey-headed Woodpecker (Black-naped W) Picus canus

Common Flameback Dinopium javanense

Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Pale-headed Woodpecker ◊ Gecinulus grantia A pair seen well after several attempts in Cat Tien

Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis

Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus

Black-and-buff Woodpecker ◊ Meiglyptes jugularis A friendly individual seen in Cat Tien feeding like a hanging parrot

Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens

Oriental Hobby Falco severus A pair seen displaying and mating at Phong Nha – Ke Bang NP

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Leader-only

Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri

Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis

Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae

Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus

Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos

Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus

Eared Pitta ◊ Hydrornis phayrei Heard-only

Rusty-naped Pitta ◊ Hydrornis oatesi Heard-only

Blue-rumped Pitta ◊ Hydrornis soror Seen in Cat Tien

Blue Pitta ◊ Hydrornis cyaneus The local race willoughbyi seen near Di Linh

Bar-bellied Pitta Hydrornis elliotii Best views in Cat Tien from the hide, but several recorded up until Cuc Phuong

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus

Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus

Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus One bird seen at Cat Tien headquarters, a tour write-in

Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

Great Iora Aegithina lafresnayei

Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris

Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris

Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus

Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus

Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus

Swinhoe’s Minivet ◊ Pericrocotus cantonensis

Rosy Minivet ◊ Pericrocotus roseus One seen in Cuc Phuong

Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei

Black-winged Cuckooshrike Lalage melaschistos

Indochinese Cuckooshrike Lalage polioptera

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides Several ssp. nigricapillus seen in Annam and a ssp. collurioides near Tam Dao

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

Green Shrike-babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus One (or two) birds seen in a feeding flock on Ngoc Linh Mountain, a write-in to the list. A very interesting, isolated population in the region is far from the nearest Himalayan populations.

Black-eared Shrike-babbler Pteruthius melanotis

White-browed Shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus

Dalat Shrike-babbler Pteruthius [aeralatus] annamensis Lumped back into White-browed Shrike-Babbler. A few individuals seen near Dalat

Clicking Shrike-babbler Pteruthius intermedius

White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca

Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii

Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris

Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus Non-leader

Ashy Drongo (Chinese White-faced D) Dicrurus leucophaeus Common in South and Central. Only two wintering leucogenis seen in Cat Tien.

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher ◊ Terpsiphone affinis

Eurasian Jay ◊ (White-faced J) Garrulus [glandarius] leucotis

Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythroryncha

White-winged Magpie ◊ Urocissa whiteheadi

Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis

Common Green Magpie ◊ (Yellow-crowned G M) Cissa [chinensis] margaritae One seen near Dalat

Indochinese Green Magpie ◊ Cissa hypoleuca

Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia

Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus First seen in Bach Ma, then a few put on a show at Tam Dao in a flock.

Large-billed Crow (Southern Jungle C) Corvus macrorhynchos

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus

Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea

Sultan Tit ◊ (Annam S T) Melanochlora [sultanea] gayeti

Japanese Tit Parus minor

Green-backed Tit ◊ (Langbian T) Parus [monticolus] legendrei

Yellow-cheeked Tit Machlolophus spilonotus

Indochinese Bush Lark ◊ Mirafra erythrocephala

Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus

Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus

Grey-eyed Bulbul Iole propinqua

Ashy Bulbul ◊ (Brown-backed B) Hemixos [flavala] remotus

Chestnut Bulbul ◊ Hemixos castanonotus

Mountain Bulbul (Southern M B) Ixos mcclellandii

Black Bulbul (Himalayan B B) Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Black-headed Bulbul Brachypodius melanocephalos

Black-crested Bulbul Rubigula flaviventris

Crested Finchbill Spizixos canifrons A single bird seen moving with a feeding flock on Fansipan

Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus conradi

Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni

Flavescent Bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens

Brown-breasted Bulbul ◊ Pycnonotus xanthorrhous

Light-vented Bulbul (Chinese B) Pycnonotus sinensis

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Southern S-h B) Pycnonotus aurigaster

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Northern S-h B) Pycnonotus [aurigaster] latouchei

Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Siberian House Martin Delichon lagopodium A write-in, single individuals seen twice in Annam.

Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata

Scaly-breasted Cupwing (S-b Wren-Babbler) Pnoepyga albiventer

Pygmy Cupwing (P Wren-Babbler) Pnoepyga pusilla

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris

Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis

Black-faced Warbler ◊ Abroscopus schisticeps

Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus

Broad-billed Warbler ◊ Tickellia hodgsoni A single bird spotted in a feeding flock on the extension.

Manchurian Bush Warbler Horornis canturians A roadside bird singing softly above us.

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler Horornis fortipes

Aberrant Bush Warbler Horornis flavolivaceus Heard-only on the extension

Grey-bellied Tesia Tesia cyaniventer

Chestnut-headed Tesia Cettia castaneocoronata Ridiculously close views of individuals on the extension.

Pale-footed Bush Warbler Hemitesia pallidipes

Black-throated Bushtit Aegithalos concinnus

Black-throated Bushtit ◊ (Grey-crowned B) Aegithalos [concinnus] annamensis

Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus

Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus

Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus

White-spectacled Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus intermedius

Grey-cheeked Warbler Phylloscopus poliogenys

Grey-crowned Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus tephrocephalus

Bianchi’s Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus valentine A few seen in Cuc Phuong

Alström’s Warbler ◊ (Plain-tailed W) Phylloscopus soror Two individuals near Di Linh

Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus

Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes

Chestnut-crowned Warbler Phylloscopus castaniceps

Limestone Leaf Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus calciatilis Seen in Phong Nha – Ke Bang NP

Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides

Claudia’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus claudiae

Kloss’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus ogilviegranti

Davison’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus intensior

Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps

Thick-billed Warbler Arundinax aedon

Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler (Rusty-rumped W) Helopsaltes certhiola

Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata

Dalat Bush Warbler ◊ (Vietnamese B-w) Locustella idonea Seen one well after heard several near Dalat

Zitting Cisticola (Double Z C) Cisticola [juncidis] tinnabulans Heard-only

Annam Prinia ◊ Prinia rocki Seen in Central Annam.

Hill Prinia Prinia superciliaris

Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii

Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis

Golden-breasted Fulvetta ◊ (Annam G-b F) Lioparus [chrysotis] robsoni One of this jewel seen on Ngoc Linh Mountain

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense

Indochinese Fulvetta ◊ Fulvetta danisi Fantastic views of a few individuals on Ngoc Linh Mountain

White-browed Fulvetta ◊ (Tonkin F) Fulvetta [vinipectus] valentinae A friendly species on Fansipan

Grey-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus gularis One bird seen nicely near Mang Den

Black-headed Parrotbill ◊ (Black-crowned P) Psittiparus margaritae Heard several, seen one very well near Dalat

Short-tailed Parrotbill ◊ Neosuthora davidiana The first individual worked out by Peter, the second one next day in a flock seen even better at Tam Dao.

Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthora webbiana Individuals mixing up with Ashy-throated ones in the Hom Rong Gardens

Ashy-throated Parrotbill ◊ Sinosuthora alphonsiana

White-collared Yuhina ◊ Parayuhina diademata A pair seen on Fansipan

Indochinese Yuhina ◊ (Chestnut-collared Y) Staphida torqueola Flocks seen in Bach Ma

Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta

Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis

Stripe-throated Yuhina ◊ Yuhina gularis Seen in the mist of Ngoc Linh and more in the sunshine on Fansipan

Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus

Warbling White-eye Zosterops japonicus

Indian White-eye (Oriental W-e) Zosterops palpebrosus

Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata

Grey-faced Tit-Babbler ◊ Mixornis kelleyi Several parties recorded in Cat Tien

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Mixornis gularis

Golden Babbler Cyanoderma chrysaeum

Rufous-capped Babbler Cyanoderma ruficeps Heard-only

Bar-winged Wren-Babbler ◊ Spelaeornis troglodytoides Heard several and seen one briefly on Fansipan

Pale-throated Wren-Babbler ◊ Spelaeornis kinneari Fantastic views of an individual near Sapa

Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler ◊ (Coral-billed S B) Pomatorhinus ferruginosus Ngoc Linh had small group coming to eat the mealworms.

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis

White-browed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps

Large Scimitar Babbler Erythrogenys hypoleucos

Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps

Sooty Babbler ◊ Stachyris herberti Located and seen as soon as arriving to Phong Nha

Spot-necked Babbler ◊ Stachyris strialata Seen roadsise birds near Phong Nha

Scaly-crowned Babbler (Indochinese B) Malacopteron [cinereum] indochinense A pair seen in Cat Tien

Rufous-winged Fulvetta Schoeniparus castaneceps

Black-crowned Fulvetta ◊ Schoeniparus klossi Endemic. Four birds seen near Dalat.

Rufous-throated Fulvetta Schoeniparus rufogularis

Rusty-capped Fulvetta ◊ Schoeniparus dubius Seen well on Ngoc Linh and in the Hom Rong Gardens

Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps

Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli

Abbott’s Babbler Malacocincla abbotti

Streaked Wren-Babbler ◊ Gypsophila brevicaudata Clear views of birds at Tam Dao

Annam Limestone Babbler ◊ Gypsophila annamensis Three birds seen together seen in Cuc Phuong

Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler ◊ (Indochinese Wren-Babbler) Napothera danjoui A tricky species this year, finally seen one individual near the Lao border while skulking and singing in the undergrowth

Black-browed Fulvetta ◊ Alcippe grotei

David’s Fulvetta ◊ Alcippe davidi

Mountain Fulvetta ◊ (Annam F) Alcippe [peracensis] annamensis

Vietnamese Cutia ◊ Cutia legalleni A noisy flock of three birds seen near Dalat after several sites visited to find them

Grey-crowned Crocias ◊ Laniellus langbianis Seen a few individuals near Dalat

Scaly Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron subunicolor Heard-only on Fansipan

Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron squamatum Two birds (probably a pair) seen flying after answering the tape for several minutes on Fansipan. A tour write-in

Black-faced Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron affine A displaying and nest-building pair and a confiding individual seen on Fansipan

Red-tailed Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron milnei Seen on Ngoc Linh Mountain

Collared Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron yersini A flock of five was coming for the mealworms near Dalat

Golden-winged Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron ngoclinhense Incredible views of five birds all together on Ngoc Linh

Black-headed Sibia Heterophasia desgodinsi the race tonkinensis seen near Sapa

Black-headed Sibia ◊ (Brownish-backed S) Heterophasia [desgodinsi] kingi Small flocks seen on Ngoc Linh Mountain

Black-headed Sibia ◊ (White-spectacled S) Heterophasia [desgodinsi] robinsoni Endemic subspecies, several seen around Dalat

Blue-winged Minla Actinodura cyanouroptera

Blue-winged Minla ◊ (Plain M) Actinodura [cyanouroptera] orientalis

Bar-throated Minla Actinodura strigula

Black-crowned Barwing ◊ Actinodura sodangorum Several seen well on Ngoc Linh

Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea Seen one in the Hom Rong Gardens

Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris

Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta

Rufous-backed Sibia ◊ Leioptila annectens The eximia subspecies was seen near Dalat

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger

White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus

Black-hooded Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax millet Heard loud flocks few times, briefly seen only two passing a narrow trail in front of us near Mang Den.

Grey Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax maesi Noisy flock feeding and moving around us at Tam Dao

Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax castanotis Heard-only, some scattered glimpses by some of us.

Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush ◊ Ianthocincla konkakinhensis Three individuals seen near Mang Den. A very sad story of cage birds behind, currently the last known wild birds in the area are the ones seen by us.

White-cheeked Laughingthrush ◊ Pterorhinus vassal Flocks of more than a dozen seen around Dalat

Black-throated Laughingthrush ◊ Pterorhinus chinensis Seen a few times in the Central and North

Masked Laughingthrush ◊ Pterorhinus perspicillatus Five birds seen at Lang Co

Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis

Yellow-billed Nuthatch ◊ Sitta solangiae

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis

Golden-crested Myna ◊ Ampeliceps coronatus Every day seen in Cat Tien, largest flock consisting of 40+ individuals

Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa

Great Myna (White-vented M) Acridotheres grandis

Crested Myna ◊ Acridotheres cristatellus

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

Vinous-breasted Starling ◊ (V-b Myna) Acridotheres [burmannicus] leucocephalus

Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis

White-shouldered Starling ◊ Sturnia sinensis Non-leader, flock of three flying by at the Lak Lake

White’s Thrush Zoothera aurea

Siberian Thrush Geokichla sibirica A beautiful female visiting a hide near Di Linh was seen

Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina

Chinese Blackbird Turdus mandarinus

Black-breasted Thrush Turdus dissimilis Seen few in Cuc Phuong

Japanese Thrush ◊ Turdus cardis Few dozen seen in Cuc Phuong

Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum A weak bird caught in Lang Co, another seen in the very early morning in Cuc Phuong

Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea

White-tailed Flycatcher ◊ Leucoptilon concretum A male heard singing then lured into our views in Cuc Phuong

White-gorgeted Flycatcher Anthipes monileger

Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus Both the nominate and the distinct klossi race seen.

Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊ Cyornis unicolor

Indochinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis sumatrensis

Chinese Blue Flycatcher ◊ Cyornis glaucicomans A female then the next morning a pair seen in Cuc Phuong

Fujian Niltava ◊ Niltava davidi Seen from the stairs at Tam Dao

Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara A pair seen near Sapa, a write-in to this tour’s list

Large Niltava Niltava grandis

Large Niltava ◊ (Dalat N) Niltava [grandis] decorata

Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae

Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana A male seen stealing a mealworm near Di Linh

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus

Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophris Heard-only

Lesser Shortwing ◊ (Langbian L S) Brachypteryx [leucophris] langbianensis Heard-only

Siberian Blue Robin Larvivora cyane

Rufous-tailed Robin ◊ Larvivora sibilans Cuc Phuong had a few individuals for us, even found one roosting in the canopy during owling.

Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope

White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura

White-browed Bush Robin Tarsiger indicus Seen briefly on the extension

Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus

Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri Leader-only, on the extension

Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus

White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti

Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus A pair seen visiting a hide near Dalat

Blue Whistling Thrush (Yellow-billed W T) Myophonus caeruleus

Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki

Pygmy Flycatcher ◊ Ficedula hodgsoni A pair seen in a feeding flock on the extension near Sapa

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata

Sapphire Flycatcher ◊ Ficedula sapphira Another extension bird, seen near Sapa

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra

Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla

Plumbeous Water Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus

White-capped Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

White-throated Rock Thrush Monticola gularis

Siberian Stonechat (Tibetan S) Saxicola [maurus] przewalskii A male seen on the extension

Amur Stonechat (Stejneger’s S) Saxicola stejnegeri

Pied Bush Chat (P Bushchat) Saxicola caprata

Grey Bush Chat (G Bushchat) Saxicola ferreus

Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis moluccensis

Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons

Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii

Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum minullum

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis

Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis

Olive-backed Sunbird (Ornate S) Cinnyris jugularis

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird ◊ (Annam S) Aethopyga [gouldiae] annamensis Best views were near Dalat

Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis

Fork-tailed Sunbird ◊ Aethopyga christinae

Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata

Black-throated Sunbird ◊ (Langbian S) Aethopyga [saturata] johnsi Very close views in the Ta Nung Valley near Dalat

Crimson Sunbird (Greater C S) Aethopyga siparaja

Purple-naped Sunbird Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum

Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra

Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

Plain-backed Sparrow ◊ Passer flaveolus A nice male seen in Cat Tien

House Sparrow (introduced) Passer domesticus

Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail (Amur W) Motacilla [alba] leucopsis

White Wagtail (Himalayan W) Motacilla [alba] alboides

Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus A roadside surprise perched for a few seconds on a treetop at eye-level near Sapa. A tour write-in

Grey-capped Greenfinch (Oriental G) Chloris sinica

Vietnamese Greenfinch ◊ Chloris monguilloti Single individuals and a pair seen around Dalat

Black-headed Greenfinch ◊ Chloris ambigua One male seen near Sapa

Red Crossbill ◊ (Vietnamese C) Loxia [curvirostra] meridionalis A mountain top had a few near Dalat

Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata A single individual seen briefly and in flight was our only bunting for the tour.

MAMMALS 

Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula One seen in Cat Tien

Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogale personata Probably this species seen early morning in Cuc Phuong, slowly crossing the road in front of our bus.

Northern Red Muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis Three seen in Cat Tien

Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor Four seen in Cat Tien

Northern Smooth-tailed Tree Shrew Dendrogale murina

Northern Treeshrew Tupaia belangeri

Long-tailed Macaque (Crab-eating M) Macaca fascicularis

Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta Seen near Tam Dao

Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus Seen in Bach Ma and along the Lao border

Indochinese Black Langur (H Leaf Monkey) Trachypithecus hatinhensis

Red-cheeked Gibbon (Yellow-cheeked G) Nomascus gabriellae Several noisy ones heard, and a few seen in Cat Tien

Pallas’s Squirrel (Belly-banded S) Callosciurus erythraeus

Indochinese Ground Squirrel Menetes berdmorei

Cambodian Striped Squirrel Tamiops rodolphii

Brown Rat (introduced) Rattus norvegicus