Colour coded set of volumes. High-quality illustrations. Taxonomy and range maps. Excellent coverage of Malaysia’s bird life. Suitable for both amateur and professional bird watchers. The authors also provide a comprehensive guide to bird identification in Malaysia. It is highly recommended for beginners and those with limited knowledge of the local birdlife. However, it is possible to find better resources and guides. Listed below are some of the books available in the market.
Colour coded set of volumes
The Colour Coded Set of Volumes for Birds of Malaysia is a quality field guide that tackles all eighty-nine officially recognized species in Malaysia and Singapore. It features 165 colour plates to demonstrate the diversity of plumage and identifying features. Key facts cover size, voice, status, and habitat. Maps show the main birdwatching sites, and a graphic index makes identification easy. This is a must-have set for any naturalist working in the region.
The volumes include a QR code for online information. Each colour-coded volume has a QR code at the bottom of the page pointing to more information about the bird. This is particularly helpful when you are identifying a new bird species. For example, the volume on eagles includes a QR code for information on the eagle, hawk, and eagle.
The Plates in the Birds of Malaysia series feature all the distinctive subspecies. The quality varies from species to species, and some illustrations were specially commissioned. The plates in Birds of Malaysia are well-spaced and feature the entire range map for each species. There are also maps of ranges and habitats for each species. This is a valuable asset when learning about Malaysian birds. Getting the right guide for the right trip can make all the difference in your success.
The Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and the Birds of Singapore is another useful book for identifying birds in the region. It features maps for Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo, as well as detailed descriptions of birds and their habitat. This book can help you plan a trip to Malaysia and Singapore and identify species and the locations they live in. For birdwatchers, the information provided in this book is invaluable.
High quality illustrations
Birds of Malaysia is one of the most useful field guides for birdwatchers and is available in a wide range of formats and prices. The plates are arranged to showcase distinct species and include range maps. The quality of the illustrations varies depending on the species, but the book’s plates are generally well-spaced and clear. Some of the illustrations are specially commissioned for the book. The colour coding is light orange/deep yellow, which is common for books about birding in Asia, and the other continents. The illustrations are accompanied by useful text and range maps.
A high-quality field guide must have a good map. Malaysia comprises a peninsula and the island of Borneo. The maps for the species in Malaysia are more accurate than those of any other countries. The maps feature subdivisions of each species, with all subspecies mapped. This is a key to success. The illustrations are extremely high quality. The maps are accompanied by high-resolution photographs. This makes them more useful for birdwatchers.
The images are high-quality and are derived from the BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of Birds. Many species of birds in the country are illustrated separately. For example, there is a large species of leaf-warbler, which looks similar to the Spectacled Bulbul. The book’s illustrations show this bulbul alongside other species that are equally strikingly coloured. Nevertheless, it does not include a single dull species.
The Birds of Malaysia field guide is a welcome addition to the Southeast Asian bird-watching world. The publication belongs to the BirdLife International series and covers Peninsular Malaysia, the Malaysian Borneo, and Singapore. The guide is easy-to-use and available in both soft and hard-back versions. The authors, Chris Bradshaw, and Tim Marlow, have written a comprehensive introduction to the birds of the region. In addition, 29 illustrators contributed to the book.
Taxonomy
This guide includes an in-depth description of the taxonomy of birds in Peninsular Malaysia. There are 845 species in total, of which 17 are endemic and 19 have been introduced by humans. Of these, 63 species are listed as globally threatened. The guide outlines the names and family accounts of each species in the context of the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition. The names of some species are tagged to highlight the family accounts they belong to. Others are simply native.
This book provides an introduction to the taxonomy of birds in Malaysia. This text is divided into two sections: the main species and the subspecies that may split into separate taxons in the future. This structure is simple to understand, and potential splits are listed as sub-headings of the main species. Each sub-species is assigned its own text, so the book remains relevant for many years to come.
The Birds of Peninsular Malaysia: A Field Guide by Alan Jeyarajasingam and Craig Robson is the standard reference for birders. However, there are also excellent field guides for birds in East Malaysia, which cover Sabah, Sarawak, and mainland Asia. Neither of these books is comprehensive, but they provide detailed information on the various species of birds found in the area. And while neither of these guides are particularly user-friendly, both of them contain good descriptions and illustrations.
The authors of this book are scientists, which makes it an ideal resource for learning about Malaysian bird taxonomy. Though it has a slightly unorthodox order, this book has the potential to be an excellent field guide. The authors have written detailed descriptions of bird species, so it’s not hard to find the species you’re looking for. For example, the Brown Shrike is classified as two subspecies – Hill Blue and Dayak Blue.
Range maps
Range maps of birds of Malaysia are a common feature of high-quality field guides. These maps of Malaysia’s bird species are more detailed than the previous ones, and include subdivisions of all known subspecies. The maps are printed next to illustrated species and help identify the location of different species. This type of information is essential for birdwatchers in the region. Besides assisting with identification, these maps are useful for research.
Detailed information is available on each bird, including its range, size and habitat. In addition, this information includes the species’ scientific name, the Malay name, subspecies, call description, voice, and alternate names. There is also information about taxonomy and conservation status, and well-marked subspecies are highlighted. In general, a range map of birds of Malaysia will be useful for both birdwatchers and scientists.
Range maps of birds of Malaysia are extremely useful for understanding the movement and habitat requirements of different species. For example, a range map of a rufous hummingbird shows the area of its wintering and breeding ranges. In the eBird database, these range maps are a valuable tool for birdwatchers who want to know more about the birds in Malaysia. You can view them online or print out your own for easy reference.
The BirdLife Biodiversity Project uses point-occurrence data from the eBird website to map the distribution of restricted-range bird species. Using this information, you can identify ‘Endemic Bird Areas’ where two or more restricted-range bird species occur. The project has recently analyzed data collected in 1992 and has identified 218 ‘Endemic Bird Areas’. These are areas with two or more species in one population that has a range size of less than 50,000 km2.
Names
The Bird Conservation Council Records Committee of the Malaysian Nature Society is responsible for compiling a list of birds and their habitats in Malaysia. Their publication, the Bird List of Malaysia, was published in 2005 and updated in 2010. This online database also features images contributed by bird photographers and digiscopers. Listed species are distinguished by their colouring, shape, and other characteristics. They are also distinguished by their call and mating habits.
The Corvidae includes the corvids, crows, and ravens. Corvids are large passerines and rarely settle on the ground. They often perch on vertical surfaces and have long swept-back wings that resemble a boomerang or crescent. There are about 18 species of swifts in Malaysia, including the crested swift and the true swift. These two species have similar plumages and are related.
Terns are medium-sized seabirds that are grey or brown. These long-distance migrants nest on land in tropical and temperate regions. They have webbed feet and long, slender bills and hunt for fish by diving. Terns live for several decades and are one of the most familiar bird species in Malaysia. Listed below are some of the most common species. They have different names in English and Malaysian, so don’t be surprised if you don’t recognise any of them.
The list of Malaysian birds is extensive, and includes 845 species. Of these, 17 are endemic, while 19 have been introduced by humans. One hundred and seventy-three of these species are globally threatened. The names of the species are listed in accordance with the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition. The names are followed closely by family accounts and species counts. Some species are highlighted with tags, while others are simply common native species.
John is passionate about discovering the beautiful birds of the globe. He is researching & sharing the best birds of all countries that he can find to share his passion & hobby with the world.
