DOI INTHANON BIRDING TOUR
1-4 days
Doi Inthanon showcases the altitudinal zonation of natural and semi-natural vegetation in northern Thailand.The lower hill slopes, characterized by poor, stony soils, are dominated by open, dry dipterocarp forests, transitioning to lowland evergreen forests only near larger streams. As the altitude increases, evergreen forests become more dominant, replacing dry dipterocarp forests with hill evergreen or "lower montane" forests around 900-1000 meters. Lush, broadleaved evergreen forests cover the area up to the summit. Since Doi Inthanon is approximately 300 meters higher than any other mountain in Thailand, the forest surrounding its peak is unique. It is the only site in Thailand resembling a true "upper montane" formation.
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BIRD FAUNA
Doi Inthanon is home to a rich bird fauna, with a total of 382 species recorded so far. Of these, at least 266 species are resident or were formerly resident on the mountain. The status of an additional 12 species is unclear, but breeding is suspected for many of them. The remaining 104 species are non-breeding winter visitors or passage migrants.
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BIRDING TOUR
Depending on the number of days you would like to spend in the area we can create an itinerary including some or all of the following locations.
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Birding Stop 1: (Km 7 Lowland Scrub - Deciduous Forest)
Begin your birding adventure at Doi Inthanon National Park, located 66 km from Chiang Mai city along the Chiang Mai-Hot road. Turn right towards the Parakeet Conservation near Inthanon Highland Resort, this is the first birding hotspot in Doi Inthanon. Although this lowland forest area may initially seem sparse in birdlife, it is actually rich in medium to large-sized species. Early morning is the ideal time for birdwatching here.
Keep an eye out for Blossom-headed Parakeets, Lineated Barbets, and Black-hooded Orioles perched high in dead snags. The stunning Red-billed Blue Magpie and distinctively marked Rufous Treepie are more elusive. The magpies are social creatures, usually found in small flocks, particularly in the early morning. Scanning the skyline may reveal soaring birds of prey, with the Shikra being common. Black Baza, Crested Serpent Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Gray-faced Buzzard, and Rufous-winged Buzzard are also frequently spotted. Smaller, beautiful birds are less common and tend to gather in small feeding flocks in the denser foliage around the Parakeet Conservation area. Look for Purple Sunbirds, Golden-fronted Leafbirds, Common Ioras, Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrikes, and Tickell's Blue Flycatchers. Venture down to the paddy fields to search for Baya Weavers, Bright-headed Cisticolas, Brown Shrikes, and Lesser Coucals, which are often observed in the tall grass and bushes.
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Birding Stop 2: (Km 13 Broadleaf Dipterocarp Forest)
Upon entering the park gate at Km 13, the road ascends steeply through open dry dipterocarp forest, then crosses over to the right bank, following the river's course while overlooking it. This forest consists of relatively low stature trees, predominantly chorea siamensis and S. obtuse, with Dipterocarpus tuberculatus and D. obtusifolius being co-dominant in some areas. During the dry season, the leaves of the trees turn yellow and red before shedding. Early morning and late afternoon are the optimal times for birding here.
Keep an eye out for Collared Falconets and White-rumped Falcons perched high in dead snags. Several woodpecker species are present, including the Common Flameback, as well as the rarer Black-headed and White-bellied Woodpeckers. Other species to look for include Eurasian Jay, Common Wood-Shrike, White-crested and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes. Migratory species such as Yellow-streaked Warbler and Rosy Minivet can also be spotted.It is worth carefully examining the river edges for riparian species. The somewhat elusive Black-backed Forktail is a typical inhabitant of the foothill streams, and wintering Little Herons, White Wagtails, and Grey Wagtails may also be observed.
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Birding Stop 3
As the road ascends past the waterfall, the forest is mainly composed of dipterocarp and native pine trees. Look for ecologically tolerant species like Grey-headed Woodpecker, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Violet Cuckoo, Scarlet Minivet, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Barbet, Great Tits, Large Wood Shrike, and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. Common wintering species include Yellow-browed Warbler, Red-throated Flycatcher, Asian Stub-tail, and Olive-backed Pipit. The remaining broadleaved woodlands, mostly secondary growth with low stature, host smaller species like Buff-breasted Babbler and Brown-cheeked Fulvetta. The Vachirathan and Siri Bhum waterfall, located towards the upper end of this section, has an approximately 80m vertical drop and is one of the best sites for observing birds that enjoy fast-flowing streams. Keep an eye out for Plumbeous and White-capped Water-Redstarts, often seen perching on mid-stream boulders or catching insects from the air or water's edge. Upstream of the waterfall, where the current is weaker, Slaty-backed and White-crowned Forktails can be spotted.
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Birding Spot 4
The roadside vegetation here is heavily disturbed, with numerous secondary and pioneer fruit-bearing shrubs. This area boasts a higher diversity of bird species than any other, featuring characteristic resident species such as Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Golden-throated Barbet, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Maroon Oriole, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Golden Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, White-necked Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Minla, Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Rufous-backed Sibia, Small Niltava, Large Niltava, Silver-eared Mesia, Spectacled Barwing, Mountain Tailorbird, Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, and White-throated Fantail. A dirt track to the right leads into the forest interior and a short trail provides access to the moist forest understory, though the terrain can be challenging.
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Birding Spot 5
Keep an eye out for elusive arboreal birds such as the Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Green Cochoa, and Orange-bellied Leafbird. Additionally, there are many secretive ground-dwelling birds, including the Rusty-naped Pitta, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Lesser Shortwing, White-tailed Robin, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Chestnut-headed and Grey-bellied Tesia, White-gorgetted Flycatcher, and Grey-throated Babblers. The resident White-tailed Leaf Warbler and Chestnut-crowned Warbler are commonly seen in the forest, and a variety of wintering leaf-warblers can also be found here.
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Birding Spot 6
The forest in this zone is marked by an abundance of Rhododendron and other species from the Ericaceae, Theaceae, and Fagaceae families, with trees of lower stature often draped in epiphytes. While many bird species here are also found in the preceding zone, some, like the Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Bar-throated Minla, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, and Black-headed Sibia, are much more common in this area. Noteworthy species include the scarce resident Ashy Wood-Pigeon and wintering Speckled Wood-Pigeon. The Ashy-throated Leaf-Warbler, another common resident, is found alongside Blyth's Leaf-Warbler and White-tailed Leaf-Warbler. Buff-barred Warbler, a winter migrant, is also plentiful during the winter months. Rose-finch and Slaty-Backed Flycatchers, both common winter visitors, can sometimes be seen in small numbers. They often frequent the dense bramble banks along the roadside. Grey Bushchat and Hill Prinia are also commonly seen here.
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Opposite the mountain's highest point, a narrow footpath leads to a small bog surrounded by trees. This is one of the best birding spots on the mountain. Many birds here are confiding and will approach a quiet, patient observer. The endemic Doi Inthanon Sunbird (Green-tailed Sunbird) and Yellow-browed Tits, both scarce residents, are very common. In winter, they can be seen alongside the similarly marked Scarlet-breasted Sunbird and Yellow-bellied Flowerpeckers which are migrant visitors. From January to March, observers can watch these "living jewels" feed on the nectar of beautiful red and white blossoms in the summit area.
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The area boasts a diverse ecosystem with scarce ground-feeding species frequenting moist, leaf-covered, muddy patches around the bog's margins. The Rufous-throated Partridge and White-browed Shortwing are quite common but usually shy and hard to spot. The resident Dark-sided Thrush can sometimes be seen digging craters in the soft mud with its heavy, curved bill, while a pair of Snowy-browed Flycatchers haunts the ground-level vegetation. The Eurasian Woodcock, an annual winter visitor, and the Orange-flanked Bush-Robin can also be found here. Wintering thrushes, such as the Grey-sided and Eye-browed Thrushes, can often be seen feeding discreetly on the forest floor or fruit trees around the station.
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Birding Spot 7: Pha-tang
This is another prime birdwatching site in Doi Inthanon National Park, located at an altitude of 1200-1500 meters. The area features a blend of secondary growth forest, pine tree reforestation, and native hill evergreen forest along a winding road that climbs steeply to Pha-Tang. Be on the lookout for a variety of bird species including the Grey-breasted Parrotbill, Red-billed Scimitar-Babblers, White-browed Piculets, Speckled Piculets, Rufous-backed Sibia, Yellow-cheeked Tits, Golden-throated Barbet, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Hume's Treecreepers, Verditer Flycatchers, Large and Small Niltava, Large Hawk-Cuckoo, and Scaly Thrushes.
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Birding Spot 8: Km. 31 This spot features the last and highest waterfall in the area, with a vertical drop of approximately 300 meters. It is one of the most beautiful locations on the mountain for bird observation, surrounded by lush trees and beautiful cherry blossoms in the winter months. A variety of mountain birds can be spotted here, including Long-tailed Broadbill, Fire-breasted Flower-peckers, Black Bulbul, Blue-Throated Barbets, and Black-throated Sunbird. White-headed Bulbul and Yellow-bellied Flower-pecker are seen during winter, along with some stream-feeding species such as Slaty-backed Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, and resident ground-feeding Streaked Wren-Babblers. Occasionally, Crested Goshawk and Mountain Hawk-Eagle can be seen soaring above the cliffs.
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Birding Spot 9: Mae Pan Waterfall
On the way to Mae Chaem, approximately 4 km away, lies the Doi Inthanon Reforestation Substation Unit. This location is an excellent site for observing various bird species such as Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Stripe-breasted Woodpeckers, Lesser Yellownapes, Grey-headed Parrotbills, Velvet-fronted Nuthatches, Chestnut-vented Nuthatches, and Common Green-Magpies. Additionally, some nocturnal birds, such as Brown Wood-Owl, Oriental Bay-Owl, and Hodgson's Frogmouth, may also be spotted here.
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