Sabah's primary birding circuit
Birding in Sabah and Danum Valley
Sabah holds Borneo's premier birding sites. A circuit combines the lowland dipterocarp forest at Danum Valley with the high-altitude montane endemics of Mount Kinabalu.
A two-week Sabah birding circuit links Danum Valley's 438 square kilometres of lowland forest with the montane habitats of Mount Kinabalu. Specialist acoustic guides help you identify birds by ear in Danum Valley, where dense vegetation can make observation difficult.
Birding at Sepilok and the Rainforest Discovery Centre
The Rainforest Discovery Centre and the wider Kabili-Sepilok forest offer eye-level access to the lowland dipterocarp canopy and a chance at
Birding the canopy at Danum
The 50-metre dipterocarps hold a distinct avifauna you will rarely see from the ground. A guide to the species and the platforms you use to
Bornean Bristlehead
The Bornean bristlehead is the canopy bird serious birders travel to Sabah to see. It is the sole member of its family, deeply sociable and
Bornean Ground Cuckoo
The Bornean ground cuckoo is a terrestrial rainforest specialist. Finding it requires precise timing at purpose-built hides or immense luck
Bornean Lowland Trogons
The lowland and hill forests of Sabah support 5 species of trogon. Finding them takes patience and photographing them requires very specific
Great Argus
The Great Argus is the defining voice of the Bornean rainforest. It takes patience and the right hide to turn the famous call into a sightin
Helmeted Hornbill
The helmeted hornbill is an apex bird of the primary lowland rainforest. It is known for its solid red casque, an accelerating call and spec
How a Birding Day Runs at Danum Valley
A typical day of birding in Danum Valley starts before dawn and breaks for the midday heat. Here is how the lodges structure the hours and w
Photographing birds in Borneo
Photographing birds in Sabah's primary rainforest requires specific field craft. This guide covers how to handle low canopy light, manage hu
The Barbets of Borneo
The heavy percussive calls of Asian barbets form the constant soundtrack of the Sabah rainforest. Here is how to turn the sound into a sight
The Firebacks of Borneo
The Bornean Crested Fireback and Bornean Crestless Fireback are two of the island's most sought-after terrestrial birds. Here is what separa
The Hornbills of Borneo
The eight hornbill species of Borneo are the architects of the rainforest. They rely on old-growth trees and spread seeds across the canopy.
The Partridges of Borneo
The crested and crimson-headed partridges are highly sought ground-dwelling birds of the Sabah and Sarawak forests. This guide covers how to
The Pittas of Borneo
Eight of Borneo's nine pittas live in the forests of Sabah. This guide covers the endemics, the hides, the fieldcraft and the camera setting
The Sabah Birding Circuit
The classic Sabah birding circuit connects the montane forests of Mount Kinabalu with the lowland dipterocarps of Danum Valley. This guide e
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Tell the team which Bornean endemics matter most to you, and they will build a custom Sabah birding circuit across the right forest reserves.