Feathered Diversity at Kaeng Krachan
Often described as one of Asia’s world-class birdwatching destinations, bird lovers from all corners of the world make their pilgrimage to Kaeng Krachan in the hope of spotting globally threatened, rare or endangered birds, indigenous birds, winter visitors and other seasonal migrants — all in one convenient stop.

Even birders with limited time will be well rewarded for making the trip. As they make their way from the park entrance to the top of Phanoen Thung Mountain, the centre point of the park, day trippers are likely to come across several dozen species. These include the Ratchet-tailed Treepie, the Giant Pitta (a rare denizen of lowland forests), the White-fronted Scops Owl, and Great, Oriental pied and Wreathed hornbills.

Endangered or Indigenous Birds
Found in evergreen forests at elevations up to 1,500 metres, the Ratchet-tailed Treepie, a slight black bird typically seen engaged in aerial insect-collecting sorties from high perches, tops the list of ‘must see’ birds. At least six globally threatened species of birds are found in the park. These include the Plain-pouched Hornbill, Grey-sided Thrush, White-fronted Scops Owl, Blue-banded Kingfisher, Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher and Silver Oriole.

Hornbill Haven
Hornbills are among the largest of birds in Thai forests. Gaily-coloured with long bills designed for plucking ripe fruit from leafy branches, hornbills may be seen in flocks numbering a few to 50 or more birds from vantage points along the winding mountain road up to Phanoen Thung Mountain. They make a spectacular entrance by gliding on outstretched wings like fighter jets through the forest canopy. Great, Oriental-pied and Wreathed Hornbills are the more common species to be seen. Dense forests with large trees of the kind needed by hornbills to make nest holes make Kaeng Krachan a haven for this species.

Pitta Patter
At the opposite end of the forest stratum, pittas are secretive birds that spend most of their time on the ground or in low bushes. The Giant Pitta, the largest of the group, is among the six kinds to be found at Kaeng Krachan. The handsome bubblegum coloured male is particularly striking as it hops through dense leaf litter looking for insect food. The species is threatened by the pet trade but virtually nothing is known of its habits or ecology. Kaeng Krachan is considered one of the best places in the kingdom to see this increasingly rare bird.

Winter Visitors
As Kaeng Krachan is strategically located at the narrow neck of the Thai peninsula, land birds migrating north or south pass through its forests. Passage migrants such as birds of prey are likely to be seen during their migrations between North Asia and Malaysia in October and March. This includes sparrowhawks, falcons, buzzards and bazas.

Birdwatching Seasons
Birding is good at any time of year, including the dry season from November to April. Mild weather makes birding especially pleasant from December to February. During October, thousands of birds of prey migrate south along the peninsula. This spectacle may be witnessed from higher vantage points around the park, and along the access road leading up to the park entrance gate. The park is closed for the wet season from August to October.