Republic of Singapore

• Lim Kim Seng and Lim Kim Chuah

  | ibisbill@yahoo.com

  https://www.birdingsg.com/birding-singapore.html

• Number of bird species: 462

  (As at May 2024)

  National Bird: Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja

• A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

  | By Allen Jeyarajasingam & Alan Pearson | Oxford University Press | 2012 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 628 pages, 74 colour plates, b/w illustrations, 2 b/w maps | ISBN: 9780199639434 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

  | By Allen Jeyarajasingam & Alan Pearson | Oxford University Press | Edition 2 | 2012 | Paperback | 628 pages, 74 colour plates, b/w illustrations, 2 b/w maps | ISBN: 9780199639434 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• A Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore

  | By Lim Kim Seng, Yong Ding Li, Lim Kim Chuah & Dana Gardener | John Beaufoy Publishing | 2023 | Paperback | 236 Pages, 150 plates | £24.99p | ISBN: 9781913679507 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of Singapore

  | By Yong Ding Li & Lim Kim Chuah | John Beaufoy Books | 2017 | Edition 3 | Paperback | 176 pages, 300 colour photos, 1 colour map | ISBN: 9781912081653 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of Malaysia

  | (Covering Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo and Singapore) | By Chong Leong Puan, Geoffrey Davison & Kim Chye Lim | Lynx Edicions 2020 | Hardback | 413 pages, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9788416728299 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

  | By Geoffrey Davison & Chew Yen Fook | Bloomsbury Publishing | 2017 | Paperback | 144 pages, 280 colour photos, 1 colour map | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781472938237 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of Singapore

  | By Christopher Hails & Frank Jarvis | Marshall Cavendish | 2018 | Paperback | 176 pages, illustrations | ISBN: 9789814794473 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• State of Singapore's Wild Birds and Bird Habitats

  | (A Review of the Annual Bird Census 1996-2005) | Edited by Lim Kim Chuah & Lim Kim Seng | Nature Society of Singapore | 2009 | Paperback | Out of Print | ISBN: 9789810826727 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Wetlands in a City: The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

  | By Chua Ee Kiam | National Parks Board Singapore | 2010 | Hardback | 176 pages, colour photos | ISBN: 9789814270243 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• 

  Birds of Singapore

  Apple iOS |

  | Photographs; 375 species | Nature Society (Singapore) | 120.9 MB | Requires iOS 8.0 or later |
  
  n this application, there are 578 “best of the crop” photographs from 25 local and overseas bird photographers of all the 399 species based on the Bird Group’s Records Committee’s 2017 Checklist. Many of the species will be shown in both sexes with some in their juvenile plumages. Most raptors will have flying images showing their undersides and wings. All photographs were selected for their distinctive features to help with their identification. The uniqueness of an application is the ability to produce sounds and this allow us to include over 110 calls of selected species to complete the package.

• Bird Ecology Study Group

  Webpagge
  The Bird Ecology Study Group, a new bird group of the Nature Society (Singapore) since September 2005. BESGroup is committed to knowing something about that bird, not just its name

• Nature Singapore

  Website
  601 Slims Drive, 04-04 Pan. I Complex, Singapore 387382. + 65 741 0871; kklimsg@singnet.com.sg Night Walk at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park with the Vertebrate Study Group. A chance to watch the raptors fly pass the reservoir towardsthe forest to roost and observe bats coming out at dusk. If weather permits, enjoy all these against an enchanting backdrop of a sunset over the Central Catchment. After dark, listen out for the serenade of frogs and try to identify the species by their calls. The group size will be limited to the first 20 members replying with the All-Purpose Forms to the NSS office.

• Singapore Bird Group

  Website
  The Bird Group (BG) is a Special Interest Group of the Nature Society (Singapore) (NSS). The Group was inaugurated in 1986 when NSS was the Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society. However, it was a transition from the former MNS Singapore Bird Study Group, which was active in the ’70s.

Abbreviations Key

• NPa Bukit Batok Nature Park

  WebpageSatellite View
  The Bukit Batok Nature Park lies on the outskirts of one of Singapore's newest housing estates, Bukit Batok New Town. It is a small, peaceful park developed on an abandoned quarry site where the quiet visitor should be able to see some of the local wildlife which has adapted to an urban parkland environment. In the evening the park is popular with joggers…

• NR IBA Bukit Timah

  InformationSatellite View
  The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a small 1.64 square kilometre (400 acre) nature reserve near the geographic centre of the city-state of Singapore, located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore's highest hill standing at a height of 163.63 metres, and parts of the surrounding area. Together with the neighbouring Central Catchment Nature Reserve, it houses over 840 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of fauna. Today, it is one of the largest patches of primary rainforest left in Singapore. The reserve, along with the adjacent Central Catchment Nature Reserve, has been identified by BirdLife International as the Central Forest Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of vulnerable straw-headed bulbuls and brown-chested jungle flycatchers.

• NR IBA Central Catchment

  InformationSatellite View
  It is the largest nature reserve in Singapore, occupying 2880 hectares. Forming a large green lung in the geographical centre of the city, it houses several recreational sites, including the Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari and the River Safari, as well as several newer facilities built to encourage public appreciation of the reserve, such as the HSBC TreeTop Walk. The reserve sits within the boundaries of the Central Water Catchment. Wild birds such as crimson sunbird, greater racket-tailed drongo and kingfishers are found in the reserve, too. The reserve, along with the adjacent Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, has been identified by BirdLife International as the Central Forest Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of vulnerable straw-headed bulbuls and brown-chested jungle flycatchers.

• NR IBA Chek Jawa

  InformationSatellite View
  Chek Jawa is a cape and the name of its 100-hectare wetlands located on the south-eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, an island off the north-eastern coast of the main island of Singapore. Chek Jawa is among the last few places left in Singapore with a natural rocky shore. The site forms part of the Ubin–Khatib Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by BirdLife International because it supports significant numbers of visiting and resident birds, some of which are threatened.

• NR IBA Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

  InformationSatellite View
  It is in the northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore (2002), and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was recognised by the inclusion of the reserve into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, is listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park. Malayan water monitor in Sungei Buloh Amongst the many birds that can be spotted feeding on the diverse fauna variety of worms and molluscs, are whimbrel, common greenshank, common redshank, Mongolian plover, curlew sandpiper, marsh sandpiper and Pacific golden plover, yellow bittern and cinnamon bittern. Lucky visitors to the reserve may be able to spot the resident family of smooth otters, as well as the rare lesser whistling-duck, and the rare milky stork. The reserve forms part of the Kranji-Mandai Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by BirdLife International because it supports Chinese egrets, greater spotted eagles and greater crested terns. Atlas moth, the largest species of moth in Southeast Asia can be found in the back mangrove.

• NR Kranji Marshes

  InformationSatellite View
  The Kranji Marshes is a nature reserve in the northwest area of Singapore. A freshwater marshland, derived from the damming of the Kranji River to form the Kranji Reservoir, became seen as an important habitat. The area is home to a number of endangered birds, and at least 170 species have been recorded.

• NR Labrador

  InformationSatellite View
  It is home to the only rocky sea-cliff on the mainland that is accessible to the public. Since 2002, 10 hectares of coastal secondary-type vegetation and its rocky shore have been gazetted as a nature reserve and its flora and fauna preserved by NParks. More than 70 kinds of birds, including the blue-crowned hanging parrot, the rufous woodpecker and Abbott's babbler, have been seen here.

• Singapore Botanic Gardens

  InformationSatellite View
  The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 158-year-old tropical garden located at the fringe of Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district.

• Singapore Bird Group Reports

  Monthly Report
  Promoting birdwatching as a hobby and a healthy lifestyle to every Singaporean

• Birding Singapore

  Tour Operator
  My name is Lim Kim Seng. I am a licensed (by Singapore Tourism Board) nature tour guide based in Singapore and I also have an MSc in Environmental Management (University of Adelaide). I specialise in birds but am also conversant with other aspects of natural history. I have been birding since I was ten years old and hope to be able to offer you an introduction to Singapore's spectacular birds, wildlife and natural scenery. Whether it's a short three hour slot or an intensive three-day tour, you will be amazed at what you can discover in a short amount of time in tiny but terrific Singapore!

• Sungei Buloh Birdwatching / Nature Tour

  Guide
  Tucked away in the north-western part of the island, this ecological gem is a mangrove forest. Covering only 2. 2 square kilometres, this is Singapore's first ASEAN Heritage Park and it is also a member of the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership. Hi, my name is Wan Ling. I am a professional guide and I conduct nature and city tours.

• 2015 [04 April] - Pete Aley - New Zealand: North & South Islands with Singapore

  Report
  his report outlines a five week birding trip which I undertook with my wife, Alison Rowntree, travelling from north to south New Zealand, and with a brief stop-over in Singapore. We chose to go in March and April to allow us to combine leave from two different years and maximise our time in the country. Although this meant a few key species were not seen, it gave us a good period of time to see both islands and their birds, in a relaxed fashion, and generally proved to be a good season to visit.

• 2017 [10 October] - Stephen Burch - Australia & Singapore: Introduction

  Report
  Over at least the last decade I had been collecting information on good places to visit, which included a few sporadic pieces in Birding World, and even snippets in the Guardian newspaper. Most of these were in Queensland, but I was also keen on visiting Kakadu National Park which was nearest to Darwin. Sydney was almost on our list, but for general tourism only not birds! Given the immense distances involved in Australia, three internal flights would be needed to cover all the places we wanted to visit. The duration of this trip was 4 weeks, which was limited by the maximum amount of time we could both feasibly get off work. Timing was chosen carefully to avoid the hotter months, which sounded increasingly problematic in Australia at present.

• 2018 [04 April] - Wendy Newnham

  Report
  ...took myself off to the SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE on the north side of Singapore Island. The reserve is well set up & very peaceful after the streets of Singapore, virtually bereft of people but heaving with monitor lizards, Estuerine Crocodiles & a good selection of Asian bird species...

• 2019 [03 March] - Pixie Birding

  Report
  This never the less provided a few hours for birding before dusk, and as soon as having changed in the airport (once again getting fully deeted up) we got a taxi out to the nearby biding spot of Pasir Ris Park. Identified on e-bird for its variety of species different to those we had seen previously at Singapore Botanic Gardens, our main target here was the impressive Oriental Pied Hornbill, as well as any other species we could find in our couple of hours at the park before dusk fell.

• 2020 [09 September] - Francis Yap - Pelagic

  Report
  On 20 September, 2020, a group of five bird photographers decided to take a boat trip along the Singapore Strait without sailing through international waters. As usual we chartered our boat from Alex of Summit Marine System.

• 2022 [12 December] - Wilton Farrelly

  PDF Report
  In the end, we chose to fly firstly to Singapore (via Frankfurt) and stay there for 3 days, before going on to Cambodia.

• 2023 [02 February] - Pete & caroline Stevens

  PDF Report
  Annotate list

• 2023 [06 June] - Daniel Watson

  PDF Report
  The week in Singapore was shortened to 3.5 days due to a combination of logistics and price (I clearly hadn’t done my research on the world’s most expensive city!), but the schedule was more open to birding, and I had hoped to target the following; Jambu fruit-dove, Sulphur-headed bulbul, Mangrove and Blue-winged Pittas, Brown Wood-owl and Red-legged Crake. Rather helpfully, I had exchanged some gen with Pete from Birdforum (@foresttwitcher) who very kindly reciprocated by sending me pins for several species a couple of weeks before I was due to fly out.

• Bird Watching in Singapore

  Article
  Bird watching is a great accessible activity for the whole family and all fitness types. While most people don’t associate Singapore with wildlife, the island is home to a diverse and fascinating population of birds. Whether you’re an ornithology expert or a novice bird-watcher, you’ll find a bird watching session rewarding and enlightening.

• Birding Singapore

  Facebook Page
  I am a freelance nature guide and I run Bird and Wildlife Tours in and around Singapore...

• Justin Chia - Birding Outdoors

  BLOG
  Birding Outdoors is a blog in which I hope to use to grow as a birder, and also to provide a great resource for other birders who are like me. I found that birding in general, doesn’t have too many consolidated resources online, and so Birding Outdoors was born!

• Photographer - Jonathan Cheah Weng Kwong

  Gallery
  Photography is a wonderful medium but even at its best, it can only hint at what really exists. The difference between a snapshot and a work of art is that art evokes. It helps you see more and be more. Precisely what is summoned is hard to control. There is an artist in each of us that filters and colors our world. Our complex emotions mediate our senses. Our overall sense of being depends on innumerable details and distractions, but deep inside, one's religious attitude and philosophical background influence one's perceptions.

• Photographer - Joseph Kellard Nature Photography

  Facebook Page
  I am a semi-professional wildlife photographer from the UK, currently living, working and studying in Singapore. The photographic opportunities here are almost endless!

• Photographer - Laurence Poh - Laurence's Digital Birds

  Gallery
  The late and great Laurence Poh - This site is a collection of bird pictures I have taken since Feb 1999 with the Nikon Coolpix 950 and Coolpix 990 digital camera in combination with a Leica Apo-Televid 77 mm spotting scope. All photos were taken by natural available light with exception of one nightjar which was lit by incandescent bulb. Most of the birds are Malaysian species with some foreign birds shot abroad. In Malaysia we have over 600 species of birds. Some are migratory birds that are seen only during the northern winter months. What I have here is just a small collection. In my own way, I am trying to promote Malaysia as a birding destination as the birds are much prettier in real life than my pictures can depict.

• Photographer - Paul Huang - Nature Stops

  Gallery
  The Kranji area in the north of Singapore is one of the best places to enjoy nature. It is easily accessible and consists of places like Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve, Kranji Nature Trail, marshes around Kranji Dam and the Neo Tiew area where you can still find farms. While this area is a hotpot for nature where thousands of migrant waders stopover and where many resident birds reside including endangered species, it is constantly threathened by development

• Photographer - Tay Hui Meng

  Gallery
  Wild birds in Singapore