Birdwatching at Danum Valley

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Birdwatching at Danum ValleyOver the years, Danum Valley has gained an enviable position as the premier eco-tourism destination in Malaysia. This vast area of rainforest is some of the most ancient in the region, and is home to a bewildering array of flora and fauna. For birders, Danum Valley is unquestionably one of the best birding sites in Southeast Asia. Birdwatching at Danum Valley allows birders a fantastic chance to see a variety of lowland species, including several highly sought-after Bornean endemics. 

Birdwatching at Danum Valley, Sabah

In January 2025, Birdwatching Asia was invited to stay at the superlative Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) to cover the birdwatching experience there. We stayed at the lodge for 6D/5N and got to experience what birdwatching at Danum Valley is all about.  

Please note that the information in this article pertains to birdwatching around the Borneo Rainforest Lodge area only

(There’s also another location for birdwatching at Danum Valley, which is the Danum Valley Field Centre. This primarily caters to scientists but is also open to tourists. This location falls outside the scope of this article)

Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Borneo Rainforest Lodge, our base of operations.

Birds that can be seen around Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley:

Birders are in for a treat when it comes to birdwatching at Danum Valley, as more than 300 bird species have been recorded from the area. This includes several highly sought-after Bornean endemics.  Many of these occur around the BRL area as well. There are too many species to list here; therefore, only a selection of birds are listed below.

Bornean endemics:

  1. Bornean Crested Fireback. Like many pheasants, these ground-dwelling birds are difficult to spot amongst the forest understory. Fortunately, they roam around the BRL area and are occasionally seen around the staff quarters and trails near the resort.
  2. Bulwer’s Pheasant. Rare and elusive, you need to be lucky to see one.
  3. Sabah Partridge. A loud bird, but challenging to see.
  4. White-fronted Falconet (a.k.a Bornean Falconet). Relatively uncommon at BRL, but well worth searching for.
  5. Bornean Bristlehead. The undisputed ‘Holy Grail’ of Bornean birds. Danum Valley is among the best places to see this uncommon and nomadic species. They usually travel in flocks at canopy level and are very vocal. 
  6. Four endemic pittas, which are the Blue-headed Pitta, Black-crowned Pitta, Blue-banded Pitta and Bornean Banded-Pitta. The Blue-headed Pitta is relatively easy to see here.
  7. Two endemic wren-babblers, which are the Bornean and Black-throated Wren-Babblers. Birdwatching at Danum Valley offers a good chance to see these otherwise rare and elusive birds.
  8. Bornean Blue Flycatcher
  9. Bornean Spiderhunter
  10. Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
Danum Valley Bornean Crested Fireback.
A gorgeous male Bornean Crested Fireback. This one was seen drying itself after some early morning rain.
Danum Valley White-fronted Falconet
The White-fronted Falconet is a diminutive bird-of-prey that’s endemic to northeastern Borneo. They’re rather uncommon at BRL; this one was seen near the lodge.
Danum Valley Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
The Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker is a beautiful Bornean endemic easily seen around BRL.

Non-endemics:

  1. Great Argus. They’re occasionally seen crossing the access road or along a jungle trail. Moreover, there’s one male bird that is relatively unafraid of people. This individual may be seen along the ‘Tekala Trail’ and ‘Argus Hide’.
  2. All eight hornbills, especially the Rhinoceros, Helmeted and Bushy-crested Hornbills. During our visit, there was a family of Rhinoceros Hornbills roosting just across the river from the BRL restaurant.
  3. Great-billed Heron. The stretch of Danum River right next to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge is a regular spot for this rare species. They’re easier to see when water levels are low, such as during the dry season.
  4. Giant Pitta. Among the most difficult of pittas to see, owing to their scarcity and shyness.
  5. Crested Jayshrike. These delightful birds sport a spectacular, forward-pointing crest and make a ‘machine gun’ like call. The birds found in Borneo are brown, unlike their mainland counterparts which are black.
  6. Striped Wren-Babbler. A beautiful and unique babbler that dwells in the forest understory. It is reasonably common around the BRL area.
  7. Speaking of babblers, Danum Valley offers a babbler bonanza for birders. Various species reside here, including the Sooty-capped Babbler, Rufous-crowned Babbler, and Rufous-fronted Babbler.
Danum Valley Great Argus
A male Great Argus, at the Tekala Trail. This is undoubtedly the closest and clearest view of an Argus that I’ve ever had!
Danum Valley Striped Wren-babbler
The Striped Wren-babbler is rather common around BRL, but seeing one requires a bit of effort and patience.

Birdwatching at Danum Valley experience

Main access road

Some of the best birdwatching at Danum Valley can be had along this road, up to about 2 km from the Lodge entrance. This stretch of road passes by several scenic spots and a small river. Plenty of birds may be seen as they forage along the road. The tall trees flanking it are also where you’re most likely to see the Bornean Bristlehead.

Main access roadd to BRL
The main access road that leads to BRL.

Canopy walkway

Danum Valley’s iconic canopy walkway is an unmissable experience. However, the walkway is suboptimal for birding. This is because of the swaying walkway and a limit on the number of people that can use it at a time.

Nevertheless, some canopy-dwelling birds are more easily seen from the walkway’s lofty vantage point. These include the Violet Cuckoo, Pale Blue Flycatcher, and if you’re lucky, the Bristlehead.

Canopy Walkway Danum Valley
Danum Valley’s iconic Canopy Walkway.

Jungle trails

Birding along the jungle trails is challenging, as the dimly lit forest floor means it’s difficult to spot or photograph birds. Also, the trails can be quite muddy, and there’s plenty of leeches. 

Nevertheless, some sought-after species, including the partridges, pheasants, pittas and wren-babblers, frequent this habitat.  

Danum Valley jungle trail
The jungle trails are enchanting but can be muddy and full of leeches, especially after rains.

Bird hides

BRL has two bird hides in the area: the Danum Hide and Argus Hide. However, both hides were only recently completed and thus not reliably attracting birds yet. This process will take some time. Nevertheless, these hides will undoubtedly be a major attraction for birders visiting BRL in the future!

Around the Lodge

The Lodge itself is a birding hotspot. The area is lush with a variety of trees and plants, attracting numerous birds. Check out the wild banana trees planted around the lodge, where you may see the Bornean Spiderhunter feeding on the flowers. 

Additionally, the Lodge has a bar, aptly named the ‘Hornbill Corner’, overlooking the river. Here, you may spot Rhino Hornbills, Lesser Fish Eagle and/or the Great-billed Heron. Finally, don’t forget to check out the staff quarters area, as some unexpected birds may turn up there.

Danum Valley Lesser Fish-Eagle
This Lesser Fish-Eagle was feasting on a fish less than 50 metres from the ‘Hornbill Corner’!

Night drive/walk

The night drive/walks are excellent for spotting various nocturnal wildlife. Possible nocturnal birds include the Brown Wood-Owl, Barred Eagle-Owl and Gould’s Frogmouth. Additionally, you may also encounter sleeping birds. 

Anything else other than birds?

Absolutely! Danum Valley is a biodiversity hotspot, with a mind-blowing array of wildlife inhabiting the region. Visitors may encounter animals such as:

  1. Bornean Elephants
  2. Bornean Orangutans, gibbons, langurs
  3. Sunda Clouded Leopard, Yellow-throated Marten, Sunda Stink Badger
  4. Horsfield’s Tarsier
  5. Flying Squirrels, Bornean Colugo, Philippine Slow Loris, Moonrat
  6. A variety of frogs, including the show-stopping Malayan Horned Frog.
  7. A multitude of insects and other arthropods.
Danum Valley wildlife
Some of the non-avian wildlife we saw at Danum. Clockwise from top right: Horsfield’s Tarsier, Philippine Slow Loris, Moonrat, Bornean Elephants, Bornean Orangutan and Malayan Horned Frog.

Practical information on birdwatching at Danum Valley

About Danum Valley

The Danum Valley Conservation Area is a vast forest reserve located near the heart of Sabah, roughly 80 km west of Lahad Datu. The forest is pristine and is under the management of the Sabah Foundation (Yayasan Sabah). Currently, there are only two accommodation options within the reserve, the main one being the Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

River Danum
The Danum River runs through the heart of the forest.

About the Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL)

This world-famous and award-winning eco-lodge offers visitors luxurious accommodations and nature tours in the pristine heart of Danum Valley. They emphasise sustainability and minimizing their impact on the surrounding rainforest. All rooms are well-appointed, and the cuisine is top-notch, befitting its 5-star status. BRL has hosted several celebrities in the past, including Hollywood actress Dame Judi Dench and famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

Premium Villas at BRL
Borneo Rainforest Lodge offers luxurious accommodations in the heart of Danum Valley.

Besides birdwatching, BRL offers nature lovers a variety of activities, including:

  1. Jungle hikes. Especially noteworthy is the Coffin Trail trek. 
  2. The iconic Canopy Walkway. 
  3. Night Drive/safaris to look for nocturnal wildlife
  4. River Rafting. Slowly rafting down the Danum River in a motorless inflatable while observing nature.
  5. Cycling 

All activities (including birdwatching) are guided by their in-house expert nature guides, which are included in the package. For safety reasons, visitors can only walk by themselves around the resort area and the nearby ‘Nature Trail’.

How to visit the Borneo Rainforest Lodge?

For enquiries and bookings, you can contact Borneo Nature Tours, a licensed tour agency based in Kota Kinabalu that also runs the lodge.   

Be sure to request a birdwatching package. It costs more than the standard package but is explicitly focused on birding, and you’ll be assigned a bird specialist guide. 

When to visit?

Peak season at BRL is from mid-March until early October. This is during the drier months, and the Lodge is often fully booked many months in advance.

The low season runs from November until early March. This also coincides with the wet season at Danum Valley, where rain will be a bit more frequent. However, the Lodge often has special offers for visitors during this period, where the rates can be up to 50% off.

Birdwatching at Danum Valley can be productive at any time of the year, even during the wet season. Most of the birds here are residents and thus are seen year-round. The migratory species (mostly migrant flycatchers) visit during the northern winter season.

Best birding time?

According to our guides, the morning session (6.30 am until 11.30 am) is the best, while the afternoon session (3.30 pm to 6 pm) is usually quieter. Our experience after six days at BRL seems to confirm this. However, your experience may differ from ours.

Getting here

Which airport?

Visitors to BRL usually arrive at Lahad Datu airport. However, Lahad Datu Airport is only accessible via a turboprop flight from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan. Therefore, a transit stop is necessary for visitors arriving from elsewhere.

Alternatively, visitors can choose to arrive via Tawau Airport. While Tawau is a bit further away, more flights are available and at cheaper fares. There are regular flights from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu.

From the airport to BRL

BRL is roughly 99 km (2.5 hours) from Lahad Datu Airport or 190 km (4 hours) from Tawau Airport. The package will usually include the airport transfer. The Lodge will pick you up in either 4-seat Ford Rangers, Toyota Land Cruisers or 6-seat Peugeot minivans.

The road to the Lodge is a surprisingly smooth, 77 km long gravel road. There are two toilet stops available during the journey. One is at Taliwas (near the start), and the other is at Infapro tree nursery (near the Lodge). These toilets are specially reserved for BRL customers only.

Don’t forget to look out for birds and wildlife during your journey to/from BRL!

More information

  1. Danum Valley Conservation Area page on the Sabah Tourism website
  2. Wikipedia page on Danum Valley

Conclusion

Danum Valley is well-known worldwide, and rightfully so. Very few places nowadays can offer visitors the sights and sounds of a truly unspoilt rainforest. With a mind-boggling array of flora and fauna, Danum Valley is heaven-on-earth for nature lovers.

For birdwatchers, Danum Valley offers more than 300 species to seek out, including several elusive Bornean endemics. And nothing’s better at the end of a long birding day than the luxurious comfort of the award-winning Borneo Rainforest Lodge! 

In summary, birdwatching at Danum Valley, especially around the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, is a quintessential experience not to be missed.

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