Singapore
Singapore is a small, highly urbanised island nation at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, yet significant pockets of tropical habitat survive within and around the city. Remaining environments include lowland rainforest, mangroves, freshwater wetlands, reservoirs and intertidal mudflats, with the most important forest concentrated around Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment. Offshore islands such as Pulau Ubin retain a more rural landscape of woodland, mangroves and former agricultural areas. Singapore has a hot, humid equatorial climate with rainfall throughout the year and little seasonal temperature variation. Its position beside the Strait of Malacca has made it one of the world's most important transport and commercial hubs.
Overview
Singapore offers remarkably diverse Southeast Asian birding in an exceptionally accessible urban setting. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a major stopover for migratory shorebirds, while Bukit Timah and Central Catchment support forest species such as Red-crowned Barbet, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Blue-winged Leafbird. Pulau Ubin combines woodland, mangrove and coastal birding, and urban parks regularly produce migrants and regional rarities. Singapore's position on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway makes the northern winter and migration periods particularly productive. Excellent public transport, well-maintained trails and an active local birding community make independent birding unusually straightforward. Singapore has few unique endemic targets, but its combination of high diversity, compact size and outstanding accessibility makes it an excellent introduction to Southeast Asian birds.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus | 59.8% | 59.7% | 60.9% | 61.1% | 61.4% | 61.0% | 63.0% | 66.4% | 63.8% | 60.1% | 53.3% | 51.5% | 55.0% |
| Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier | 51.0% | 45.0% | 51.5% | 53.8% | 56.2% | 57.2% | 57.4% | 58.6% | 55.8% | 50.4% | 44.0% | 41.0% | 41.3% |
| Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis | 47.9% | 46.5% | 50.9% | 51.2% | 48.7% | 49.9% | 48.5% | 50.6% | 51.3% | 49.8% | 43.6% | 41.8% | 42.3% |
| Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis | 44.9% | 44.9% | 45.1% | 45.2% | 43.6% | 44.9% | 47.1% | 50.4% | 50.5% | 48.8% | 40.1% | 36.3% | 41.8% |
| Pink-necked Green-Pigeon Treron vernans | 41.9% | 39.8% | 45.7% | 46.2% | 46.7% | 45.0% | 44.5% | 44.5% | 41.7% | 40.0% | 34.9% | 35.7% | 37.8% |
| Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis | 39.0% | 32.6% | 36.3% | 38.0% | 38.1% | 42.4% | 43.0% | 45.6% | 45.5% | 40.9% | 38.7% | 35.0% | 32.3% |
| Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus | 36.8% | 34.0% | 38.9% | 39.3% | 42.1% | 41.7% | 41.0% | 43.0% | 37.8% | 36.2% | 31.2% | 27.1% | 29.3% |
| House Crow Corvus splendens | 36.2% | 35.3% | 35.4% | 35.6% | 32.7% | 35.8% | 37.6% | 39.6% | 41.7% | 39.1% | 34.0% | 32.2% | 35.0% |
| Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris | 32.5% | 31.0% | 35.5% | 39.5% | 41.3% | 39.9% | 36.7% | 35.8% | 32.7% | 29.0% | 21.3% | 20.1% | 26.6% |
| White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus | 30.5% | 32.2% | 32.2% | 32.3% | 28.5% | 28.0% | 28.9% | 31.9% | 32.7% | 33.0% | 27.9% | 27.2% | 30.9% |