The majestic rhinoceros hornbill is the Sarawak state bird.
Having close to 900 bird species, of which 91 are either endemic or near endemic (source: Malaysia – Birdwatching Paradise ebrochure), Malaysia’s expansive rainforests serve as a great destination for birdwatching. In fact, the country is one of the most popular places in South-East Asia for this activity.
Among the endemic birds residing here are the Bornean crested fireback, Malayan peacock-pheasant, black-crowned pitta, friendly bush warbler and white-fronted falconet. These can be spotted in some of the country’s 55 “Important Bird And Biodiversity Areas” or IBAs, based on internationally recognised criteria outlined by BirdLife Partnership, which is a global partnership of conservation groups and organisations that focus on bird conservation and biodiversity.
