Birding
Kuala Lumpur

Forest Research
Institute Malaysia (FRIM)


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Ampang
Recreational Forest


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Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

Just about half hour away the bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur lies an oasis of tropical beauty and easily one of the most accessible birdwatching sites in the city. If you need a quick introduction to the birds of the Malaysian lowland forest, look no further than the lush Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) located a mere 16 km northwest of the capital city. Located in Kepong, FRIM is a government-based forest reserve established in 1926 and comprises 600 ha of forest plantations and regenerating secondary forest.

At least five species of hornbills, 10 species of woodpeckers, five species of broadbills, six species of barbets, 2 species of trogons, 16 species of bulbuls, Wallace’s Hawk Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Jambu Fruit-Dove, Indian Cuckoo, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Masked Finfoot

8:00am to 7:30pm

Tel: +603 6279 7000

Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Ampang Recreational Forest

A tiny little gem hidden from view, the Ampang Recreational Forest or Taman Rimba Ampang is only about 8 km from the iconic KLCC. It is a relatively small site measuring 25,000 ha (out of which only 50ha is open to public) and consists of a beautiful primary lowland forest. Despite its proximity to the city centre, it’s part of the Selangor State Park Important Bird Area (IBA MY10), and has recorded a whopping 197 bird species around its small swath of forest with a clear clean river flowing through.

The globally threatened Blue-banded Kingfisher and other lowland specialties such as the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Orange-headed Thrush, Rusty breasted Cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, Diard’s Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Asian Fairy-Bluebird, Scarlet Minivets, Velvet Nuthatches and the beautiful Rhinoceros Hornbill. Commonly sighted birds also include bulbuls such as the Red-eyed Bulbul, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Olive-winged Bulbul, Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo, Raffles Malkoha, Whiskered Tree-swift, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Blue-winged Leafbird, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Black-and-Yellow Broadbill, Banded Broadbill etc.

8:00am to 5:00pm

RM1.00 (Adult) and RM0.50 (Child)

Tel: +603 9075 2885