What is your favorite bird species?

I always find birds with camouflage patterns composed of all those amazing spots and stripes fascinating, especially those with outworld ornamental features, so birds like Pennant-winged & Standard-winged Nightjars are automatic favorites. But I also have a soft spot for cute songsters with melodic songs, such as members of the family Cettiidae.

Mountain Tailorbird, a member of the family Cettiidae

What is your name, and where do you live?

My full name is Wich’yanan Limparungpatthanakij. I started going by the name Jay when I was a high school foreign exchange student in the US to make it easy for non-Thais. I am currently based in Samut Prakan, Thailand.

What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?

I lead tours throughout Thailand and have increasingly co-led tours abroad, particularly within Asia.

Rufous Limestone Babbler

How long have you been a bird guide?

Close to twenty years now. I started working as a part-time guide when I was in college.

How did you get into bird guiding?

I grew up in the countryside, so I guess I am privileged for being close to nature at a very young age. I have been enthusiastic about wildlife since I can remember. The only comprehensive field guide book to any wildlife widely available then was ‘A Guide to the Birds of Thailand’ (Lekagul & Round 1991).

Giant Nuthatch

What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?

It is always a joy for me when all trip participants have satisfying experiences with any exciting wildlife. Leading tours full of demanding or self-important clients is not fun, but the worst of all is when I inevitably have to deal with selfish people who pursue birds unethically.

What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders?

Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank are among the top target wader species in winter tours. Rufous Limestone Babbler is an endemic species accessible with just over an hour drive from the capital city, while another endemic bird, Turquoise-throated Barbet, requires considerable efforts in hiking up a leech-infested forested mountain. There are semi-reliable spots for specific species at certain times of year, including the gorgeous Malayan Banded Pitta. Restricted-range, majestic forest birds like Siamese Fireback, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Giant Nuthatch, Tickell’s Brown Hornbill (Rusty-cheeked Hornbill), and Plain-pouched Hornbill are usually high on bucket lists. Note that the best chance to see the latter species is during its southbound migration in mid-year.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper feeding alongside a Red-necked Stint

Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip

The most popular tour is certainly the two-week one covering parts of provinces like Chiang Mai, Phetchaburi, and usually Khao Yai National Park, in drier months when a wide variety of non-breeding visitors are present. It can be more or less guaranteed that each participant will see over 400 bird species on the trip, with good chances to see at least half of the species mentioned in my answer to the previous question.

What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?

People in Thailand and many Asian countries generally prefer firm over soft mattresses. Those who find it difficult to sleep on them should consider packing a soft mattress topper for the trip.

Plain-pouched Hornbill flock

If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?

My e-mail address is [email protected]. I also have active accounts on social media platforms such as Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jay_shrike/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jay-shrike.bsky.social).

Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?

There are only a few bird species endemic to Thailand, but being in the center of mainland Southeast Asia makes it convenient to explore multiple biogeographic sub-regions and diverse habitats in which birding can be overwhelmingly rewarding. The warm hospitality in this “Land of Smiles” and its renowned cuisine add up to a memorable experience.