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Giant Ibis

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:53:28 GMT

Giant Ibis in Cambodia

Overview

The Giant Ibis (Pseudibis gigantea) is the national bird of Cambodia and one of the world’s most critically endangered bird species. With an estimated 194 mature individuals remaining , it is a flagship species for conservation in the country.

Conservation Status

IUCN Classification: Critically Endangered (CR)
Estimated Population: 194 mature individuals

The species faces ongoing threats from habitat loss and environmental changes, making conservation efforts in Cambodia essential for its survival.

Key Facts

National bird of Cambodia
Typically seen alone or in pairs
Feeds on frogs, insects, and eels
Most active around forest pools during the dry season

In Preah Vihear, the Giant Ibis is locally known as “aoleuk” , named after its haunting call. According to local folklore, the call represents the cries of abandoned children asking their parents to lift them from the mud—giving the species deep cultural significance.

Where to See the Giant Ibis in Cambodia

The best places to see the Giant Ibis are located in Cambodia’s Northern Plains:

Tmat Paeuy (highest probability of sightings)
Vulture Restaurant area
Prey Veng landscape

These areas provide the seasonal feeding grounds that are critical for the species’ survival.

Best Time to Visit

Recommended season: January to April
Why: The dry season concentrates birds around shrinking water sources, increasing visibility

Recommended Length of Stay

1 to 3 days

A short stay in key habitats is often enough to maximize your chances when guided by experienced local experts.

How to See the Giant Ibis

To improve your chances of seeing this rare bird, guided tours are highly recommended.

Sam Veasna Conservation Tours offers specialized itineraries to key Giant Ibis habitats:

5 Days – Critical Cambodia
https://samveasna.com/multi-day-bird-tours/critical-cambodia/
8 Days – Essential Cambodia
https://samveasna.com/multi-day-bird-tours/essential-cambodia/
10 Days – Wild Cambodia
https://samveasna.com/multi-day-bird-tours/wild-cambodia/

Additional tours:

Giant Ibis Experience (3 days)
Cambodian Birding Supertour (19 days)
Northern Plains Culture and Wildlife Adventure (3 days)

These tours combine expert guiding with conservation impact, supporting local communities that protect this species.

Top 10 Birds Around Angkor Wat You Must See

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:12:19 GMT

Discover the Top 10 Birds Around Angkor Wat: Hidden Wildlife in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat: A Hidden Birdwatching Destination

While Angkor Wat is globally known for its ancient temples, few visitors realize it’s also a thriving habitat for diverse birdlife.

The mix of forest, wetlands, and quiet temple ruins creates the perfect environment for both resident and migratory birds, making it one of the most accessible birding locations in Cambodia.

With expert knowledge, Sam Veasna Conservation Tours offers guided experiences that help you discover these hidden species.

Top 10 Birds Around Angkor Wat

1. White-throated Rock Thrush

A striking migratory bird with deep blue and orange plumage. Often found in shaded forest areas and quiet temple corners during the winter season.

2. Hainan Blue Flycatcher

One of the most beautiful migratory visitors to Angkor. The male’s bright blue coloration stands out against the forest greenery.

3. Forest Wagtail

Unlike most wagtails, this species prefers woodland habitats. Look for it walking gracefully along shaded paths and forest floors.

4. Asian Barred Owlet

A small daytime owl often heard before it’s seen. Its repetitive calls echo through the forest, especially in quieter temple zones.

5. Brown Boobook

A nocturnal species, best spotted at dusk or early morning. Its haunting calls add a mysterious atmosphere to Angkor’s forests.

6. Alexandrine Parakeet

Large, vibrant, and often seen flying overhead in pairs or flocks. A true highlight for visitors exploring Angkor’s tree canopy.

7. Red-breasted Parakeet

Another colorful parrot species, commonly seen around temple forests. Their loud calls make them easy to locate.

8. Black Baza

A rare and elegant bird of prey, usually spotted during migration. Look up—you might catch it soaring above the canopy.

9. Pale-legged Leaf Warbler

A small and active bird, often moving quickly through foliage. It’s a favorite among birders due to its subtle identification features.

10. Black-capped Kingfisher

A stunning and colorful kingfisher with bright blue wings and a red bill. Usually found near water bodies around Angkor.

Best Places to Spot Birds Around Angkor

To find these species, explore:

Quiet forest trails around Angkor Wat
Angkor Thom’s less crowded areas
Preah Khan and Ta Prohm forest zones
Wetlands near Neak Pean
Hidden temple paths away from crowds

Early mornings and late afternoons offer the best chances.

Birdwatching Tips at Angkor

Visit early (sunrise is ideal)
Bring binoculars or a zoom camera
Stay quiet and move slowly
Listen carefully, many birds are easier to hear than see
Focus on shaded forest areas for migratory species

Why Book with Sam Veasna Conservation Tours

Choosing the right guide can make all the difference.

With Sam Veasna Conservation Tours , you benefit from:

Expert birding guides with deep local knowledge
Higher chances of spotting rare and migratory species
Ethical, conservation-focused tourism
Direct support for local communities and wildlife protection

Their team knows exactly where and when to find these birds, turning a simple visit into a truly memorable wildlife experience.

Plan Your Birdwatching Experience

If you want to experience the best of Angkor’s birdlife, consider booking with Sam Veasna Conservation Tours.

Our customized birdwatching tours are suitable for both beginners and experienced birders, offering a deeper and more meaningful way to explore Angkor beyond the temples.

Koh Samseb Ecotourism: A Hidden Mekong River Wildlife Adventure in Cambodia

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:36:28 GMT

Discover Koh Samseb: Cambodia’s Untouched Mekong River Ecotourism Experience

Introduction: A Hidden Gem Along the Mekong

Nestled in Kratie Province, Koh Samseb is one of Cambodia’s most remarkable yet lesser-known ecotourism destinations. Located within the Sambor Wildlife Sanctuary, this network of river islands offers a rare opportunity to explore untouched nature, rich biodiversity, and authentic community-based tourism.

Far from crowded tourist trails, Koh Samseb is a paradise for birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and travelers seeking a deeper connection with nature.

Wildlife Highlights: A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Koh Samseb is internationally recognized for its incredible bird diversity, with over 113 species recorded during the tour.

Key Species You Can Encounter:

White-shouldered Ibis (critically endangered)
River Tern (breeding along sandbanks)
Great Thick-knee
Mekong Wagtail (regional specialty)
Green Peafowl
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Spotted Wood Owl

These species thrive in a mix of habitats—from sandbanks and river channels to dry dipterocarp forests.

Island Camping Experience

One of the most unique aspects of Koh Samseb is its remote island camping experience .

Visitors travel by boat along the Mekong River, stopping at secluded islands such as:

Koh Tachan
Koh Ksach Kpous
Koh Romdeng

Camping under the stars, surrounded by nature and wildlife sounds, creates a truly immersive adventure.

Exploring the Mekong River Landscape

The journey itself is just as spectacular as the destination.

Travelers navigate through:

Sandbanks and rocky channels
Forested river islands
Quiet waterways rich with birdlife

Along the way, sightings of kingfishers, lapwings, and even birds of prey are common, making every boat ride an experience.

Diverse Habitats & Ecosystems

Koh Samseb’s biodiversity comes from its varied ecosystems:

Dry dipterocarp forest
Semi-evergreen forest patches
Riverine habitats and sandbars
Bamboo groves

These environments support not only birds but also mammals, reptiles, and aquatic life, making it a critical conservation area in Cambodia.

Community-Based Ecotourism Impact

What makes Koh Samseb truly special is its community-driven conservation model .

Local communities:

Lead guided tours
Provide boat transport
Support wildlife protection
Benefit directly from tourism

This ensures that tourism contributes to both livelihoods and conservation efforts —a sustainable model for the future.

A Journey Worth Taking

From early morning bird calls to sunset over the Mekong, Koh Samseb offers an unforgettable experience.

Whether you’re:

A serious birder
A wildlife photographer
Or an adventurous traveler

This destination delivers a rare combination of raw nature, conservation, and cultural connection .

Giant Ibis Birding Tour Report: November 2023

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 03:12:55 GMT

Giant Ibis Birding Tour Report covers a 3-day Cambodia birding tour in November 2023 with Sam Veasna Conservation Tours (SVC).

Giant Ibis pictured above.

Dates: 23rd to 25th November 2023

Report Written By: Hang Oeang, SVC Bird Guide

Locations: Tmat Boey , Bengal Florican Grasslands, Preah Vihear Temple and Koh Ker Temple

Total No. of Bird Species: 127

Clients and reviews: Mr. Adam Dare and Mr. Lawrence Dare

Map of Locations (not exact locations of birding spots):

Introduction

This is a 3 day trip that includes several birding sites around Cambodia such as Bengal Florican Grassland, Tmatboey Ecolodge, Preah Vihear temple and Koh Ker complex or Linga Pura city.

We started our tour from Siem Reap province very early in the morning to Bengal Florican Grassland, which is a seasonally inundated outer-floodplain grassland with some small areas of scrub with our target birds such as Bengal Florican, Pied Harrier, Pin-tailed Snipe, Striated Grassbird, Manchurian Reed Warbler, Oriental Skylark, Painted Stork and other species around that area. We did start a bit early in the season for Bengal Florican but we did try our best to observe the Bengal Florican, however, we had a small chance to see it.

Tmat Boey Ecolodge is the home of two critically endangered species located in the Northern Plain of Cambodia, Giant Ibis and White-shouldered Ibis . Other species include Savanna Nightjar, White-rumped Falcon, Yellow-crowned Woodpeckers, Streak-throated Woodpeckers, Black-headed Woodpeckers, Brown Boobook, and Brown Fish-owl .

After seeing our key birds, we spent a half day visiting the main temple near the Thai border called “Preah Vihear Temple”. Then, we returned to the lodge for lunch and prepared our stuff before checking out. We were leaving from Tmat Boey Ecolodge to Siem Reap town at 1:30 pm. Along the way, we also had a stop at Koh Keh complex, exploring around 2 hours for birds and temples.

Highlights of the tour

1. Giant Ibis
2. White-shouldered Ibis
3. Brown Fish-owl
4. Pied Harrier
5. Striated Grassbird
6. Pin-tailed Snipe
7. Rufous Woodpecker
8. Burmese Shrike
9. Scarlet Minivet
10. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker
11. Streak-throated Woodpecker
12. Black-headed Woodpecker
13. Savana Nightjar
14. Manchurian Reed Warbler
15. White-rumped Shama
16. Indochinese Bushlark

Trip Report

Day 1: Bengal Florican Grassland and Tmat Boey Ecolodge

We left early from our hotel in Siem Reap to Bengal Florican grassland on national #6 to the east of Siem Reap, Cambodia. We spent an hour and a half to reach our destination, then met our local guide at Preah Hout Community along the way to the birding spotted area. Even though, the birding tour starts a bit early in the season for the Bengal Florican and also some bird species that have not migrated yet.

We had good weather to observe all the bird around us. We have seen many birds such as Painted Stork, Pin-tailed Snipe, Oriental Skylark, Chestnut Munia, Asain green Bee-eater, Manchurian Reed Warbler and some more species of Starling.

We did bird watching at Preah Hout area for around 3 hours and then we moved to Tmat Boey Ecolodge in Preah Vihear province. We drove for around 5 hours to our next destination, and we had a small break for lunch near Beng Mealea temple for about 30 min.

We reached Tmat Boey Community Ecolodge at 2:30 p.m. Check-in at the lodge and do some rest after a long drive. We met our local guide Mr Chherm and had some discussion about our itinerary. We decided to leave our lodge at 3:00 pm to look for our target bird with our local guide. We walked about 30 mn to the White-shouldered Ibis’s rooting tree because the bridge across the river was broken during the rainy season, and our car could not access the spotted area.

We saw around 18 White-shouldered Ibis at its rooting tree. After seeing the birds, then, we walked back to the car at 6:30 pm and drove back to the lodge to get some rest and dinner at 7 pm.

Day 2: Tmat Boey

We planned to a bit early to see the Giant Ibis at its nesting tree, so, we left the lodge at 5:30 am. We drove about 20 min to the site but we had issues reaching the spotted area in our 4×4 car due to roads damaged in the wet season. So, we had to walk about 20 min to see the Giant Ibis.

We had a beautiful time observing Giant Ibis with their small chick in the nest for about 20 min, then, we looked around the area to find a good place to set up our breakfast. Along the way to the Giant Ibis’s nest, we see many birds such as Rufous-winged Buzzard, Common Flameback, Green Imperial Pigeon, Shikra, Small Minivet, White-rumped Munia, and Nuthatch species. After seeing our key bird species, we moved to other places and looked for the White-rumped Falcon. Luckily, we did see 3 of the White-rumped Falcon .

In the afternoon time, we left at 3:00 pm to go to the site called Phnom Raeng for other key birds such as Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Streak-throated Woodpecker, and Savana Nightjar.

When we arrived in the area, we felt so quiet from the nature. We keep walking along the trail to find our key species. We found Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Black-hooded Oriole, White-browed Fantail, Large Cuckooshrike, Burmese Shrike, Rufous Woodpecker, and Savanna Nightjar. After exploring around about 3 hours, we walked back to the car and returned to the lodge. Refreshing with shower and dinner at 7:00 pm.

Day 3: Tmat Boey, Preah Vihear Temple, Koh Ker Temple and Siem Reap

At 5:30 am, we left the lodge and drove about an hour and half to the foothill of Preah Vihear temple. We did arrive there at 7:30 am, and we had breakfast because the ticket booth was not open yet. So, we had breakfast there and did some bird watching around that area.

The ticket booth was opened at 8:00 am, then we went up the clip of Dong Raek mountain for our temple tour. Along the way, we did birdwatching and saw a target bird of our client, Black-hooded Bulbul , and other warblers, sunbirds, and flowerpecker species.

After visiting the temple, we returned to the lodge and arrived back at 10:30 am, had a break, refreshed with shower, and had lunch at noon. At 1:30 pm, we left the lodge to visit our last temple called “Koh Ker” a new world heritage site that had just registered with UNESCO.

We spent an hour and a half exploring this ancient city and found another key bird for our client. Black-headed Woodpecker was a lifer for our client at that time because we tried many places near Tmat Boey Lodge and looked for it but we did not see it, so, our last spotted area and was our last chance to find it. Finally, we saw them and some other species such as minivets, bulbuls, nuthatches, woodshrikes etc.

After bird watching around Koh Ker Complex, we visited the main temple called Koh Ker temple for about an hour.

After the temple, we went back to Siem Reap town directly, nonstop because the traffic was a bit busy during the water festival. Drop off the clients at Yi’s family homestay outside the Siem Reap town.

Complete Bird List

Total No. of Bird Species: 127
E-bird Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/175072

1. Indian Spot-billed Duck – Anas poecilorhyncha
2. Chinese Francolin – Francolinus pintadeanus
3. Red Collared-Dove – Streptopelia tranquebarica
4. Spotted Dove – Spilopelia chinensis
5. Zebra Dove – Geopelia striata
6. Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon – Treron phoenicopterus
7. Green Imperial-Pigeon – Ducula aenea
8. Greater Coucal – Centropus sinensis
9. Savanna Nightjar – Caprimulgus affinis
10. Germain’s Swiftlet – Aerodramus germani
11. Asian Palm Swift – Cypsiurus balasiensis
12. Crested Treeswift – Hemiprocne coronata
13. Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius
14. Red-wattled Lapwing – Vanellus indicus
15. Pin-tailed Snipe – Gallinago stenura
16. Common Snipe – Gallinago gallinago
17. Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola
18. Barred Buttonquail – Turnix suscitator
19. Asian Openbill – Anastomus oscitans
20. Painted Stork – Mycteria leucocephala
21. Spot-billed Pelican – Pelecanus philippensis
22. Little Egret – Egretta garzetta
23. Chinese Pond-Heron – Ardeola bacchus
24. Eastern Cattle Egret – Bubulcus coromandus
25. Great Egret – Ardea alba
26. Medium Egret – Ardea intermedia
27. Gray Heron – Ardea cinerea
28. Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea
29. White-shouldered Ibis – Pseudibis davisoni
30. Giant Ibis – Pseudibis gigantea
31. Rufous-winged Buzzard – Butastur liventer
32. Eastern Marsh Harrier – Circus spilonotus
33. Pied Harrier – Circus melanoleucos
34. Shikra – Accipiter badius
35. Brown Fish-Owl – Ketupa zeylonensis
36. Asian Barred Owlet – Glaucidium cuculoides
37. Eurasian Hoopoe – Upupa epops
38. Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis
39. Pied Kingfisher – Ceryle rudis
40. Asian Green Bee-eater – Merops orientalis
41. Blue-tailed Bee-eater – Merops philippinus
42. Indochinese Roller – Coracias affinis
43. Coppersmith Barbet – Psilopogon haemacephalus
44. Lineated Barbet – Psilopogon lineatus
45. Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker – Yungipicus canicapillus
46. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker – Dendrocopos hyperythrus
47. Freckle-breasted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos analis
48. Rufous Woodpecker – Micropternus brachyurus
49. Common Flameback – Dinopium javanense
50. Streak-throated Woodpecker – Picus xanthopygaeus
51. Black-headed Woodpecker – Picus erythropygius
52. Great Slaty Woodpecker – Mulleripicus pulverulentus
53. White-rumped Falcon – Neohierax insignis
54. Alexandrine Parakeet – Psittacula eupatria
55. Blossom-headed Parakeet – Psittacula roseata
56. Red-breasted Parakeet – Psittacula alexandri
57. Small Minivet – Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
58. Scarlet Minivet – Pericrocotus speciosus
59. Ashy Minivet – Pericrocotus divaricatus
60. Large Cuckooshrike – Coracina macei
61. Indochinese Cuckooshrike – Lalage polioptera
62. Black-naped Oriole – Oriolus chinensis
63. Black-hooded Oriole – Oriolus xanthornus
64. Common Woodshrike – Tephrodornis pondicerianus
65. Common Iora – Aegithina tiphia
66. White-browed Fantail – Rhipidura aureola
67. Black Drongo – Dicrurus macrocercus
68. Ashy Drongo – Dicrurus leucophaeus
69. Hair-crested Drongo – Dicrurus hottentottus
70. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus paradiseus
71. Brown Shrike – Lanius cristatus
72. Burmese Shrike – Lanius collurioides
73. Red-billed Blue-Magpie – Urocissa erythroryncha
74. Rufous Treepie – Dendrocitta vagabunda
75. Large-billed Crow – Corvus macrorhynchos
76. Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher – Culicicapa ceylonensis
77. Singing Bushlark – Mirafra javanica
78. Indochinese Bushlark – Mirafra erythrocephala
79. Oriental Skylark – Alauda gulgula
80. Common Tailorbird – Orthotomus sutorius
81. Dark-necked Tailorbird – Orthotomus atrogularis
82. Brown Prinia – Prinia polychroa
83. Rufescent Prinia – Prinia rufescens
84. Plain Prinia – Prinia inornata
85. Zitting Cisticola – Cisticola juncidis
86. Manchurian Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus tangorum
87. Oriental Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus orientalis
88. Striated Grassbird – Megalurus palustris
89. Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
90. Black-headed Bulbul – Microtarsus melanocephalos
91. Black-crested Bulbul – Rubigula flaviventris
92. Streak-eared Bulbul – Pycnonotus conradi
93. Stripe-throated Bulbul – Pycnonotus finlaysoni
94. Yellow-vented Bulbul – Pycnonotus goiavier
95. Sooty-headed Bulbul – Pycnonotus aurigaster
96. Yellow-browed Warbler – Phylloscopus inornatus
97. Radde’s Warbler – Phylloscopus schwarzi
98. Two-barred Warbler – Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus
99. White-crested Laughingthrush – Garrulax leucolophus
100. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch – Sitta frontalis
101. Burmese Nuthatch – Sitta neglecta
102. Common Hill Myna – Gracula religiosa
103. Black-collared Starling – Gracupica nigricollis
104. Indian Pied Starling – Gracupica contra
105. Common Myna – Acridotheres tristis
106. Vinous-breasted Myna – Acridotheres leucocephalus
107. Asian Brown Flycatcher – Muscicapa dauurica
108. White-rumped Shama – Copsychus malabaricus
109. Verditer Flycatcher – Eumyias thalassinus
110. Hainan Blue Flycatcher – Cyornis hainanus
111. Taiga Flycatcher – Ficedula albicilla
112. Amur Stonechat – Saxicola stejnegeri
113. Pied Bushchat – Saxicola caprata
114. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker – Dicaeum cruentatum
115. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird – Chalcoparia singalensis
116. Purple Sunbird – Cinnyris asiaticus
117. Ornate Sunbird – Cinnyris ornatus
118. Golden-fronted Leafbird – Chloropsis aurifrons
119. White-rumped Munia – Lonchura striata
120. Chestnut Munia – Lonchura atricapilla
121. Red Avadavat – Amandava amandava
122. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus
123. Plain-backed Sparrow – Passer flaveolus
124. Eastern Yellow Wagtail – Motacilla tschutschensis
125. Richard’s Pipit – Anthus richardi
126. Paddyfield Pipit – Anthus rufulus
127. Red-throated Pipit – Anthus cervinus