Although I have lived in in the city since 1996 I am always amazed that there remain lots of birds in Bangkok. I am not talking about the birding sites just outside of the city, I am referring to the birds which somehow manage to make a living within the concrete jungle itself. There are many species of birds that are adaptable and are able to do well from the scraps of land between buildings, gardens and city parks. Thailand’s capital city is somehow a good place for observing urban birds, with many of the birds in Bangkok being very colourful and impressive in a variety of ways. Here I will talk a little about some of those I have seen this week while I have been going about my business in the city.

Just this morning I saw a pair of White-rumped Munias in the tree outside my window. This is a common enough species but one that I do not remember seeing in the city itself before – I might have just got a Bangkok tick, surely not! Scaly-breasted Munias are more usual in the city, inhabiting residential streets with lots of plants in balconies and yards and this one is regular to the tree outside where I use the computer.

The street I live in has a couple of big houses with large gardens in it as well as a scrap of wasteland. This seems to be enough for a pair of Indochinese Rollers to occupy the area as well as at least two calling Coppersmith Barbets. In fact I heard a Coppersmith Barbet calling in Silom road a few days ago, just audible above the roar of the traffic. This is probably one of the most impressive birds in Bangkok for those first arriving here; a handsome bird adorned with red, yellow and green plimage. It gets its name from its monotonous call which resembles the sound of someone hammering metal.

Another visitor to the tree outside my window is Peaceful Dove, common all around the city, but a pair roost in the tree every night which is quite a nice sight.

Earlier this week I was walking down Suksawat Road, a very busy street full of factories, shops and speeding traffic, with very few trees, when I heard a Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker calling from an overhead wire. No vegetation was to be seen so it was incredible how this little bird was earning a living here.

Of course, every patch of green in the city has Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Oriental Magpie Robin, Pied Fantail, Common Myna, Feral Pigeon and Eastern Jungle Crow but a visit to Wat Benjamabophit (the marble temple) revealed the increasingly common Hose Sparrow too.

A few times a week I go running in a local park – Suan Thonburirom. It is quite small and completely surrounded by large areas of suburbia but as I cross a footbridge to get there I usually see a Common Iora in just two trees that are at the front of a school, which I suppose shows just how small a territory some birds can get by on. In the park itself are the ubiquitous Asian Koels, Spotted Doves, several species of Mynas and Magpie Robins but sometimes I notice Pink-necked Green Pigeons and just after dark a Collared Scops Owl always calls. Of course, this area also attracts migrating species.

Next time you are out and about town keep your eyes peeled for birds in any scrap of habitat and you might be surprised; I have spotted Black-naped Oriole, Black-collared Starling and Yellow-bellied Prinia at the most unlikely areas in the city centre and, of course, there are always masses of House Swifts to watch swooping around the tall buildings just before dusk.

Of course if you want to do more than just observe birds long the way you need to get to good birding site. One of the best places for visiting birders is Suan Rot Fai (Railway Park) which is in the Chatuchak area in the north of the city and easily accessed using public transport.