Birding at Taiping & Bukit Larut

On the way between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Taiping is an interesting stop for birdwtaching. The town itself is not the most remarkable, but the mountain that borders it is truly fascinating. Bukit Larut (also known as Maxwell Hill) is a very popular hike among Malaysians. It takes almost 8 hours to reach the summit. But no worries, it is not necessary to climb all the way to the top to observe birds.

Taiping is a large city, and many locals come to exercise at the base of Bukit Larut. This makes it quite a busy place. You may sometimes find it difficult to birdwatch “peacefully” here, as even early in the morning there are always people out for a walk. To enjoy a bit more tranquility, you’ll need to go a few kilometers further. There is a paved road that leads all the way up to the summit.

Also, be mindful of the weather, as Taiping is known for being particularly cloudy and rainy.

Where to find birds in Taiping ?

At the foot of Bukit Larut

Before attempting to climb all the way to the summit, it is very worthwhile to stay at the base and explore the paths around the mountain. This includes the road below, between the start of Bukit Larut and the temple:

It is an excellent spot to observe lowland birds. You can see many bulbul species such as Buff-vented Bulbul (Iole crypta), Asian Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus brunneus), Fire-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus erythropthalmos), Black-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus atriceps), Stripe-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus finlaysoni), and the very common Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier). It is also a good opportunity to look for a larger bird that frequents tall trees: the Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros).

Feeding station Bukit Larut

I don’t really like the concept of feeding stations, especially when it is done excessively with too much feeding and repeated playback to attract birds. On top of that, this “feeding station” is just a spot three meters from the main trail, not hidden at all, where photographers gather with worms to take pictures of the birds.

That being said, even if you don’t feed them and simply pass by, you can still see many birds that are accustomed to frequenting this area.

Here is a picture of that “feeding station” :

The main birds you can see here are the Rufous-collared Kingfisher (Actenoides concretus), Western Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida), present from late November to late April, Mourning Babbler (Pellorneum malaccense) and the Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Mixornis gularis).

Tea Garden

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, it is not really necessary to climb all the way to the top of Bukit Larut to observe birds. The Tea garden is located 4 kilometers from the starting point. You can reach it in 1 to 2 hours depending on your pace. The entire path leading to the garden is interesting for birdwatching. Since a landslide, the road has been closed to cars (this was the case in February 2025 at least). Birds have naturally returned to frequent these areas.

There is no need to take the dirt hiking trail, which is much darker and steeper. Once you arrive at the Tea Garden, you will find many fruit trees that our feathered friends enjoy.

Many bulbuls can be found at the tea garden. In addition to those mentioned earlier, you may also see: Cinereous Bulbul (Hemixos cinereus), Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex), Scaly-breasted Bulbul (Ixodia squamata), Grey-bellied Bulbul (Ixodia cyaniventris). And surely there are more that could be added to the list.

Another family that is very well represented here is the sunbirds: Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex), Red-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes rhodolaemus), and Temminck’s Sunbird (Aethopyga temminckii).

You can also find other birds such as Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus), Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus percussus), Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum), Lesser Green Leafbird (Chloropsis cyanopogon), and finally the Black-and-yellow Broadbill (Eurylaimus ochromalus). On the way back, at the exit of the Tea Garden, I even spotted an Orange-breasted Trogon (Harpactes oreskios).

Road to Bukit Larut summit

f you are full of energy and feel like climbing the 14 km up to the summit of Bukit Larut, it can still be worthwhile to maximize your chances of seeing more birds.

I won’t be able to list all the birds that can be seen along these 14 km. But for example, you can keep an eye out, or rather, open your ears wide, for the various barbets that can be heard all along the trail. From the Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) to the Sooty Barbet (Caloramphus hayii), passing by the Black-browed Barbet (Psilopogon oorti), Black-eared Barbet (Psilopogon duvaucelii), Red-throated Barbet (Psilopogon mystacophanos), Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus), and even the Yellow-crowned Barbet (Psilopogon henricii).

Around Taiping lake

In the center of Taiping, you’ll find a huge green complex with a large lake. There is a paid zoo as well as a public park where you can walk freely.

In this park, you can photograph the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), kingfishers or the Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis).

Many herons and egrets can also be found along the edges of the lake: Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Striated Heron (Butorides striata), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia), and more.

A few Milky Storks (Mycteria cinerea) from the zoo’s reintroduction program may also be observed. A lively, noisy colony of Long-tailed Parakeets (Psittacula longicauda) can be heard in the trees around the lake.

How to get to Taiping ?

By public transport, many buses run between the major cities. Two KTM trains also reach Taiping from Penang or Ipoh.

To get to the starting point of Bukit Larut, there is no public transport. You will need to walk a few kilometers to reach the base of the mountain. Alternatively, you can use the Grab app, which will drop you off for a very low fare (around 6 RM).

Where to stay in Taiping ?

There are few hotels at the foot of Maxwell Hill, so you’ll need to stay in the city center to find accommodation. I recommend Louis Hotel, which is very clean and spacious, with a moderate budget.