MAE PING NATIONAL PARK
THAILAND
LOCALE
| Area (ha): | 100,300 |
| Altitude (m): | 5700-1334 |
| # Species: | 264 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 264 |
| # Endemics: | 0 |
| # Near Endemics: | 0 |
| Species/100 ha: | 0.3 |
| Habitat: Lowland dry dipterocarp forest, evergreen forest | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
Birding in Mae Ping National Park is along several trails and roadsides in the park. The habitat is primarily dry dipterocarp forest below 1000m elevation and evergreen forest at higher elevation. The species composition is somewhat similar to the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon with better habitat as much of the habitat around Doi Inthanon has been disturbed.
The road to Thung Kik goes through good forest and is an excellent place for woodpeckers. Black-headed Woodpecker is common while Great Slaty Woodpecker and White-bellied Woodpecker are uncommon. At the campground night birding can yield a couple species of owls if one is camping overnight. The Thung Kik Nature Trail starting at the picnic area behind the ranger station is a 2km loop through grassland edge and dry forest. The trail is not well marked. Roadside birding along highway 1087 through mixed forest can be good as traffic is light. A well maintained 500m long trail leading to the Kor Luang Waterfall, located 27.1km from park HQ, is well maintained and can be good for Orange-breasted Trogon, Oriental Pied-Hornbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, and Slaty-backed Forktail.
LOCATION OF SITE
Mae Ping National Park is located in western Thailand about 6 hours drive from Bangkok and 2 hours drive south of Doi Inthanon National Park.