Compiled by Richard White and Jared Tan.
A Himalayan/Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus/optatus was found at Pasir Ris Park from 19 Feb–1 Mar (SMW). An Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis was recorded in a housing estate in Bukit Timah on 11 Jan (JT). As with other recent records of this species it was considered to be either a release from captivity or a ship assisted bird. The regular Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeons Treron fulvicollis continued to be sighted at their usual location at Pulau Ubin Living Lab during the period of reporting (TW).
A Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis and a White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus were sighted on 29 Mar at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (MF). Up to eight Little Grebe Tachybabtus ruficollis continued to be sighted at Marina Grove (m.o.), and up to two were seen at a waterlogged field a short distance away at Park Street (TW, DL). Also found at the same field was an Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii from 24 Mar to the end of the month (ZYW, WW). A Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus moving around the fields around Marina Grove from 18–28 Feb was the first twitchable bird since 2022 (NR).
A welcome find for birders keeping a Singapore list were up to two Javan Plovers Anarhynchus javanicus at Tanah Merah Coast Road on 20–21 Feb (RT, CNL, JT, VY). This species has been difficult to connect with in Singapore and has teased local observers for several years since a breeding record in an inaccessible area in 2021. At the same location, other scarce shorebirds were seen, with up to three Sanderling Calidris alba (21 Jan onwards; RT), nine Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus (16 Jan onwards; RT), and two White-faced Plover Anarhynchus dealbatus (17 Jan onwards; WHL, JT). The sighting of White-faced Plover at this site is a new location for this species apart from its usual wintering site at Marina East, where up to four birds were spotted until 28 Mar (m.o.). Elsewhere at Kranji Marsh, a Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta was spotted on 2 Feb, only staying for a short while (WHL, TW). This species has become increasingly rare in Singapore in recent years.
A Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, on 18 Mar was the first March record in 40 years and a rare sighting of a bird in full breeding plumage (TW). Discussions about whether this bird shows characters associated with Australian Tern Gelochelidon (n.) macrotarsa have not yet reached a clear conclusion. Elsewhere at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, up to two Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus were seen from 11–16 Jan (CYL).
Hundreds of Asian Openbills Anastomus oscitans continued their large scale invasion with flocks seen at multiple sites around the island (m.o.). The range expansion of this species continues from the first large arrival of this species in 2019 and this subsequent smaller, but sustained, arrival which began in 2024. A Black-headed Ibis flyover at Mount Faber on 15 Feb was only the 2nd national record and was seen among a flock of Asian Openbills (CYL).
The birding year got off to a fine start for many with multiple sightings of up to four Himalayan Griffon Vulture Gyps himalayensis which visited Singapore as part of their tour of the Malay Peninsula in early Jan with up to four birds seen roaming the island from 3–11 Jan (MR, VY, ZF). As is always likely with this species the lack of suitable food sources resulted in two of the birds being taken into care, both of which subsequently died. A Common Buzzard was sighted over Mount Faber on 13 Mar, which was probably a bird making its way back north to its breeding grounds (CNL). The Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringllarius at Punggol Seventeenth Avenue remained at least until 14 Mar (m.o.).
The Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros first seen at Sungei Buloh in Oct 2025 remained in the area until 29 Jan, and was later spotted at Sembawang Park from 6–16 Feb (KT). A Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops at Branksome Road from 17–29 January (Anon.) created a high degree of excitement. After close examination of images the bird was deemed likely to be an escapee based on feather damage and asymmetrical claw length on the hind toe.
In addition to the two birds found in late 2025, two more migratory Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis of the diffusus subspecies were spotted at Thomson Nature Park on (12 Jan; WHL) and Khatib Bongsu (26 Jan; YJW). The hard work of RT who meticulously scanned a murmuration of about 5,500 Daurian Starlings Agropsar sturninus in the Woodlands area paid off, being rewarded with the discovery of up to three Chestnut-cheeked Starling Agropsar philippensis (24 Feb–5 Mar). A single Rosy Starling Pastor roseus was also found among the huge flock by those searching for the Chestnut-cheeked (26 Feb–1 Mar; JT, JWY, WHL). Another individual at Tuas South continued to be sighted until 10 Jan (DL, AV).
The Rainforest Trail at Singapore Botanic Gardens went through a purple patch when two extremely rare species were spotted there. The 4th national record of Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui was found on 11 Jan (DL), with the first record as recent as 2022. A subsequent record in the same area on 28 Feb (HW) is considered likely to be the same individual. At the same location, Singapore’s 3rd Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha was found on 31 Jan (YR). This very popular individual remained in the area throughout the period of reporting.
The long staying female Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra continued at Sungei Api Api throughout the period of reporting (m.o.). A male Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina at Bukit Batok Nature Park on 6 March is only the 10th national record but has been annual since 2024 (WCY). A Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla remained at the newly discovered hotspot of Marina Grove until 9 Apr (m.o.), with another bird continuing at Coney Island until 8 Mar (m.o.). These are the 6th and 7th records for Singapore after the first in 2019 – another species showing a remarkable change in status in recent years. A report of another at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on 15 Jan could not be confirmed. Blue Rock Thrush Montica solitarius were reported from three sites — Bedok (24 Feb; HBT), Toa Payoh (9 Jan–8 Mar; RS, RCO), and the continuing bird at Tuas South (until 29 Mar; DL, CNL).
Also continuing from last year, the Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus remained at Ulu Pandan Canal until 8 Jan when it was taken by a sparrowhawk (TW). Another two birds were seen at Tuas West (26 Jan–8 Mar; TW) and one at Seletar Aerospace Crescent (9–18 Feb; KeS). A Yellow-vented Flowerpecker seen at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve from Dec 2025 continued to be sighted until 28 Jan (JH). Sakhalin Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus borealoides was recorded from four locations — MacRitchie Reservoir (16 Jan; KaS), Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (m.o.), Upper Seletar Reservoir (until 28 Mar; CNL), and Singapore Botanic Gardens (until 14 Feb; KCL).
The Chek Jawa picnic table continued for its fifth year, with the first of a series of rarities being a female Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus percussus on 23 Feb (TW), which is presumed to be the same bird last seen at the same site on 19 Jul 2025. A single female Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis was also seen at the same site on 4 Mar and continued to be reported to the end of the month (WHL). Up to four Black-headed Bulbul Microtarsus melanocephalos were seen from 23 Feb onwards, with the birds seen carrying nesting material (TW). While there have been sporadic sightings on Pulau Ubin since 2020, these birds are thought to be dispersing birds from neighbouring Johor, while the last sighting on the main island of Singapore was three years ago on 12 Mar 2023.
Other rare resident species seen included up to three Mangrove Whistler each at Tanah Merah Coast Road and Changi Bay Point throughout the period of reporting (WHL). The long-staying Black-and-Red Broadbill continued to be sighted sporadically at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (WHL).
Observers:
Unknown original observer (Anon.), Multiple observers (m.o.), Alvin Voon (AV), Lee Chien Nien (CNL), Low Chong Yang (CYL), Dylan CK Lee (DL), Thio Hui Bing (HBT), Henrietta Woo (HW), James Hogg (JH), Jared Tan (JT), Yip Jen Wei (JWY), Lim Kim Chuah (KCL), Kaeden Sim (KaS), Kevin Soh (KeS), Kentan (KT), Mohamed Fazlin (MF), Mohamed Rehaan (MR), Natarajan Rengasamy (NR), Ong Ruici (RCO), T Ramesh (RT), Rita Sumardi (RS), Sangmen Wong (SW), Tony Wong (TW), Vincent Yip (VY), Yong Woon Ching (WCY), Lua Wai Heng (WHL), Wei Wang (WW), Yosh Rodriguez (YR), Zoffer (ZF), Wang Zhongyu (ZW)