Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest
Last Updated on 21 September 2025
Nestled in the hills of Hulu Langat, Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest offers more than just a peaceful riverside escape—it is also a hidden gem for birdwatchers. With its dense rainforest, flowing streams, and towering trees, the area is alive with bird calls from dawn to dusk, making it an ideal place to slow down and tune in to the forest’s feathered residents.
To explore the various birding hotspots in the area, we based ourselves in Kuala Lumpur for two nights. From our hotel on the eastern outskirts of the city, it took us about 45 minutes to drive to Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest.
At the park entrance, it seemed possible to drive all the way in through the Skytrex entrance to reach the Skytrex carpark. But with the road being rather narrow and bumpy, we opted to park outside at the large gravel carpark (RM5 per car) and walk in instead. Entry to Skytrex is RM8 on weekdays and RM10 on weekends for foreign visitors (locals get a sweet deal at RM2 and RM3, respectively).
Birding here is both peaceful and unpredictable. No sooner had we stepped out of the car than a flurry of movement overhead had our necks craned at the classic birdwatcher’s angle. A Gold-whiskered Barbet (Psilopogon chrysopogon) sat high up in a tall tree, its beak crammed with berries.
It didn’t take long for us to realise we had unknowingly parked beneath a fruiting fig tree, heavy with ripe, juicy figs. Joining the early morning feast were the Little Green-Pigeons (Treron olax)…
…the Spectacled Bulbuls (Rubigula erythropthalmos)…
…the Black-headed Bulbuls (Microtarsus melanocephalos)…
…the Scaly-breasted Bulbuls (Rubigula squamata)…
…the Sooty Barbets (Caloramphus hayii)…
…and the Asian Fairy-bluebirds (Irena puella).
We took our time savouring every bird that came to the buffet, so caught up in the feast that we nearly forgot the park itself was still waiting for us.
Just across a scenic river lies the gateway to Skytrex, the starting point of our real birding journey.
A paved walking path leads from the Skytrex entrance for about 2 km, winding through lush tropical rainforest—home to nearly 300 species of birds waiting to be discovered.
Just a short walk from the entrance brought us to the well-known Kingfisher Pond, a favourite among both local and visiting birdwatchers. It may look like just a modest puddle in the woods, but don’t be fooled—this little pond attracts some of the most striking kingfishers around. On a good day, one might spot the Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, and Banded Kingfisher, taking turns to dive in the still waters.
When we arrived at the pond, a few local birdwatchers were already setting up—tripods, cameras, folding chairs, and, of course, mosquito coils to keep the forest’s fiercest flying fiends at bay. We didn’t hang around long enough to catch the full kingfisher line-up, but we were lucky to witness the Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx rufidorsa) attempting to swallow an impressively oversized catch.
We continued along the paved road all the way to Skytrex, where the path followed a gurgling river—prime territory for the elusive Chestnut-naped Forktail (Enicurus ruficapillus). And sure enough, there it was, happily hopping from rock to rock, scanning the stream for its next meal.
To our surprise, a Buffy Fish-Owl (Ketupa ketupu) was perched quietly on a branch overhanging the rushing river. But before we could move in for a better look, it took off in a flash and vanished into the depths of the forest.
On our way out, a female Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea) gave us a fleeting glance—almost like a cheeky grin—before darting off with its catch.
Curious about all the feathered friends we encountered on our short stroll through Sungai Congkak? Check out our full eBird checklist:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S241104710
Though our visit was brief, Sungai Congkak offered a wonderful glimpse into the rich birdlife of Malaysia’s rainforests. With birds, beauty, and a bit of adventure, it’s a spot we’d gladly return to.
