Birding Chinese Garden Singapore

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When: December 2025 and January 2026 Weather: warm 27C

OM1mk2 Zuiko 150-400mm Pro

Not having birded at the Chinese Garden in Jurong for many years, I went there on 3 occasions as there were consistent reports of several cuckoos and an uncommon variant of the very common black naped oriole…..I parked in the North Carpark and headed over the bridge towards the main Pagoda where the sightings had been….

we crossed over the main bridge over to the pagoda..which can be seen in the distance….just next to the pagoda is a cafetaria called Eden which overlooks the river and the trees on the far bank where the cuckoos and orioles had been seen….
after many sightings of the common or garden black naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis) we finally saw the lighter yellow female East Asian black naped oriole (oriolus chinensis diffusus) with its streaked breast!
Rare migrant: the female Diffusus subspecies of black naped oriole: the male is harder to distinguish from the usual black naped oriole…..

Sitting at the Eden cafe, we chose a table right at the river overlooking the river and the bridge…it was most civilised birding…with breakfast and a cold drink…

there was movement across the river and a long tail and striped belly eventually led to the Large Hawk Cuckoo emerging…a lifer!
pied trillers were common
as were the ashy minivets
walking across the bridge, the beautiful but difficult to shoot chestnut winged cuckoo made a brief appearance
and finally the easiest of the cuckoos, the Indian cuckoo next to the bridge
grey heron on the water

On the walk from the main bridge to the pagoda bridge, there are also lots of forest birds…..

a very common but still beautiful yellow vented bulbul posed with flowers for breakfast
scarlet backed flower peckers were active
and on the powder puff and bottlebrush trees next to the main bridge, the blue crowned hanging parrots were very active
Sunda woodpecker
and on the river bank next to the main bridge, a purple heron with food in mouth

So after a few visits, I managed to get most of my target birds; the Chinese Garden is a lovely park with many local birds and well worth a visit for birders visiting. Highly recommended

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