12 Best Bird Watching Spots in Singapore Where Elusive Birds Hide
Having lived in Singapore for some time now, I’m here to say you won’t believe how many feathered visitors swing by our little red dot every year.
Because we’re right along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, ours is a solid spot for birdwatching. From marshlands to urban zones, here are some of the most binocular-worthy bird-watching spots in Singapore.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
– Media from hiddenwilds
Location: 301 Neo Tiew Crescent
Best hours: Between 7 and 11 AM
Highlight: Singapore’s first wetlands reserve
Resident bird: Pacific golden plover
It’s in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve where I first saw a Pacific golden plover up close. I guess standing quietly in the bushes really pays off!
The mix of mudflats and mangroves pulls in some serious migratory traffic here. There’s always something new to spot, especially during migration season (September to April).
Pro-tip: Look around during high tide when whimbrels and common greenshanks gather on the mudflats.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
– Media from kamarajpandianv
Location: Hindhede Drive
Best hours: 7.30 to 9.30 AM
Highlight: Dense forest habitat
Resident bird: Great slaty woodpecker
I learned that patience pays off while bird watching at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. I finally spotted a great slaty woodpecker after standing still for over an hour near the Dairy Farm loop.
The dense canopy means you’ll hear birds long before you see them. It’s not the easiest terrain to traverse, but the hike will feel like a treasure hunt once you hear the cuckoos and swifts calling from above.
Pro-tip: Stick to the quieter trails like South View Path. There are fewer hikers and more bird calls.
Central Catchment Nature Reserve & MacRitchie Reservoir
– Media from andreasmeyerphoto
Location: MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Lornie Road
Best hours: 7 to 9 AM
Highlight: SG’s largest nature reserve
Resident bird: Orange-bellied flowerpecker
I didn’t expect much from this place at first, but the Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir changed that. Racket-tailed drongos and malkohas flew right across my path like they were mere mosquitos.
The canopy gives you front-row seats to birds that most people will only hear in their lifetime. Being here, it’s easy to forget you’re in Singapore when you hear and spy all those feathered friends between boardwalks and quiet forest edges.
Pro-tips: Enter from Venus Drive for quicker access to the Tree Top Walk. Bring a zoom lens. Canopy birds don’t perch close to people.
Pulau Ubin & Chek Jawa Wetlands
– Media from bpchua_photography
Location: Chek Jawa Trail
Best hours: 7 to 9 AM
Highlight: Viewing towers
Resident bird: Oriental pied hornbill
The moment I stepped off the bumboat at Pulau Ubin, I immediately heard the call of the straw-headed bulbul…and I haven’t even reached Chek Jawa yet! It’s the kind of place where hornbills casually fly across your path like they don’t fear humans.
Chek Jawa’s boardwalks let you move between mangroves and the coast without disturbing the birds. Plus, the viewing towers give you a solid vantage point for spotting both forest and shore species in one trip.
Pro-tips:
- Catch the first bumboat (from 7 AM) to beat the crowd and catch peak bird activity.
- Bring mosquito repellent, as you’ll be near water and mozzie breeding grounds!
Pasir Ris Park
– Media from twowildeyes
Location: Pasir Ris Road
Best hours: 5 to 7 PM
Highlight: Mangrove boardwalks
Resident bird: Kingfisher
I spotted my first Buffy fish owl at Pasir Ris Park, just past Carpark D, half-hidden in the trees. The mangrove boardwalks make it easy to move slowly and silently, which is also ideal for kingfisher sightings.
It’s one of the few places where bird watching doesn’t feel like a trek. Everything’s flat, accessible, and surprisingly birdy for a neighbourhood park!
Pro-tip: Check the trees near Carpark D for roosting owls early in the morning.
Gardens by the Bay
– Media from gracestpetite
Location: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Supertree Grove
Best hours: 7 to 9 AM
Highlight: Kingfisher Lake
Resident bird: Asian koel
I didn’t expect to hear birds over the city noise, but at Kingfisher Lake, I caught sight of a sunbird darting through the heliconias. Even the Asian koel made a dramatic entrance near the Supertrees.
Gardens by the Bay may be tourist central, but early morning walks here are surprisingly rewarding. The accessible paths and water features attract more birds than you’d think.
Pro-tip: Stick to flowering zones for more sunbird action.
Bird Paradise (Mandai Wildlife Reserve)
– Media from kennyleow
Location: 20 Mandai Lake Road
Best hours: 9 to 11 AM
Highlight: Walk-through aviaries
Resident bird: Over 3,000 birds across 8 zones
Bird Paradise felt like a crash course in global birding; I walked into the Heart of Africa aviary and was immediately surrounded by hornbills, weavers, and starlings. It’s curated, yes, but still a thrill to see species you’d never catch in the wild here.
The feeding sessions are perfectly timed for close-up views without needing a zoom lens. If you’re short on time or new to bird watching, this place gives you a full experience in one shot.
Pro-tip: Download the Mandai app before visiting to learn feeding times and aviary maps so you can plan your route.
Kranji Marshes
– Media from jd_chasingwild
Location: 11 Neo Tiew Lane 2
Best hours: 7 to 9 AM
Highlight: Raptor Tower
Resident bird: Grey-headed swamp hen
I reached Kranji Marshes just after 7 AM and barely had to wait. A grey-headed swamp hen strutted right out of the reeds!
From the Raptor Tower, I caught glimpses of eagles gliding above the treetops. The open marshland gives you a different kind of birding compared to forests.
Pro-tip: Enter via Kranji Gate and head straight to the Raptor Tower before 7 AM to spy raptors at their most active.
Jurong Lake Gardens, Southern Promenade
– Media from q_i_____
Location: 50 Yuan Ching Road
Best hours: 7 to 9 AM
Highlight: Accessible lakeside trails
Resident bird: Asian koel
At the Southern Promenade, I barely stepped onto the trail before hearing the unmistakable call of the Asian koel echo across the lake. The open paths and waterside spots make it easy to follow the sounds without losing the sightlines.
It’s one of the few places where birding and strolling go hand in hand. Early mornings are particularly quiet, and the light is good without the birds minding the company.
Pro-tip: Wear light, neutral-coloured clothing for birding. It keeps you cool and helps blend into nature better so you don’t spook the birds.
Tuas South Boulevard
– Media from kohanson_photography
Location: Industrial fringe road in Tuas
Best hours: 7 to 8.30 AM
Highlight: Open field on reclaimed land
Resident bird: Black-winged kite
Going bird-watching on Tuas South feels like being in another world. There are no trees, no crowds, just sky and grass. I spotted a black-winged kite hovering above the field before it swooped down and vanished into the tall growth.
It’s an uncommon roadside bird-watching spot that’s rewarding enough if you have the patience for somewhat urbanised settings. Come early, before 8.30 AM, before the heat kicks in and the birds start laying low.
Pro-tip: Wear a hat and bring water. There’s no shade in this area.
Neo Tiew Lane
– Media from luminosite_ambience
Location: Lim Chu Kang
Best hours: 7 to 9 AM
Highlight: Water channels
Resident bird: Red-collared dove
The open skies and still canals of Neo Tiew Lane make it easy to track movement from a distance, which is an essential ability of any bird-watcher. It’s where I first spotted a red-collared dove perched calmly by a water channel, unfazed by passing trucks.
It’s not scenic in the usual sense, but the bird traffic here is steady and rewarding. Just stay alert; the action’s often right by the roadside.
Pro-tip: Park safely along the road and stay inside or near your car. It can double as a mobile hide for roadside birding.
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
– Media from kcsok
Location: 1384 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Best hours: 5.30 to 6.30 PM
Highlight: Kallang River
Resident bird: Black-naped oriole
At Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, I like to wind down the day by walking along the Kallang River just before sunset. That’s when black-naped orioles show up, bright yellow against the trees, calling loudly as they fly.
The light is softer, the crowd is thinner, and the birds are more visible along the open water during the golden hour. It’s a great way to squeeze in one last sighting before dark.
Pro-tip: Being a lightweight pair of binoculars. The orioles perch high but stay visible in the evening light along the river.