Sai Kung people are smarter than townies; we move to the countryside to be with nature, especially our birds

by ROGER MEDCALF

18 January 2026 rmedcalf ENVIRONMENT, PETS & WILDLIFE 0

^{Hong Kong Post issued a set of local bird stamps in 2006}

“Birds are nature’s musicians and their concerts are free.”

Sai Kung is a bird watcher’s paradise, featuring many pretty and impressive species. Here’s a selection you will see if you are observant of the delights of our feathered friends:

RED-BILLED BLUE MAGPIE:

This is the most beautiful bird you will see in Sai Kung. Quite large, it has a long blue tail and striking blue plumage. This observer has seen many of them while exercising on the coastal road to Yung Shue O. They flit in and out of the shrubs, displaying those lovely tails.

WHITE BELLIED SEA EAGLE:

A large, handsome raptor it is often seen at the harbour. It has a white head and underparts with slate grey back and wings. Some of these birds are territorial, others nomadic. They mate for life. You may see one or two of them soaring over the harbour

BLACK KITES:

In the cooler months at certain times on the waterfront you will see hundreds, even thousands, of these impressive, intelligent birds soaring and wheeling in the sky, suddenly diving for fish. They are dark brown with yellow eyes and have a distinctive forked tail, deployed in aerobatic flight.

BLACK-NAPED TERN:

They have distinctive black head-stripes and breed on the islands in summer. Stream-lined little flying machines, they race along the waterfront.

ASIAN KOEL:

Seen in the spring-summer, they are known for their “ko-el” call. A cuckoo, the koel is a parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds and lets them raise its young.

CRESTED MYNAS:

Small, brown with a noticeable crest on the nose, they are among the most common birds you will see in Sai Kung. Look for them on the waterfront most days.

ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN:

A small black and white bird with a beautiful song, they are also common. Again you may see them on the seashore.

^{Photos: Mainly Wikipedia and social media}

I’m reminded of a favourite penguin story. A good one to tell children. Pilots flying by an Antarctic shore noticed as they flew along the coast all the penguins, dozens of them, followed their aircraft with their heads watching in unison as it went by. When the pilots flew back in the reverse direction, again all the penguins followed the aircraft in unison watching with their heads turning. When the pilots flew straight at the shore from the sea over the penguins, all the birds fell over backwards.