Green-Jungle Doi Inthanon National Park





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		DOI INTHANON NATIONAL PARK


		Background Doi Inthanon, located in the Cistricts of Mae Wang, Jomthong, and Mae Jam, Chiang Mai Province, was designated the 6th national park of Thailand on October 2, 1972 and covers an area of 482 square kilometers (about 119,100 acres). Doi Inthanon was formerly known as Doi Ang Ka or Doi Luang, which means “large mountain” before changing to Phra Chao Intravichayanon, named after the royal ruler of Chiang Mai, and the father of Chao Dararassamee (a consort of King Rama V) who was very attached to this area.

				Topography / Flora and Fauna Due to the high altitudinal range of the park (2,565 m above sea level) and the complex mountain chain that joins it to the Himalayas, Doi Inthanon has a somewhat unique biodiversity. It is one of just a few sited in Thailand that supports Himalayan flora and fauna, and some of the endemic species found are, common European White-toothed Shrew, Pere David’s Vole and Ashy-throated Warbler. Forest communities include dry dipterocarp forest, mixed deciduous forest, pine forest, and the predominant hill evergreen forest where, on mountain ridges, semi-alpine floral species, rarely seen in Thailand, can be found.
		These include Rhododendron and small shrubby plants, such as Gaultheria crenulata and Polygala arillata.
				Doi Inthanon’s Summit (km.48) is the highest peak in Thailand. It is the location of Phra Chao Inthavidhayonon’s stupa and also the site of Ang Ka Luang Nature trail about 360 m in length. Along the way, many rare species of flora and fauna are found. For more information, there is the exhibition at the Visitor’s Center. Shop and souvenir shop are also available.

		Bird Watching on Doi Inthanon Doi Inthanon is the best bird watching site in the North, and is one of the five remarkable bird watching sites in Thailand. The best period for bird watching on Doi Inthanon is from December to April in which the bird watcher can encounter both residents and migrants and the weather here is cool and suitable for bird watching.
				The Bird Watching Trail at km.38. At the 2nd park’s checkpoint, several spercies of bird are found such as Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Maroon Oriole, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Streaked Spiderhunter, Purple Chchoa, Green Cochoa, etc. The Bird Watching Trail at km.23. In this area, you can find Rosy Minivet, Forest Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Black-backed Fortail and many others. Washiratharn Waterfall (km.20). It is about 80 m high, with fantastic rainbow everytime when water sparking with sunlight, some species of bird are found such as Plumbeous Redstart, River Chat, Blue whistling Thrush, Slaty-backed Forktail, etc.
		It also hosts more than 380 species of birds, more than 100 of which are winter migrants, many of which are rarely found in other areas, examples being, thrushes, finches, Rufous-bellied Niltava and Snowy-browed Flycatcher.

				BLACK-HEADED SIBIA Scientific Name: Heterophasia annectens Family: Timaliidae Description and status: Slightly longer-tailed, with pure white underparts. Upperparts entirely black, glossier on head and wings than on mantle. White tips to tail feathers. Usually active in small flocks. Common resident. Voice: Musical whistle Range: Himalayas to NE India, North of Thailand. Status: Common resident. Habitat: Hill evergreen forests from 1,000 m to the highest summits.

				RIVER CHAT Scientific Name: Chaimarrornis leucocephalus Family: Muscicapidae Description and status: Blackish plumage with striking white crown and chestnut-red rump and tail with black terminal band. Uncommon; status uncertain, but probably winter visiter. Voice: Peeek Range: Himalayas, China, wintering to India and Indochina. Status: Uncommon resident or winter visitor. Habitat: Rocky, rushing streams from foothills up to highest elevations.

				PLUMBEOUS REDSTART Scientific Name: Rhyacornis fuliginosus Family: Muscicapidae Description and status: Male: dark slaty plumage with bright reddish chestnut upper and under tail coverts and tail. Female: striking black and white tail pattern. Underparts whitish, scaled grey. Uncommon to locally common winter visitor. Uncommon to locally common resident. Voice: streee-treee-tree-treeeh Range: Pakistan, Himalayas to China, Hainan, Taiwan and N Indochina. Status: Uncommon to locally common resident. Habitat: Understorey of open forests, secondary growth and scrub from 300 m to the highest summits.

				SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER Scientific Name: Ficecula hyperythra Family: Muscicapidae Description and status: Small (11 cm), short-winged and short-tailed. Male: upperparts dull, dark slaty-blue with browner flight feathers of wings, white supercilia which almost meet on the forehead. Female: appears rather dark. Identified by relative lack of contrast between uniform, dull olive-brown upperparts and warm, buffy-brown underparts. Uncommon to fairly common resident. Voice: tsit-sit-si-sii Range: N India to S China, Philippines, SE Asia and Sundas. Status: Uncommon to fairly common resident. Habitat: Evergreen forests from 800 m to the highest summits.


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