How to Go Birding in Can Gio Mangroves and Mudflat? (Updated 2025)

Why birding in Can Gio Mangrove?

Can Gio Mangroves, where water and land meet, offer a unique birding experience. While the planted mangroves may not attract many key bird species, the intertidal mudflats and sandbanks are the real highlights. This is why these areas provide important stopovers for migratory waterbirds, creating a fascinating sight for bird enthusiasts.

What to see?

Bird fauna Can Gio Mangrove

Several rare waterbird species have been recorded at this site, including Spotted Greenshank, Asian Dowitcher, Spot-billed Pelican, and Painted Stork. In addition, the globally endangered Black-faced Spoonbill has been recorded at the site, although it is not believed to regularly occur in large numbers.

Most highlights Birding in Can Gio Mangroves

Keep an eye out for Painted Stork, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Asian Dowitcher, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, and a variety of shorebirds that make this area a great spot for birding.

When is the best time for birding in Can Gio

Before birding, we must know:

Can Gio Climate

In Can Gio, the dry season is warm, windy, and partly cloudy, but the wet season is hot and overcast. In general, it is oppressive year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 73°F to 90°F and is rarely below 69°F or above 93°F.

Based on the beach/pool score, the best time of year to visit Can Gio for hot-weather activities is from mid December to late March.

Monthly Averages

Historical monthly average weather conditions for Can Gio.

“The best time for birding in Can Gio is from November to March, when rainfall is low, and migratory birds are most active.“

Where birding in Can Gio Mangrove

Birding Routes

When it comes to birding in Can Gio Mangrove, you’re in for a treat, as this unique ecosystem provides a great opportunity to spot a wide variety of bird species. Let’s embark on a birding journey to explore its diverse habitats:

Mangrove Forest: A Tranquil Avian Haven

Along the winding path through the mangrove forest, the Blue-winged Pitta moves silently in the shaded undergrowth, and the Mangrove Whistler fills the air with its gentle song. When looking up, you may happen to see the Laced Woodpecker climbing tree trunks or Treepies gliding through the branches. Among the flowers, Sunbirds flash their bright colors, bringing life to this peaceful sanctuary.

Intertidal Zones: A Winter Wonderland for Migratory Birds

Venture further into Can Gio, you will go through the coastal beauty of Ky Nam stretching across wide intertidal mudflats. In winter, this area comes alive when thousands of shorebirds gather and fill the landscape with movement and sound.

Since these mudflats provide a resting and feeding ground for migratory birds, you can come closer to spot them. Keep an eye out for the Asian Dowitcher, a rare visitor with a slender bill and striking plumage, blending in among the flocks as it feeds.

Salt Pans: A Coastal Avian Marketplace

Continuing along the main road, you’ll stumble upon another avian treasure – The salt pans. Here, especially during high tide, the scene transforms into a bustling marketplace of avian life. The shimmering waters of the salt pans mirror the skies above, creating a surreal vista. It’s a realm where wading birds like Stilts, Plovers, and Sandpipers gather in abundance, probing the salty waters for sustenance.

Gulls, Terns, and the elegant Black-winged Stilt partake in this coastal banquet. While the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, with its distinctive spoon-shaped bill, graces the waters, the majestic Painted Stork may make an occasional appearance.

Wetland Marvels: The Maison with Avian Delights

As your birding journey continues in Can Gio, don’t miss the Maison Wetland, a thriving haven of avian diversity. Listen for the cheerful chatter of the Asian Golden Weaver, skillfully weaving its nest among the reeds, while the Streaked Weaver fills the air with its lively courtship calls.

Along the water’s edge, the shimmering stillness is punctuated by the swift dives of the Common Kingfisher and the graceful presence of the Little Grebe and Lesser Whistling Duck. Here, you can scan the waters for Cormorants, Ibises, Storks, and Bitterns, each engaged in their elegant pursuits.

Whether exploring the beautiful mangroves, watching the winter gathering of shorebirds on the mudflats, or discovering the rich wetlands of Maison, Can Gio unfolds as a vibrant tapestry of birdlife, where each habitat tells a unique story, each visit reveals new wonders.

Tips for Birding in Can Gio Mangrove Forest

Transportation:

Getting to Can Gio Mangrove Forest is a breeze. Located just two hours from Ho Chi Minh City, you can easily access this avian spot by car. The relatively short journey makes it a convenient and accessible destination for bird enthusiasts from the city.

Accommodations:

Rest assured, you’ll find comfortable accommodations in the area. Can Gio Beach Resort offers a range of guesthouses and dining options to cater to your needs. After a fulfilling day of birding, unwind and relax in the comfort of these local establishments, ensuring you’re well-rested for your next avian adventure.

The best tour cover Birding in Can Gio

Can Gio Biosphere Reserve Birdlist

1. Lesser Whistling-duck

2. Common Kingfisher

3. White-throated Kingfisher

4. Black-capped Kingfisher

5. Collared Kingfisher

6. Blue-tailed Bee-eater

7. Plaintive Cuckoo

8. Black-tailed Godwit

9. Bar-tailed Godwit

10. Whimbrel

11. Eurasian Curlew

12. Common Redshank

13. Marsh Sandpiper

14. Common Greenshank

15. Nordmann’s Greenshank

16. Wood Sandpiper

17. Terek Sandpiper

18. Common Sandpiper

19. Ruddy Turnstone

20. Asian Dowitcher

21. Red-necked Stint

22. Long-toed Stint

23. Curlew Sandpiper

24. Broad-billed Sandpiper

25. Black-winged Stilt

26. Pacific Golden Plover

27. Grey Plover

28. Little Ringed Plover

29. Kentish Plover

30. Lesser Sand Plover

31. Greater Sand Plover

32. Black-headed Gull

33. Gull-billed Tern

34. Caspian Tern

35. Common Tern

36. Little Tern

37. Whiskered Tern

38. Osprey

39. Black-shouldered Kite

40. Little Egret

41. Grey Heron

42. Purple Heron

43. Great Egret

44. Intermediate Egret

45. Javan Pond Heron

46. Little Heron

47. Cinnamon Bittern

48. Black Bittern

49. Black-faced Spoonbill

50. Spot-billed Pelican

51. Painted Stork

52. Pied Fantail

53. Barn Swallow

54. Ashy Tailorbird

55. Arctic Warbler

56. Yellow Wagtail