Abstract Paddy field ecosystem serves as critical feeding and nesting habitat for various birds, thus compensating the habitat loss and degradation of the natural ecosystem. We want to document the bird species abundance and composition at Sabak Bernam granary area, located in West Peninsular Malaysia. The species distribution pattern was known to associate with rice growing stages. Birds was observed with a week of survey in each rice growing phases using point-count method. Overall, 40 species and 23 families have been recorded from all growing phases. Ploughing phase showed the highest bird abundance (736 individuals), while, maturation phase showed the highest species richness (31 species) and reproductive phase recorded the highest species diversity (H = 2.474). Waterbirds were the most dominant family which consists of Ardeidae, Alcedinidae and Rallidae. Three migrant and one vagrant were recorded in this study. Insectivory was the most abundant guild, dominated by Pacific swallow ( Hirundo tahitica ). However, there were no significant differences between all feeding guilds at different phases (df = 3, p > 0.05). This study indicates that although several species were pest upon rice buds, many of them play a crucial role in paddy field ecosystem services, particularly for pest control, reduce weeds and scavenging on carcasses. Therefore, this man-made wetland habitat area able to harbour a great diversity of birds and indirectly give benefits to the farmers.