The user pointed out that the decorations prominently featured toucans — a bird that has no biological connection to Southeast Asia — rather than Malaysia’s iconic hornbills.
A Malaysian man has highlighted a glaring oversight that many missed: the use of an exotic South American bird in the decorations of an event celebrating Malaysian culture.
The error was spotted on an entry archway at “Rhythm of Flavours”, a food market held in Bukit Bintang from April 30 to May 2.
The market was organised as part of the broader Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026.
Taking to Threads, the user pointed out that the decorations prominently featured toucans — a bird that has no biological connection to Southeast Asia — rather than Malaysia’s iconic hornbills.
“Toucans are not hornbills. The toucan is a species native to the Amazon and does not exist in Malaysia,” he wrote in his post.
Many netizens agreed with his observation, while others found the mistake amusing.
One netizen even posted photos of both bird species to highlight their differences, while another shared a graphic summarising the key distinctions at a glance, which many found informative.
Some users also posted pictures of hornbills found in Peninsular Malaysia, calling it the “Peninsular version.”