Having wanted to go to Papua New Guinea, but not sure of the safety aspects for bird watching and also wanting to support Maria (Shita Prativi) of the Papua Bird Club we decided to go to West Papua/Irian Jaya. The members of our party were Ron Dowling, Joanna Morgan, Dawn Beck, David Milton and Sandra Harding. It is also an area close to Australia that we felt we should know more about. We thoroughly recommend Papua Bird Club to anyone contemplating visiting this remote and extremely interesting part of Indonesia. Their coordination and guiding was very professional and they went out of their way to try and accommodate personal preferences and dietary needs. You also have the added comfort in knowing that ALL profits from your trip are being channelled back into the community and hopefully contribute to helping to retain the remaining forest habitats of all these interesting birds.
The trip lasted from 3 October to 8 November 2008. This was the latest time available for the year before the wet season really starts. We broke this up into 26 days in West Papua and a week in Sulawesi on the way home. In the end we saw 300 species (plus five heard) in West Papua and 135 species in northern Sulawesi with a total group trip list for the five weeks of 406 species.
Leave Brisbane Friday 3 October Arrive Singapore
Silk Air to Manado. 4 October Manado overnight
Manado - Ujung Pandang 5 October
Ujung Padang to Sorong (11:00 am)
Arrive Start Tour 5 October in Sorong Directly transfer to Batanta island by speed boat
Sorong-Manokwari, 10 October Drove to Syioubrig Village, Arfak Mts
Sorong-Jayapura, 17 October Drove to Nimbokrang
Jayapura-Wamena, 22 October Drove to Lake Habema
Wamena-Jayapura-Biak, 28 October Birded Biak Is
Fly from Biak, 31 October - Ujung Pandang – Manado Manado overnight then to Tangkoko
Tangkoko, 1 to 3 November and Mt Ambang, 4 and 5 November Manado overnight 6 November
Manado – Singapore 7 November Arrive Brisbane 8 November
The total cost per person was US$6155 plus internal flights (US$1550) and the flight from Brisbane to Manado (A$915).
Batanta-Salawati Islands, 3 full days birding
As we arrived on Batanta we looked up to where we would climb the next the day and it did look steep. The weather was always threatening, but for a few showers, we were not restricted from birding and the slope up the hill was not too(!!) slippery. We were after the Wilson’s Bird of Paradise (BOP) and it behaved well tidying up its display area (lek) and calling while we sat in the hide and recovered from the trek up. Other BOPs that we saw while on the islands were King and Red.
We had our first view of Rufous-bellied Kookaburra on Batanta Is and saw Beach Kingfisher on Senapang Is on the way back to Sorong. After much neck craning we got good views of Black Lory, Black-capped Lory and Red-fronted Lorikeet. The Western Crowned-Pigeon was seen twice, thanks to our local guide. Quite a few of the birds were already on our Australian list as we have birded in Cape York in northern Australia but we didn’t mind catching up with them in a new country. What we were coming to grips with was how secretive the birds tended to be.
Arfak, 3 full days birding
Leaving the islands and heading up to the cool highlands was very pleasant. The level of Syioubrig Village was only 1400 m but we felt the altitude when we started walking up to our accommodation. Driving up we split into two cars and Maria’s (with Ron, Sandra and Dave) were very lucky to see a New Guinea Harpy-Eagle from the car on the drive into the mountains. In this area Zeph was our guide and sometimes we split up to visit different hides and to accommodate how we felt for the day. Dawn had great fun learning her Indonesian with Zeph’s family. Parrots we saw, included Josephine’s Lorikeet, Papuan Lorikeet, Plum-faced Lorikeet and Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot. The Feline Owlet-Nightjar was a favourite with everyone and we also saw the Mountain Owlet-Nightjar at their roosts. The White-Shouldered Fairy-wren was eventually seen by everyone and Dawn was the only one to see Hooded Pitohui. The bowers of the Vogelkop Bowerbird were just like those on the Attenborough shows. BOPs included Long-tailed Paradigalla, Black Sicklebill, Western Parotia (unbelievable display), Magnificent BOP and Arfak Astrapia. We missed a few key Arfak species as the rain was very persistent during our stay. On the way down we did have good view of the rarely reported Mountain Drongo and Ron happened across the Flame Bowerbird.
Nimbokrang, 3 full days birding
Nimbokrang is a selectively logged lowland forest south west of Jayapura in the north east of West Papua. Our guide, Jamil came from Java, as a transmigrant to West Papua. Jamil lived about 10 km from the forest and so together with his wife, Surib and two local villagers we camped out in our tents under a large fly in the forest. This was very comfortable and we could bathe in the nearby creek. Before arriving at Nimbokrang we had a slight altercation with the Military Police as we were birding on an area in Sentani which they claimed to belong to the military. As there had been riots, we were called into to the military compound where we were grilled by the intelligence officer. This however added to the adventure and we only lost a few hours birding.
Highlights at Nimbokrang included the Shovel-billed Kookaburra and Blue-black Kingfisher. At a spot that we drove to south west of camp we saw Salvadori’s Fig-Parrot and Pesquet’s/Vulturine Parrot. The Papuan Nightjar gave us regular flyovers in the evenings. We saw many pigeons and fruit-doves including Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove, Superb Fruit-Dove, Beautiful Fruit-Dove, Dwarf Fruit-Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon, Pinon Imperial-Pigeon and Banded or Zoe Imperial-Pigeon. The Black-sided Robin called well in response to the tape but was hard for everyone to get good views. We caught up with the BOPs after a bit of effort. These were Pale-billed Sicklebill, Twelve-wired BOP and Lesser BOP. There were many more female Lesser than male Lesser BOP. I wonder why ???..From Nimbokang we returned to Sentani where we flew to Wamena in the central highlands the following day.
Lake Habema, 2 full days birding
Arriving at Wamena was like being in a different country with much more of the Papuan culture evident. We were particularly taken by the penis gourds worn by some of the men and the traditional handicrafts for sale. It was good to see that a different culture could survive. On the first day we went to the Baliem Valley Resort enjoyed coffee and fried banana on the deck overlooking the valley and picked up Ornate Melidectes. The next day Maria and Untu had gathered all our helpers and supplies and we started the climb up to Lake Habema. As the 4WDs climbed and climbed, we reflected on how much easier it was than walking for 3 days up the Ibele track.
It wasn’t until the last day that we saw Snow Mountain Quail, one that we had looked long and hard for. Down at the lake we saw Salvadori’s Teal and nearby were Spendid Astrapia and Macgregor’s BOP. Walking along the road we had fantastic views of Painted Tiger-Parrot in the roadside moss. Mountain Night-jar visited us in the evening landing on the road behind our tents. We had good views of Hooded Cuckoo-shrike and the Crested Berrypeckers were lovely to see. Papuan Whipbird was a very lucky find nesting in a small bush on the roadside. We saw it feeding a young bird, thanks to Untu for persisting enough to identify the secretive bird. Rain cut short any birding on the way down. After a morning birding around Sentani, we flew to Biak Is in the Geelvink Bay.
Biak, 2 full days birding
Our first morning was greeted with bucketing down rain and we did not reach our destination due to a police road block as elections were in progress. Our second choice of sites was still productive with Long-tailed Starling, Biak White-eye, Biak Red Lory or Black-winged Lory, Geelvink Pygmy-Parrot, Emerald Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove and Biak Flycatcher. Other species we saw were Biak Paradise-Kingfisher, Moluccan Scops-Owl and Emperor Fairy-wren. A good wader spot gave us some extra species for our list and Ron, Maria and Untu saw the rare Biak Monarch.
Total species seen by at least one person for the West Papua trip was 300 plus 5 heard. New species for each person were:
Joanna – 161
Sandra – 180
Dawn – 157
David – 129
Ron – 189
Sulawesi
Since we were travelling from Australia through Singapore and via Sulawesi to West Papua, we decided it was worth taking the opportunity of catching up on some birds here on the way home as Ron and Dawn had not visited Sulawesi before. David, Sandra and Joanna had been to northern Sulawesi before and knew most of the sites. Untu came from Batu Putih near Tangkoko and he kindly arranged all our logistics without even asking. This ensured the week went very smoothly and we had no problems throughout. We had 3 nights at Mama Roos in Tangkoko and 2 nights at the house of Julius Sinsingon (Ranger) at Mt Ambung. At Tangkoko we met up with the Ranger, Ferdinan and his son Antris who were our guides. The Sulawesi Masked Owl was in its roost in the tree overlooking the bay, which we saw from the boat. Unfortunately the tide was bit high for the Great-billed Kingfisher which we only saw as it flew away. In the forest we had good views of the Red-bellied Pitta, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Pechora’s Pipit and Red-backed Thrush. We saw Sulawesi Black Pigeon and Sulawesi Serpent Eagle back along the road looking over the forest. At Mt Ambang after much persistence we had good views of the Cinnabar Hawk-owl. The White-bellied Imperial Pigeons were impressive and the Red-eared Fruit-Dove and Spot-tailed Goshawk were good to see. A group of Malia reminded us strongly of Australian Pomatostomid babblers as they scrambled around in the mid-storey using their bills to lift bark and mosses for insects.
For our animal list we had Tarsia, Cuscus, Green leaf snake, Cobra, Sulawesi Macaque and small squirrel
Useful Contacts: Shita Prativi/Untu (info@papuabirdclub.com), Driver in Sulawesi – Ance Buyat (ance_buyat@yahoo.co.id), Ranger/guide at Tangkoko – Antris (0815 23032433), Mama Roos Homestay Tangkoko (0813 40421454).
West Papua bird list
Taonomy follows Clements throughout, with some common names that differ widely from the field guides Beehler et al (West Papua) and Coates and Bishop (Sulawesi)
Phalacrocoracidae Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocora sulcirostris
Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocora melanoleucos
Anhingidae Australian darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
Fregatidae Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
Egrettidae Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana
Ardeidae Great Egret Ardea modesta
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Black Bittern Iobrychus flavicollis
Anatidae Spotted Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna guttata
Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah
Salvadori's Teal Salvadorina waigiuensis
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra
Accipitridae Osprey Pandion cristatus
Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard Henicopernis longicauda
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Eastern Marsh-Harrier Circus spilonotus
Chinese Goshawk Accipiter soloensis
Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster
Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus
Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus
New Guinea Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae
Gurney's Eagle Aquila gurneyi
Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides
Phasianidae Brown Quail Coturni ypsilophora
Snow Mountain Quail Anurophasis monorthony
Rallidae Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Rufous-tailed Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
Charadriidae Greater Sand plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Scolopacidae Swinhoe's Snipe Gallinago megala
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Grey-tailed Tattler Heterosceles brevipes
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii
Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
Columbidae Metallic Pigeon Columba vitiensis
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis
Great Cuckoo-Dove Reinwardtoena reinwardtii
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Bronze Ground-Dove Gallicolumba beccarii
Western Crowned-Pigeon Goura cristata
Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnificus H H
Yellow-bibbed Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus solomonensis
Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus perlatus
Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus aurantiifrons
Superb Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus superbus
Coroneted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus coronulatus
Beautiful Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus pulchellus
White-breasted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus rivoli
Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus viridis
Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus iozonus
Dwarf Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus nanus
Spice Imperial-Pigeon Ducula myristicivora
Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon Ducula rufigaster
Elegant Imperial-Pigeon Ducula concinna
Pinon Imperial-Pigeon Ducula pinon
Zoe Imperial-Pigeon Ducula zoeae
Torresian Imperial-Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa
Papuan Mountain-Pigeon Gymnophaps albertisii
Cacatuidae Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
Psittacidae Black Lory Chalcopsitta atra
Brown Lory Chalcopsitta duivenbodei
Black-winged Lory Eos cyanogenia
Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus
Black-capped Lory Lorius lory
Red-fronted Lorikeet Charmosyna rubronotata
Josephine's Lorikeet Charmosyna josefinae
Papuan Lorikeet Charmosyna papou
Plum-faced Lorikeet Oreopsittacus arfaki
Pesquet's Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus
Orange-billed Lorikeet Neopsittacus pullicauda
Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot Micropsitta keiensis
Geelvink Pygmy-Parrot Micropsitta geelvinkiana
Buff-faced Pygmy-Parrot Micropsitta pusio
Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot Micropsitta bruijnii
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma
Salvadori's Fig-Parrot Psittaculirostris salvadorii
Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot Psittacella brehmii
Painted Tiger-Parrot Psittacella picta
Modest Tiger-Parrot Psittacella modesta
Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi
Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos
Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus
Papuan Hanging-Parrot Loriculus aurantiifrons
Cuculidae Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus
Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus
Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis
White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcy meyeri
Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae
Greater Black Coucal Centropus menbeki
Lesser Black Coucal Centropus bernsteini
Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus H
Strigidae Biak Scops-Owl Otus beccarii
Papuan Boobook Nino theomacha H
Aegothelidae Feline Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles insignis
Mountain Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles albertisi
Podargidae Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus
Papuan Frogmouth Podargus papuensis
Caprimulgidae Papuan Nightjar Eurostopodus papuensis
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
Eurostopodidae Archbold's Nightjar Eurostopodus archboldi
Apodidae Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Mountain Swiftlet Aerodramus hirundinaceus
Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis
Papuan Needletail Mearnsia novaeguineae
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
Hemiprognidae Moustached Treeswift Hemiprocne mystacea
Alcedinidae Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea
Little Kingfisher Alcedo pusilla
Halcyonidae Rufous-bellied Kookaburra Dacelo gaudichaud
Shovel-billed Kookaburra Clytocey re
Blue-black Kingfisher Todiramphus nigrocyaneus
Beach Kingfisher Todiramphus saurophagus
Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
Yellow-billed Kingfisher Syma torotoro
Common Paradise-Kingfisher Tanysiptera galatea
Biak Paradise-Kingfisher Tanysiptera riedelii
Meropidae Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus
Coraciidae Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
Bucerotidae Blyth's Hornbill Aceros plicatus
Pittidae Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida
Red-bellied Pitta Pitta erythrogaster H
Hirundinidae Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
Motacillidae Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Alpine Pipit Anthus gutturalis
Campephagidae Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike Coracina lineata
Boyer's Cuckoo-shrike Coracina boyeri
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis
Hooded Cuckoo-shrike Coracina longicauda
Grey-headed Cuckoo-shrike Coracina schisticeps
New Guinea Cuckoo-shrike Coracina melas
Black-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina montana
Golden Cuckoo-shrike Campochaera sloetii
Black-browed Triller Lalage atrovirens
Pycnonotidae Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster
Turdidae Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus
Pied Bushchat Saicola caprata
Cisticolidae Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola eilis
Sylviidae Island Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus poliocephalus
Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis
Muscicapidae Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Rhipiduridae Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris
Mangrove Fantail Rhipidura phasiana
Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Friendly Fantail Rhipidura albolimbata
White-bellied Thicket-Fantail Rhipidura leucothora
Black Fantail Rhipidura atra
Dimorphic Fantail Rhipidura brachyrhyncha
Monarchidae Black Monarch Monarcha aillaris
Spot-winged Monarch Monarcha guttulus
Golden Monarch Monarcha chrysomela
Frilled Monarch Arses telescophthalmus
Rufous-collared Monarch Arses insularis
Biak Monarch Monarcha brehmii
Biak Flycatcher Myiagra atra
Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto
Black-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus nigripectus
Yellow-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus flaviventer
Petroicidae Canary Flycatcher Microeca papuana
Garnet Robin Eugerygone rubra
Alpine Robin Petroica bivittata
Black-sided Robin Poecilodryas hypoleuca
Black-throated Robin Poecilodryas albonotata
White-winged Robin Peneothello sigillata
Smoky Robin Peneothello cryptoleuca
Blue-grey Robin Peneothello cyanus
Grey-headed Robin Heteromyias albispecularis
Green-backed Robin Pachycephalopsis hattamensis
Pachycephalidae Mottled Whistler Rhagologus leucostigma
Dwarf Whistler Pachycare flavogriseum
Common Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous-naped Whistler Aleadryas rufinucha
Vogelkop Whistler Pachycephala meyeri
Gray-headed Whistler Pachycephala griseiceps
Sclater's Whistler Pachycephala soror
Lorentz's Whistler Pachycephala lorentzi
Regent Whistler Pachycephala schlegelii
Rufous Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha
Hooded Pitohui Pitohui dichrous
Variable Pitohui Pitohui kirhocephalus
Rusty Pitohui Pitohui ferrugineus
Black Pitohui Pitohui nigrescens
Psophodidae Papuan Whipbird Androphobus viridis
Spotted Jewell-babbler Ptilorrhoa leucosticta
Maluridae White-shouldered Fairywren Malurus alboscapulatus
Emperor Fairywren Malurus cyanocephalus
Acanthizidae Rusty Mouse-Warbler Crateroscelis murina
Mountain Mouse-Warbler Crateroscelis robusta
Perpleing Scrubwren Sericornis virgatus
Large Scrubwren Sericornis nouhuysi
Vogelkop Scrubwren Sericornis rufescens
Papuan Scrubwren Sericornis papuensis
Papuan Thornbill Acanthiza murina
Mountain Gerygone Gerygone cinerea
Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris
Green-backed Gerygone Gerygone chloronota
Biak Gerygone Gerygone hypoantha
Yellow-bellied Gerygone Gerygone chrysogaster
Brown-breasted Gerygone Gerygone ruficollis
Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster
Neosittidae Black Sittella Neositta miranda
Climacteridae Papuan Treecreeper Cormobates placens
Nectariniidae Black Sunbird Leptocoma sericea
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Melanocharitidae Lemon-breasted Berrypecker Melanocharis longicauda
Fan-tailed Berrypecker Melanocharis versteri
Spotted Berrypecker Melanocharis crassirostris
Black Berrypecker Melanocharis nigra
Yellow-bellied Longbill Toorhamphus novaeguineae
Dwarf Honeyeater Toorhamphus iliolophus
Pygmy Honeyeater Toorhamphus pygmaeum
Paramythiidae Crested Berrypecker Paramythia montium
Tit Berrypecker Oreocharis arfaki
Dicaeidae Olive-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaeum pectorale
Red-capped Flowerpecker Dicaeum geelvinkianum
Zosteropidae Black-fronted White-eye Zosterops minor
Biak White-eye Zosterops mysorensis
Capped White-eye Zosterops fuscicapilla
Meliphagidae Tawny Straightbill Timeliopsis griseigula
Long-billed Honeyeater Melilestes megarhynchus
Red-throated Myzomela Myzomela eques
Mountain Myzomela Myzomela adolphinae
Red-collared Myzomela Myzomela rosenbergii
Mountain Meliphaga Meliphaga orientalis
Scrub Honeyeater Meliphaga albonotata
Puff-backed Honeyeater Meliphaga aruensis
Mimic Honeyeater Meliphaga analoga
Yellow-gaped Honeyeater Meliphaga flavirictus
Black-throated Honeyeater Lichenostomus subfrenatus
Varied Honeyeater Lichenostomus versicolor
Spotted Honeyeater anthotis polygrammus
Orange-cheeked Honeyeater Oreornis chrysogenys
Plain Honeyeater Pycnopygius ioides
Marbled Honeyeater Pycnopygius cinereus
Streak-headed Honeyeater Pycnopygius stictocephalus
Meyer's Friarbird Philemon meyeri
Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides
Rufous-sided Honeyeater Ptiloprora erythropleura
Black-backed Honeyeater Ptiloprora perstriata
Sooty Melidectes Melidectes fuscus
Short-bearded Melidectes Melidectes nouhuysi
Cinnamon-browed Melidectes Melidectes ochromelas
Vogelkop Melidectes Melidectes leucostephes
Belford's Melidectes Melidectes belfordi
Ornate Melidectes Melidectes torquatus
Western Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes gymnops
Common Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes fumigatus
Oriolidae Brown Oriole Oriolus szalayi
Dricuridae Papuan Drongo Chaetorhynchus papuensis
Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
Artamidae Great Woodswallow Artamus maimus
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
Mountain Peltops Peltops montanus
Lowland Peltops Peltops blainvillii
Hooded Butcherbird Cracticus cassicus
Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyi
Paradisaeidae Macgregor's Bird-of-paradise Macgregoria pulchra
Glossy-mantled Manucode Manucodia ater
Jobi Manucode Manucodia jobiensis
Long-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla carunculata
Arfak Astrapia Astrapia nigra
Splendid Astrapia Astrapia splendidissima
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
Black Sicklebill Epimachus fastuosus
Pale-billed Sicklebill Epimachus bruijnii
Magnificent Bird-of-paradise Cicinnurus magnificus
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise Cicinnurus respublica
King Bird-of-paradise Cicinnurus regius
Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus
Lesser Bird-of-paradise Paradisaea minor
Red Bird-of-paradise Paradisaea rubra
Ptilonorhynchidae Vogelkop Bowerbird Amblyornis inornata
Flame Bowerbird Sericulus aureus
Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Chlamydera cerviniventris
Corvidae Brown-headed Crow Corvus fuscicapillus
Grey Crow Corvus tristis
Torresian Crow Corvus orru
Sturnidae Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica
Singing Starling Aplonis cantoroides
Long-tailed Starling Aplonis magna
Yellow-faced Myna Mino dumontii
Golden Myna Mino anais
Passeridae Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Mountain Firetail Oreostruthus fuliginosus
Streak-headed Munia Lonchura tristissima
Chestnut-breasted Munia Lonchura castaneothora
Black-breasted Munia Lonchura teerinki
Snow Mountain Munia Lonchura montana
Birds seen in Sulawesi (1 – 5 November 2008) 135 spp
* = Rice paddies enroute from Manado
Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Fregatidae Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea *
Ardeidae Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia *
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra
Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa *
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis *
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Anatidae Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons *
Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle Spilornis rufipectus
Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
Chinese Goshawk Accipiter soloensis
Spot-tailed Goshawk Accipiter trinotatus
Sulawesi Goshawk Accipiter griseiceps
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Rufous-bellied Eagle Aquila kienerii
Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus lanceolatus
Spotted Kestrel Falco moluccensis (airport)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (Manado)
Phasianidae Blue-breasted Quail Coturni chinensis
Rallidae Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis *
Barred Rail Gallirallus torquatus
Isabelline Bush-hen Amaurornis isabellina
White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea *
Scolopacidae Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva *
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola *
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis *
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia *
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola *
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata *
Columbidae Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis
White-faced Cuckoo-Dove
(Sulawesi Black Pigeon) Turacoena manadensis
Zebra Dove Geopelia striata (Manado)
Pink-necked Pigeon Treron vernans
Gray-cheeked Pigeon Treron griseicauda
Superb Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus superbus
Red-eared Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus fischeri
Black-naped Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus melanospilus
White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula forsteni
Gray-headed Imperial-Pigeon Ducula radiata
Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea
Pied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula bicolor
White (Silver-tipped) Imperial-Pigeon Ducula luctuosa
Psittacidae Ornate Lorikeet Trichoglossus ornatus
Yellow-and-green Lorikeet Trichoglossus flavoviridis
Azure-rumped Parrot Tanygnathus sumatranus
Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail Prioniturus flavicans
Golden-mantled Racquet-tail Prioniturus platurus
Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot Loriculus stigmatus
Pygmy Hanging-Parrot Loriculus eilis
Cuculidae Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
Black-billed Koel Eudynamys melanorhynchus
Yellow-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus
Bay Coucal Centropus celebensis
Lesser Black Coucal Centropus bernsteini
Tytonidae Sulawesi Owl Tyto rosenbergii
Strigidae Cinnabar Hawk-Owl Nino ios
Sulawesi Scops-owl Otus manadensis
Aegothelidae Great Eared-Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis
Sulawesi Nightjar Caprimulgus celebensis
Apodidae Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Moluccan Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus
Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Purple Needletail Hirundapus celebensis
Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
Gray-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
Alcedinidae Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Lilac Kingfisher Cittura cyanotis
Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda
Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris
Green-backed Kingfisher Actenoides monachus
Meropidae Purple-winged Roller Coracias Temminckii
Coraindae Purple-bearded Bee-eater Meropogen forsteni
Bucerotidae Sulawesi Hornbill Penelopides earhatus
Knobbed Hornbill Aceros cassidi
Picidae Sulawesi Woodpecker Dendrocopos temminckii
Ashy Woodpecker Mulleripicus fulvus
Pittidae Red-bellied Pitta Pitta erythrogaster
Hirundinidae Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica (Manado)
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
Motacillidae Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi
Campephagidae Pied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina bicolor
Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike Coracina temminckii
White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike Coracina leucopygia
White-rumped Triller Lalage leucopygialis
Pycnonotidae Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster
Turdidae Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius (Manado)
Rusty-backed Thrush Zoothera erythronota
Sylviidae Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus
Sulawesi Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus sarasinorum
Muscicapidae Gray-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Rhipiduridae Citrine Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa helianthea
Rusty-flanked Fantail Rhipidura teysmanni
Monarchidae Pale Blue Monarch Hypothymis puella
Pachycephalidae Sulphur-bellied Whistler Pachycephala sulfuriventer
Timaliidae Malia Malia grata
Sulawesi Babbler Trichastoma celebense
Nectariniidae Brown-throated Sunbird Antheptes malacensis
Black Sunbird Leptocoma sericea
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Dicaeidae Yellow-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum aureolimbatum
Gray-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum celebicum
Zosteropidae Mountain White-eye Zosterops montanus
Sulawesi White-eye Zosterops consobrinorum (Manado)
Black-crowned White-eye Zosterops atrifons
Streak-headed White-eye (Dark-eye) Lophozosterops squamiceps
Meliphagidae Sulawesi Myzomela Myzomela chloroptera
Dark-eared (Lesser Sulawesi) Honeyeater Myza celebensis
Oriolidae Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
Dricuridae Sulawesi Drongo Dicrurus montanus
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
Artamidae White-backed Woodswallow Artamus monachus
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
Corvidae Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca
Sturnidae Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
White-necked Myna Streptocitta albicollis
Fiery-browed Myna Enodes erythrophris
Finch-billed Myna Scissirostrum dubium
Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca
Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla
Passeridae Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora *
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus (Manado)