Birding in Sulawesi 14 Days

Birding at Tangkoko Nature Reserve

This 87 qkm nature reserve offers excellent opportunities for birdwatchers and photographers. It includes three volcanic peaks, covered with forest: Mount Tangkoko (1.109 m), Mount Batuangus (450 m) and the twin peaks of Mount Dua Saudara (1.361 m). More than 150 of 475 bird species in Sulawesi have been recorded in Tangkoko Nature Reserve - including 47 endemic species! 1.605 birds occuring in Indonesia.

Some of the endemic birds: Bay Coucal, Golden Mantle racquet-tailed, Sulawesi black pigeon, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Red-knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, White-necked Myna, Ochre-bellied Boobook,  Sulawesi Cicada bird, Sulawesi Triller, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Grosbeak Starling, White-Bellied Imperial Pigeon, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi serpent Eagle, Ornate Lorikeets, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, ...


Birding at Mount Mahawu and Tomohon region

Gunung Mahawu, a 1.324 m high forested volcano with an emerald-green lake and yellow sulphur deposits. It is one of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Asia by Birdlife International.

Some bird species: Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi scops Owl, Speckled Boobook, Ochre-bellied Boobook, Sulawesi Babler, Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler, Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher, Pale-blue  Monarch, Isabeline-bush Hen, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, Sulawesi Myzomela, Island Flycatcher, Citrine Flycatcher, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, ...

Birding at Tondano lake
With 4.278 ha, Tondano lake is the second biggest lake (after Toba lake in Sumatra) in Indonesia and surrounded by the Tondano Caldera with its volcanoes and is not far away from Mountain View Resort & SPA.

Some bird species: Clamorous Reed Warbler, Common Moorhen, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Dusky Moorhen, Comb-crested Jacana, Spotted Dove, Wandering Whistling-Duck, White-browed Crake, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Bittern, Spotted Harrier, White-bellied Sea Eagle, ...

Birding at Mount Ambang Nature Reserve
An about 8.000 ha large Nature Reserve, altitudes from 700 m to the peak of Mount Moyayat (1,760 m) and many valleys with steep-sided mountains. Evergreen rainforest, few palms and a canopy of up to 25 m with some emergent treesin at the lower parts. In the higher parts: smaller trees, a dense understorey of palms and other vegetation. You will find marshes and small lakes. A must for enthusiast bird watchers!

Some bird species: Matinan Flycatcher, Sulphur bellied Whistler, Sulawesi Babler, Sulawesi blue flycatcher, Citrine canary Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Little pied Flycatcher, Crimson crowned Flowerpecker, Cerulean Cuckooshrike, Sulawesi leaf Warbler, Sulawesi Myzomela, Dark-eared Myza, Malia, Sulawesi Drongo, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Cinnabar Boobook, Sulawesi scops Owl, Minahasa masked Owl, Great eared Nightjar, ...

Birding at Sangihe and Talaud Archipel
The remote archipelagos of Sangihe and Talaud are situated in the Celebes Sea between the mainland of North Sulawesi and the Philippines.
These islands are home of nine endemic bird species. Five of them are really endangered.

Some bird species on Sangihe: Sangihe hanging Parrot, Scops Owl, Elegant Sunbird, Sangihe Shrike Thrush, Cerulean Paradise Flycatcher, Sangihe White-eye, Sangihe Golden Bulbul, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, ...
Some bird species on Talaud: Red-and-blue Lory, Talaud Kingfisher, Talaud Bush-hen, Talaud Rail, Great-billed Parrot, Blue-backed Parrot, Blue-naped Parrot, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher, Red-bellied Pitta, Grey Imperial Pigeon, Rufous-tailed Bush-hen

Rammang Rammang, Karst Mountain, Maros
Rammang-Rammang is a productive place for birding in South Sulawesi, located in the karts mountain range (limestone). It's settled in Salenrang village, Bontoa disctrict, Maros, South Sulawesi province, about about 40 km from north of Makassar.

Highlight species: Black-ringed White, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Hornbill, Knobbed Hornbill, Ashy Woodpecker, Pygmy Sulawesi Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pitta, Lilac Kingfisher, Black-billed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike, Moluccan Drongo Cuckoo, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Sulawesi Hawk Eagle, Sulawesi Babbler, Piping Crow

The name of "Rammang-Rammang" comes from the language of Makassar, where Rammang means "cloud" or "mist". So, Rammang-Rammang means a set of cloud or fog. According to the local believe, this place was named Rammang-Rammang because of the clouds or fog that always appearing around the area, especially in the morning or when it rains.
The points of interest in the region is a limestone forest park, Telaga Bidadari, Bulu’ Barakka' cave, Telapak Tangan Cave, Pasaung caves, Pute rivers and Berua Village.
Rammang Rammang Lime stone forest scattered for about 45 000 hectares (45A km²) and this is the third largest karst areas in the world, after Tsingy in Madagascar and Shilin in China. There are two stone forest park complex in Rammang-Rammang that located in the north and in the south.

Lompobattang Forest, Malino
None is known. However, 200 km2 of "protection forest" on Gunung Lompobatang (which is heavily disturbed below 1,000-1,700 m, but rises to 3,000 m) has been proposed for establishment as a nature reserve.
Key species; Lompobattang Flycatcher, and Lompobattang Fruit-dove

Conduct extensive surveys in the Lompobatang massif to identify all remaining forest tracts supporting populations. Establish a strict protected area to encompass as much remaining forest on the massif as possible. Promote effective enforcement of protected-area regulations to minimise alternative land-use development and control further exploitation of the area. Initiate local directives for forest protection and promote a widespread education programme highlighting the importance of the Lompobatang massif as the major water catchment area supplying the large cities of  Makassar and Maros. 


Duration: 14 days
Starting city: Makassar (South Sulawesi)
Ending city: Manado (North Sulawesi)
Physical difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Focus: Birding
Bird Photography: is the best, special the Sulawesi bird endemic
Walking condition: the walking ranges from easy to moderate, but there will be a few tough days in anaso track Lore Lindu Park, GunungAmbang in Dumoga and Temboan hill near Tangkoko Park
Type of Land Transport & Road: We will use minibus or cars. Road is some part in good condition and some part in bad condition. While for mangrove boat trip we will use small boat.
Accommodation: Makassar Hotel standard, in Lore Lindu we will be staying in basic guesthouse with no hot water, in Palu we will be staying at standard hotel in Town, In Kotamobagu we will stay Three nights at standard hotel has hot water shower and internet access WIFI, in TomohonGunungMahawu we will be staying in the hotel or cottages which has hot water shower and has also internet access WIFI, In Tangkoko park we will be staying in basic guesthouses with no hot water but has aircondition room, no internet connection and in Manado we will stay at 4**** hotel.

Day 1: Arrival in Makassar in South Sulawesi.
After your arrival in the capital of South Sulawesi, you will be transferred to a comfortable hotel, for the night. For early arrivals an afternoon trip can be taken to Makassar and ricefield and fishponds for Pale headed Munia, Black faced Munia, ChesnutMunia, White shouldered triller, Javan pond Heron, White headed Stilt, Sacred Kingfisher, lesser coucal.

Day 2: Karaenta forest – Makassar – Palu – Lore Lindu
Karaenta to Lore Lindu National Park. Early morning breakfast at the hotel then we will travel up into the forested limestone hills north of the Makassar city. Karaenta Nature Reserve is the good place to spot an endemic that is confined to South Sulawesi the local Black-ringed White-eye, This forest also provides a good chance to see the Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Yellow billed Malkoha, Red Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi crested Myna, Piping Crow, Sulawesi Goshawk and with luck the White necked Myna. In this forest we might also find the Sulawesi Streaked Flycatcher( recently described in 2015. After morning birding in this area we will return to Makassar and take a flight to Palu in Central Sulawesi. From Palu we will travel by car to Lore Lindu National Park, our base for exploring the montane forests of Lore Lindu National Park and we will stay three nights in a simple guesthouse in Wuasa, near to the national park.

Days 3-5: Lore Lindu National Park.
There is probably nowhere better to see Sulawesi’s unique avifauna, with 80% of the island’s endemic species, this park has a well deserved reputation for montanespecialities. our main targets here are the magnificent Sulawesi endemic of the Purple-Beared Bee-Eater, Great Shortwing, Malia, Geomalia, Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler, noisy Caerulean cuckoo shrikes, Sulawesi Cicadabirds, Black-fronted White-eye, black Sunbird, Black-naped Monarch and the Citrine Flycatcher, Island Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Mountain serin, Sulawesi myzomela, Ivory-backed wood-swallow, Ornate lorikeet, Small-sparrow hawk, Maroon-backed Whistler, Heinrich nightjar, Speckled boobook, CinabarBoobook, Sulawesi scops owl, Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Spotted kestrel, lemon-bellied white-eye, Sulawesi Triller, Sulawesi cicadabird, Sulawesi serpent eagle and many more with luck! On at least one of the days we will make the climb up the infamous Anaso Track, which allows access to higher altitudes, and the possibility of Sulawesi’s sole endemic bird family – Hylocitrea (yellow flanked whistler); the strange and rare Geomalia (recently found to be an odd zoothera thrush); along with Golden-mantled and Yellow-breasted Racquet-tails, Red-eared Fruit-Dove, Maroon-backed Whistler, White-eared Myza, and Streak-headed Dark-eye. These ascents will also give us a chance at the rare Mountain Serin, Sombre Pigeon, and with luck we might see the Purple-bearded Bee-eater known as the world’s most interesting bee-eater. There is also often the chance to find Diabolical Nightjars roosting during the day.
On day 5 – late afternoon we will drive back to Palu for overnight stay.

Day 6: Palu to Manado via Luwuk (flight by Wings Air IW 1156 depart at 07:15 and arrived at 10:10 AM) and 4 hours car drive to Kotamobagu. Today much of the day will be spent traveling. Three nights will be spent at hotel in the town of Kotamobagu.

Days 7: DumogaNaniWartabone National Park, fullday morning and afternoon we will explore the Maleo breeding Center, the most handsome of all megapodes is the endemic MacrocephalonMaleo of Sulawesi. Its black-and-pink plumage, erect tail and grotesque helmet or cephalon (hence its scientific name) and characteristic rolling call make the Maleo a must for bird-watchers visiting Sulawesi. and on same days it is possible to help with the release of chicks back into the wild. After spending some time searching for Maleos, we will walk in this small forest patch, searching for a local endemic, Sulawesi crested Myna, White necked Myna, Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove, Yellow-billed Malkoha, the strange white-eyed race of Hair-crested Drongo, Black-billed Koel, Bay Coucal, Black naped Fruit Dove, Sulawesi hanging Parrot, White breasted Woodswallow and Sulawesi hawk Eagle. These forests also hold Sulawesi black Pigeon and perhaps get further chances at Sulawesi Pitta.

Day 8: Dumoga Nani Wartabone National Park
Fullday morning birding in Toraut, another forested section of the park, where we hope to find the regularly roosting Speckled Boobook within the park buildings, and we might see other species; Pied Cuckooshrike, Sulawesi Dwarf-Kingfisher, Lilac cheeked Kingfisher, Green backed Kingfisher, Maroon chinned Fruit Dove, Superb fruit Dove, Grey headed Imperial Pigeon, Red Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi dwarf Hornbill, Grey headed Fish eagle, this area also good for the endemic Ivory-backed Woodswallow, and is great for mynas, with Finch-billed, White-vented and Sulawesi (Crested) Mynas, Barred (Sulawesi) Honey-Buzzard. In the afternoon we will move onto another area of the park checking the roadside paddies and wet areas for Barred and Buff-banded Rails, and Wandering Whistling-Ducks on the way.

Day 9: Gunung Ambang to Tomohon.
This morning we will start very early and explore some of the surviving montane forest in GunungAmbang Nature Reserve. Here we try find the Matinan flycatcher and we will also be hoping to encounter the beautiful the Scaly breasted Kingfisher and if we are in luck we will spot the purple-bearded Bee-eater, Red eared Fruit Dove, Sulawesi blue flycatcher, Sulawesi leaf warbler, Superb Fruit dove, Ornate lorikeet, yellow and green lorikeet, Black billed Koel, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Ashy Woodpecker, Malia, yellow sided flowerpecker, Sulawesi myzomela. After morning here we will back to Kotamobagu for Lunch then after that we will drive 4 hours to reach Tomohon.

Day 10: Gunung Mahawu – Tangkoko Park
GunungMahawu is a forested Volcano (1490 meters above sea level), Inside the crater is a steaming, emerald-green lake ringed with yellow sulphur deposits. From the summit you can see neighbouring Mount Lokon with its ever-present plume of smoke. On the clear day you can also see both the Sulawesi sea on the west and to the Maluku sea to the east, GunungMahawu is located near the village of Rurukan where Sir Alfred Wallace lived for a while. Now GunungMahawu is one of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas ( IBAs ) in Asia by BirdLife International. In this birding place we have some interesting Sulawesi endemic species, It is one of the easiest and most reliable sites in Sulawesi for the Scaly-breasted kingfisher- Actenoidesprinceps but please note this star bird of Sulawesi is very skittish and always hide so to spot them still need luck. Bird species at GunungMahawu and Tomohon; Scaly-breasted kingfisher, Lilac-cheeked kingfisher, Green-backed kingfisher, Blue-eared kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi scops owl, Speckled boobook, Ochre-bellied boobook, Sulawesi babler, Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler, Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher (split from Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher), the ultra rareRufous-throated Flycatcher, Pale-blue Monarch (split from Black-naped Monarch), Isabeline-bush hen, Barred rail, White-browed Crake, Sulawesi Myzomela, Island Flycatcher, Citrine Flycatcher, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black-fronted White-eye, Mountain white-eye, Streak-headed Dark-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, Purple-winged Roller, Yellow vented Whistler, Crimson sunbird, Black Sunbird, Olive-back sunbird, Sooty-headed bulbul, Hair crested drongo, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi pygmy Woodpecker, Grey wagtail, Yellow wagtail, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted munia, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Brown-cuckoo dove, superb-fruit dove, Sulawesi black-Pigeon, Sulawesi-hanging parrot, Black Eagle, Black Kite, Osprey, Spotted Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon. During our stay here also we have a great chance of finding Purple swamphen, White-browed crake, White-breasted waterhen, Common Moorhen, Javan pond heron on the Lake Tondano.

Days 11-13: Tangkoko Birding.
This reserve on the eastern tip of the Minahassa Peninsula, is one of Sulawesi’s flagship parks, the excellent lowland jungle and mangrove forest providing superb birding site, The reserve is especially famous for kingfishers, having no less then eight resident species, of which four are endemic but remember that Tangkoko also has much more to offer than its kingfisher though and with the assistance of the skilled our local team, we will be search for Lilac cheeked kingfisher, Green-backed kingfisher, Sulawesi-dwarf kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Rudy kingfisher, Common kingfisher, Blue-eared kingfisher, collared kingfisher, Red-Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi dwarf Hornbill, Ochre-bellied boobook, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Lesser coucal, Sulawesi-Hawk eagle, Sulawesi serpent eagle, Black eagle, Black kite, Sulawesi cicada bird, Rusty-breasted cuckko, Sulawesi triller, Purple-winged roller, Ashy woodpecker, Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Sulawesi hanging parrot, Ornate lorikeet, Golden-mantled Racquetail, Blue-backed parrot, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Black Pigeon, Stephan’s Dove, Brown-cuckoo dove, PhilipineScrubfowl, Barred rail, Isabeline Bush hen. During our boat trip to the mangrove we may find other species; White-rumped cuckoo-Shrike, Common kingfisher, Great-billed kingfisher, Pink-necked green Pigeon, Osprey, Great Frigatebirds, Lesser frigatebirds, Pasific reef egret, common dollar bird, Striated heron, Little tern, Sacred and Collared kingfisher, White-bellied Sea eagle, Brahminy kite and Purple heron. After spending much of the day birding but we have time also to see interesting mammals such as Black-macacanigra, Tarsier spectrum and bear cuscus in Tangkoko Park. Three nights will be spent in a simple lodge just outside the park. On the day 13 – late afternoon we will move to Manado for overnight stay at 4**** hotel.

Day 14: Manado – Next destination.
Morning birding around the hotel and its good for Java sparrow, buff banded rail, Barred rail, Olive backed Sunbird, White breasted Woodswallow.