Birding in Raja Ampat

From 23 to 26 August 2026, I guided Jordan and Emilie on a birding tour in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. Our targets were Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. We could watch them during the trip. We also did general birding walks both along the road side and inside the forest. To increase our chance to see more birds, we did night walks after dinner.

Although it was quite exhausting, we were able to see various species of tropical birds of Raja Ampat including Moustached Treeswift, White-breasted Woodswallow, Pacific Swallow, Oriental Hobbit, Papuan Eclectus,  Great-billed Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Helmeted Friarbird, Blyth's Hornbill, Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Bird of Paradise Common Tern, Whimbrel, Woodsandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Willie Wagtail, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and etc.

Birds of paradise that we saw in Waigeo were Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise.

Birding in Klaimis Forest of Klasow valley, Sorong Regency

Before the birding tour in Waigeo, we spent 3 days/ 2 nights in Klaimis forest. We saw a lot of interesting birds such as Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Western-crowned Pigeon, Blue Black Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Thick-billed Ground Pigeon, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, and several species of birds of paradise and etc.

Papuan Boobook in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Yesterday I did night birding with Jordan - a wildlife photographer from France. We walked along the roadside of Saporkren in search of Papuan Frogmouth. We saw one sitting on the branch of a tree around 40 meters away from us. So, we left it. We continued our walk again. I played the call of Papuan Boobook (Ninox theomacha). After waiting for a few minutes, we saw one flying in front of us and landing on the branch of a tree. We walked slowly to get closer to the bird. I used my binoculars and aimed them at the bird. After locking my binocs at the bird, I attached my cell phone behind them.

The Papuan Boobook was sitting on the branch for about 5 minutes. I was able to record some videos and photos of the bird. 

This morning we went into the forest by a 4wd pick-up truck. We were able to see the Wilson's Bird of Paradise. It was a successful morning trip. We saw the paradise bird. Unfortunately, I did not make any picture or video of the bird. 

Blue-black Kingfisher

This is a short video of Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus) that I made in Klaimis forest, a lowland rainforest outside Sorong city. I recorded the kingfisher on 22 August 2026 at around 17:00 local time. We usually find Blue-black Kingfisher near a stream or in the mangrove area. 

Klaimis is the habitat of Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher and Yellow-billed Kingfisher. 

A lot of other birds could be seen there too such as Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Red-cheeked Parrot, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot and etc.

Klaimis forest is the natural habitat of Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird and Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. 

Also read: 

• Thick-billed Ground Pigeon
• Birding Tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency
• Wildlife Tour to Klaimis forest of Sorong
• Birdwatching tour in Sonder of North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Birds in North Sulawesi

Thick-billed Ground Pigeon

Here is a short video of Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugon terrestris) that I made when I and some villagers were guiding a French wildlife photographer in Klaimis, a lowland rainforest outside of Sorong city. 

The bird was sleeping on a branch of a tree around 2.5 meters above the ground. This bird, during the day, spends most of its time on the ground feeding on fallen fruits, seeds and insects.  At night it sleeps on the branch of a tree. 

Deforestation that continues to happen in New Guinea is becoming a serious problem for the survival of endemic plants and animals of this tropical island. 

A lot of species of birds could be seen in this forest. There are Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Trumpet Manucode, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Superb Bird of Paradise, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Western-crowned Pigeon, and etc.

Visitors who take wildlife watching trip in Klaimis need to bring their own binoculars, camera with telephoto-lens and spotting scope (optional). For night walk in the forest, visitors need to bring flashlight. 

The average duration of stay for visitors who take wildlife tour in Klaimis forest is 3 to 4 days. There is a simple wooden house with 3 bedrooms that was built by villagers as accommodation for visitors.

This wildlife tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency can be combined with wildlife trip in Raja Ampat such as in Waigeo or Batanta islands for tour participants to watch Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise as well as other animals such as cuscus, and monitor lizard.

If you are interested in taking a wildlife watching and photography tour in Sorong regency or Raja Ampat of Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.

Also read:

• Birding tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency
• Wildlife tour in Klaimis forest
• Wildlife watching trip in Klaimis forest
• Morning General Birding Trip from Sorong city
• Bird Photography Tour in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder

Morning General Birdwatching Trip from Sorong City

Half day morning birding tour - Sorong city is an important transit point for visitors who travel to Raja Ampat. The suburban areas of Sorong city are surrounded by farmland and forest. In recent years, these natural places have attracted birdwatchers from all corners of the world. They take birdwatching tours before or after their trip in Raja Ampat. 

Some of the birds and butterflies which tour participants could see in Sorong

Some of the many birds that can be watched in the outskirt areas of Sorong city are listed below:

• Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise
• Glossy-mantled Manucode
• Trumpet Manucode
• Coconut Lorikeet
• Black-capped Lory
• Black Lory
• Red-cheeked Parrot
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
• Palm Cockatoo
• Sahul Sunbird
• Black Sunbird
• Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
• Willie Wagtail
• Pacific Baza
• Brahminy Kite
• Dollarbird
• Helmeted Friarbird
• Emperor Fairywren
• Willie Wagtail
• Blyth's Hornbill
• Sacred Kingfisher
• Blue Black Kingfisher
• Beach Kingfisher
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon
• Orange-fronted Fruit-dove
• Collared Imperial Pigeon
• Spotted Dove
• Black-browed Triller
• White-bellied Cuckooshrike
• Torresian Crow
• And etc.

To enjoy birdwatching, tour participant needs to bring their own binoculars such as the 10×42 mm from Nikon Monarch or other brands. Birding experience for tour participants will be enhanced when they bring spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod. 

This morning birdwatching tour starts at 05:00 and finishes at around 10:00 and can be extended with visits to traditional market of Sorong city or Buddhist Temple View Point. 

To help identify or learn more about birds that occur in Sorong city and its surroundings, visitors could install Merlin App in their cell phone.  

Tour participants need to bring rain poncho, anti insect spray. This short birdwatching tour at the outskirts of Sorong city is suitable for everybody from solo traveling tourists to a group of travelers. 

In addition to birds, other natural attraction that tour participants can see while walking inside or along the forest edge is butterfly. There are New Guinea Clipper, Common Green Birdwing, Great Eggfly Butterfly, Blue Tiger Butterfly, Mangrove Tiger Butterfly, Ulysses Butterfly and a lot more. 

Booking

To book your bird and butterfly watching tour, please, contact me by email to peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link. 

Also read:

• Things to do in Sorong, Indonesia
• Birds in the Suburb of Sorong city
• What to do in Sorong city
• Morning Birding Tour from Sorong city
• Tropical Birds in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi