Birdwatching in Sulawesi

The island of Sulawesi is one of the most important birdwatching destinations in Indonesia. Its geographical position as a transitional zone between Asia and Australia makes it unique in terms of fauna and flora. Sulawesi is one of the center of endemism for avifauna in Indonesia. Birdwatching tour in this island is usually organized as follows:

Day 1

You arrive in Makassar city which is the capital of South Sulawesi. We will meet you at the airport and organize your transfer to a hotel in the city. You could take a rest in the hotel. At 19:00, we will have dinner. A short technical briefing can be conducted for our birding plan the next morning.

Red-backed Thrush (Geokichla erythronota) in Sulawesi
Red-backed Thrush (Geokichla erythronota) in Karaenta forest of South Sulawesi

Day 2

Early in the morning, we will start our journey by going to Karaenta where we will look for Black-ringed White Eye, Sulawesi Babbler, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, White-necked Myna, Sulawesi Hornbill, Knobbed Hornbill,  Red-backed Thrush which is a terrestrial bird, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Glossy Swiftlet, Pacific Swallow and etc. 

Back to Makassar city, we will have lunch and then continue our exploration for water birds and grass birds in the suburb of Makassar. Interesting birds include Sacred Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Javan Pond Heron, Woolly-necked Stork, Lemon-bellied White Eye, Purple Heron, Chestnut Munia, Pale-headed Munia, and a lot more. Before dark, we will return to hotel, have lunch and take a rest.

Yellow-billed Malkoha
Sulawesi Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus)

Day 3

We will leave hotel for Ramang-Ramang at 05:00. We will start our trip for that morning by boat through the river. Sacred Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher are commonly seen on both sides of the river. As we enter the karst area and continue our tour on foot, we will see more interesting species such as Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Sulawesi Honeybuzzard, Sulawesi Hawk Eagle, Yellow-billed Malkoha. Back to hotel, we will have dinner and then take a rest. 

Day 4

We will check out of the hotel and then go to airport. We will fly to the Province of Central Sulawesi. Landing in Palu airport, we will continue our trip to Lore Lindu. If there is still enough time, we will stop along the roadside to watch birds such as the Savannah Nightjar, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Gray-rumped Treeswift, and etc. Check-into Homestay in Wuasa village. Dinner and rest.

Day 5

We will wake up eary in the morning and go to the parking lot of Lore Lindu National Park. We will watch such birds as Turquoise Warbling Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Maroon-backed Whistler, Ornate Lorikeet, Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet, Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Cerulean Cuckooshrike, Red-eared Fruit Dove, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, and etc. We will return to guesthouse for lunch and taking a break. 

At around 15:00, we will do birding along the roadside to look for Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Maroon-backed Whistler, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Brush Cuckoo, Knobbed Hornbill, Golden-bellied Gerygone.

At 18:00, we will return to homestay, have dinner and then take an early rest.

Day 6

We will have early morning breakfast and then we will leave our homestay at around 05:40. Our destination is the entrance area of Anaso Track. We will go hiking up the slopes of Anaso Track to look for such birds as Red-eared Fruit Dove, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Hylocitrea, Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Diabolical Nightjar, Malia, and a lot more. Lunch in Anaso Track. We will return before dark. 


Day 7

We wil return to Palu City to watch birds along the roadside, in the ricefield and a beach in Palu City. We will look for Sulawesi Streaked Flycatcher, Savannah Nightjar, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Javan Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Lesser Coucal, Little Egret, and etc. Overnight stay in Palu city. 


Day 8

We will fly to Manado city via Makassar and continue our trip to Tomohon town. If there is still time before sunset, we will enjoy birding along the slope of Mount Mahawu to look for Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker and Turquoise Flycatcher.

Day 9

Early in the morning, we will go to Subdistrict Sonder to watch birds such as the Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pygmy Hanging Parrot, White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove.

Lunch at twelve and rest.

At around 15:00, we will do birding walk to look for Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, White-eyed Drongo, Pale Blue Monarch, Black-crowned White-eye, Sooty-beaded Bulbul, Collared Kingfisher, Zebra Dove, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, Black-naped Oriole and etc. 

Night birding could be arrange in Sonder to find Sulawesi Scops Owl, and Speckled Boobook. Back to hotel at 19.00 Dinner at 19:30. Rest.

Day 10

We will continue our trip to Tangkoko Batu Putih Nature Reservr to watch such birds as Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi-crested Myna, and etc.

Day 11

We will visit Naun river to look for Great-billed Kingfisher, White-rumped Triller, Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Heron and etc.

In the afternoon, we will return to Manado city and stay at a hotel near the airport.

Day 12

We will check out of the hotel and go to the airport.

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For further info, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.


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