Indonesia Birding Tours

Following International Ornithological Congress (IOC) taxonomy, v13.1 (May 2023), the Indonesia bird list is considered to stand at a staggering 1,840 bird species, with an equally impressive total of 493 endemic species. As our knowledge of taxonomy and how to define a species alters, this total is likely to rise substantially, making Indonesia one of the must-visit destinations for bird watchers. It is however a major concern that there are over 155 globally threatened species in Indonesia, many falling foul of the illegal pet trade, such as Bali Myna, Yellow-crested Cockatoo, and Javan Green Magpie. Other globally threatened species include Flores Hawk-Eagle, Flores Scops Owl, Sumatran Ground Cuckoo, and Banggai Crow. This number is also unfortunately likely to increase. Bird conservation is increasingly crucial in Indonesia where bird-keeping has been an intrinsic part of life for centuries, though never quite on current levels as this tradition has developed into a large-scale business. According to BirdLife International (and local BirdLife Partner: Burung Indonesia) there are 38 Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs), and 225 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Indonesia, several of these fall within natural reserves, nature reserves, and national parks, however many are currently unprotected, such as important mangrove forests.

We currently have several fascinating Indonesia birding tours (outlined below in chronological order) for those people interested in going birding in Indonesia, though watch this space as we will be adding more amazing bird watching tours very soon. We are working with some excellent local guides to help maximize the many difficult birds seen on our tours:

Indonesia: Biak, Numfor, and Kofiau – Stunning Paradise Kingfishers and Small-Island Endemics

A unique opportunity to explore the seldom-visited islands of Biak, Numfor, and Biak, as well as some birding sites near Sorong in West Papua province. We will move around on boats, searching for the beautiful quartet of Biak Paradise Kingfisher, Numfor Paradise Kingfisher, Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher, and Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, along with other highlights which will include Biak Scops Owl, Kofiau Monarch, and King Bird-of-paradise. Not many people have had the opportunity to visit these islands, not least in one trip and we are very excited to be able to offer this great birding tour.

Indonesia: Lombok Extension – Rinjani Scops Owl Premium Tour

A short and relaxed birding tour in Lombok searching for the recently discovered and described Rinjani Scops Owl, all from a nice and comfortable beachside resort. Other targets on this relaxed trip include Ornate Pitta, Wallacean (Lombok Spangled) Drongo, and Rufous-chested Flycatcher.

Indonesia: Bali and East Java – Bali Myna and Other Regional Specials

On this bird watching tour we will be visiting great sites on Bali “The Island of the Gods” and the rarely visited east Java, searching for stunning (and often rare) birds like Bali Myna, Green Peafowl, Green Junglefowl, Javan Banded Pitta, Flame-fronted Barbet, Black-banded Barbet, Banded Broadbill, Black-winged Starling, Blue Nuthatch, Javan Scimitar Babbler, Javan Whistling Thrush, Javan Sparrow, and loads more. This Indonesia birding tour is set amongst a backdrop of beautiful scenery, dominated by impressive and huge volcanoes.

Indonesia: The Lesser Sunda Islands – Comprehensive Tour

This thorough bird watching tour of the Lesser Sunda region starts and ends in Denpasar, Bali and covers the islands of Sumba, Rote, West Timor, Alor, Flores, and Komodo Islands. On this birding adventure we will seek out many endemic birds, such as Sumba Buttonquail, Sumba Hornbill, Least Boobook, Citron-crested Cockatoo, Rote Boobook, Rote Myzomela, Timor Friarbird, Black-banded Flycatcher, Alor Myzomela, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Flores Crow, Flores Monarch, Elegant Pitta, Ornate Pitta, Yellow-crested Cockatoo, and Glittering Kingfisher. The non-avian highlight is sure to be Komodo Dragon! There are several species currently undescribed and new to science along our route and we will look for those too, such as “Mt Mutis Parrotfinch” and “Timor Nightjar”.

Indonesia: Sulawesi and Halmahera – Spectacular Endemic Birding

This incredible tour looks for many spectacular endemic birds of Sulawesi and Halmahera (North Moluccas), with some of the best including (Wallace’s) Standardwing – a unique bird-of-paradise that we will look for at its display lek, Maleo, Hylocitrea (monotypic endemic family), Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Ivory-breasted Pitta, North Moluccan Pitta, Sulawesi Pitta, Green-backed Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Blue-and-white Kingfisher, Malia, Geomalia, Knobbed Hornbill, Ashy Woodpecker, Satanic Nightjar, Halmahera Boobook, Moluccan Owlet-nightjar, Halmahera Paradise-crow, and a wide-range of parrots, fruit doves, and so many more. Join us as we bird watch in this endemic-filled region of Indonesia.

Indonesia: West Papua – Birds-of-paradise and endemic birds of the Arfak Mountains and Waigeo Island

This exciting, small-group, West Papua birding trip looks for up to 15 species of birds-of-paradise, such as Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise (considered one of the most-attractive birds in the world by many who have enjoyed seeing it), plus other gorgeous birds-of-paradise such as Red Bird-of-paradise, King Bird-of-paradise, Black Sicklebill, Arfak Astrapia, Long-tailed Paradigalla, Crescent-caped Lophorina (formerly Superb Bird-of-paradise), Western Parotia, Trumpet Manucode, and Lesser Bird-of-paradise (along with many more). There is an almost endless list of amazing birds possible on this tour, including Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Western Crowned Pigeon, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Masked Bowerbird, Arfak Catbird, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Lesser Melampitta, Pesquet’s (New Guinea Vulturine) Parrot, White-striped Forest Rail, Mottled Berryhunter (a monotypic family), Papuan Pitta, Blue-black Kingfisher, and lots more!

Our new Indonesian tours will be covering Sumatra and West Java, Ambon, Buru, Boano, and Seram, and Papua Province for starters. On these tours we will be focusing on seeing the endemic birds of each region, a thrilling prospect!