The following article, written by Charles Roring, highlights a week-long birding tour through the diverse landscapes of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Trip Report: One-Week Birding Expedition in North Sulawesi
Guide: Charles Roring, Et, Adam, Rudolf
Driver: Veky
Date: 31 December 2025 – 7 January 2026
Overview
From late December 2025 to early January 2026, I had the pleasure of guiding Canadian birder Fred Hareau on a comprehensive one-week tour of North Sulawesi. As one of Indonesia’s premier birding destinations, this province is celebrated for its remarkable level of endemism and its accessible forest reserves.
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| 1 Week Birding Tour Across North Sulawesi |
Our journey spanned a diverse array of ecosystems, including lowland rainforests, coastal mangroves, volcanic highlands, and montane forests. Key birding locations included:
- Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Temboan Hill
- Naun River and the Batu Putih coastline
- Lake Tondano and Lake Linow
- Tomohon Highlands (Rurukan Village and Mount Mahawu)
- Sonder District (Tincep rice fields, Mount Lengkoan, and Kengkang Waterfall)
- The outskirts of Manado City
- Sam Ratulangi Airport
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| Green-backed Kingfisher |
Tangkoko Nature Reserve & Temboan Hill (31 December 2025 – 1 January 2026)
After meeting Fred at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, we headed directly to Tangkoko. This lowland forest is a stronghold for Sulawesi’s endemic species. Our exploration focused on forest trails and fruiting fig trees, yielding a spectacular list of sightings:
* Kingfishers: Green-backed, Lilac, Sulawesi Dwarf, Great-billed, and Ruddy Kingfishers.
* Hornbills: Knobbed Hornbill and Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill.
* Endemics & Rarities: Rusty-backed Thrush, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Babbler, White-necked Myna, and Finch-billed Myna, Blue-backed Parrot, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot.
* Pigeons & Doves: Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove, Black-naped Fruit Dove, and White-bellied Imperial Pigeon.
Mammals: We were also treated to sightings of the Celebes Crested Macaque, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, and the Celebes Dwarf Squirrel.
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| Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher |
A motorized boat trip along the Naun River provided excellent views of the Great-billed Kingfisher perched among the mangroves. Along the sea cliffs and river mouth, we observed:
* Lesser Frigatebird, Pacific Reef Heron, and Nankeen Night Heron.
* Shorebirds: Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, and Pied Stilt.
Our night walks in Tangkoko were equally successful, with clear sightings of the Ochre-bellied Boobook, Speckled Boobook, Sulawesi Scops Owl, and Sulawesi Nightjar.
Tomohon Highlands & Sonder District (3–6 January 2026)
Moving to the cooler highlands, we explored the volcanic slopes and agricultural wetlands. At Mount Mahawu, we focused on montane specialists, while the rice fields of Tincep and Kayawu offered a different variety:
* Wetland Species: Purple Heron, Javan Pond Heron, Barred Rail, and Black-faced Munia.
* Highland Forest: Notable sightings included the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher and various flycatchers.
Manado City Outskirts (7 January 2026)
On our final morning, we birded the edges of Manado. Despite the urban setting, we recorded several interesting species, including the Yellow-billed Malkoha and Sahul Sunbird.
A surprising highlight was seeing three Java Sparrows—likely escapees, as they are not native to Sulawesi. We also spotted a large raptor soaring in the clouds, tentatively identified as a Spotted Harrier.
Conclusion
North Sulawesi continues to prove itself as a world-class birding destination. With its reliable infrastructure and high density of endemic species, it is a "must-visit" for any serious birder. While the driest conditions occur between April and October, productive birding is possible year-round.
Contact Information
If you would like to arrange a guided birding tour in North Sulawesi, please feel free to reach out to me by sending your message to:
E-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com
Whatsapp: please, visit this link.
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