Birding in North Sulawesi

Sulawesi is a tropical island in the Republic of Indonesia. Geographically, it is located in the trasitional zone between the continent of Asia and the continent of Australia. 

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

According to burung.org website, as of 2024, Sulawesi has got the highest endemic birds in Indonesia with 169 species. As a comparison, we could see the number of endemic birds in 7 avifauna regions of Indonesia below:

• Sulawesi: 169 species
• Maluku: 126 species
• Nusa Tenggara: 108 species
• Java and Bali: 80 species
• Papua: 71 species
• Sumatra: 56 species
• Kalimantan: 6 species

It is not surprising to see that Sulawesi has become one of the most popular birdwatching destinations for visitors who travel to Indonesia. There are a number of birding sites in Sulawesi. 

North Sulawesi Province: 

• Mount Mahawu higher montane forest, and Sonder farm forest are 2 important sites in Minahasa Peninsula that have got a lot of tropical birds that are endemic to Sulawesi. Some of them include: Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Pale Blue Monarch, Ashy Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Malkoha, and a lot more.
• Tangkoko is the site in Minahasa Peninsula that is suitable not only for birdwatching but also for wildlife watching. Birds that can be watched in this nature reserve are the ones that live in lowland forest, lower montane forest, coastal area and mangrove forest. They include Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, and etc.. Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Celebes-crested Macaque and Gursky's Spectral Tarsier are some of the mammals that could be seen in Tangkoko.

Gursky's Spectral Tarsier

• Mount Ambang is a higher montane forest area in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia that is the habitat of Matinan Flycatcher. Tambun Maleo Sanctuary. Manado city is the capital of the province. It is also the entry point for visitors who are interested birding in this region. 

South Sulawesi Province: Karaenta, Ramang-ramang, Malino.
Central Sulawesi Province: Lore Lindu National Park
Gorontalo Province: Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park (whose territory also covers the forest area of Bolaang Mongondow regency in North Sulawesi province)

Birdwatchers usually use 8×42 mm, 10×42 mm, or 10×50 mm binoculars with such brands as Nikon, Swarovski, Leica, Bushnell and etc. They may also bring a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod.

A lot of species of birds could be watched and photographed in Sulawesi. They include: 

• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher
• Sulawesi Myzomela 
• Warbling White-eye
• Black-crowned White-eye
• Ashy Woodpecker 
• Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker 
• Ashy Woodpecker
• Sulawesi Leaf Warbler 
• Sulawesi Bush Warbler
• Knobbed Hornbill
• Sulawesi Hornbill
• Yellow-billed Malkoha
• Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo 
• Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
• Collared Kingfisher
• Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher
• Green-backed Kingfisher
• Great-billed Kingfisher
• Ruddy Kingfisher
• Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher
• Purple-bearded Bee-eater
• Blue-tailed Bee-eater
• Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker
• Gray-sided Flowerpecker
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
• Pygmy Hanging Parrot
• Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet
• Golden-mantled Racquet-tail
• Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail (also called Minahasa Racquet-tail)
• Sahul Sunbird
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Crimson Sunbird
• Black Sunbird
• White-necked Myna
• Sulawesi Myna
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Black-naped Fruit Dove
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Ivory-backed Woodswallow
• Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia doreya albicapilla)
• Black-naped Oriole
• Chestnut Munia
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Black-faced Munia
• and etc.

As a tourist guide, we could organize a birdwatching/ photography tour for visitors who are interested in birding and photography tour in this part of Indonesia. If you are interested in taking this tour whether as an individual or as a group, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read:

• Birdwatching in North Sulawesi
• Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder and Mount Mahawu of Minahasa Highland

Sonder Tours in Minahasa Peninsula of North Sulawesi

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. It is surrounded by hills, rivers, waterfalls, paddy fields, farmland and forest. This short article provides info about tours in Sonder which visitors can enjoy during their trip in Indonesia.

Hiking Tour in Sonder of Minahasa Regency

Trekking tour across the hills and valleys is an interesting activity which visitors could enjoy to see the beautiful landscape of Minahasa. Farm Tour - Most of the Minahasan people who live in Sonder are farmers. They cultivate their land and plant them with various kinds of food crops such as rice, corn, sweet potatoes, red beans, peanuts, coconut, and etc.

While enjoying the walk through the agricultural land, we could see farmers plowing, planting, or harvesting food crops in their farm fields. The houses of local villagers are often covered by concrete floor to enable them to dry grains such as peanuts, red bean, rice and corn. Most farmers still do manual works in their farms. Some of them buy hand tractors, and milling machines which very important in cultivating their land, and processing their agricultural produce.

The farm forest of Sonder is the habitat of a lot of species of butterflies and moths, beetle and dragonfly.

Butterfly watching Tour - Some of the butterflies that we could see include: The Clipper, Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly, Common Birdwing, Blanchard's Ghost, Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Lime Swallowtail, Celebes-banded Swallowtail, The Great Orange Tip, and etc.

Celebes-banded Swallowtail

Birdwatching Tour - In addition to butterflies, the farm forest of Sonder is the habitat of a lot of species of birds such as 

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove,

Green Imperial Pigeon,

Superb Fruit-dove,

Zebra Dove,

Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon,

Yellow-billed Malkoha, 

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, 

Pygmy Hanging Parrot, 

Ashy Woodpecker,

Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, 

Pale Blue Monarch, 

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, 

Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, 

Snowy-browed Flycatcher,

Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker,

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker,

Gray-sided Flowerpecker,

Sahul Sunbird, 

Crimson Sunbird, 

Brown-throated Sunbird,

Black Sunbird,

Black-naped Oriole, 

Scaly-breasted Munia, 

Chestnut Munia, 

Black-faced Munia, 

Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed),

Sulawesi Drongo, 

Sooty-headed Bulbul,

Finch-billed Myna,

Sulawesi-crested Myna,

Barred Rail,

Buff-banded Rail,

White-browed Crake

Purple Heron,

Sulawesi Crow,

Cattle Egret,

Little Egret, 

Purple Heron,

Brahminy Kite,

Black Kite,

Sulawesi Goshawk,

and etc.

Pale Blue Monarch

Birdwatchers in Sonder of Minahasa

To watch birds, visitors need to bring 8×42 mm, 10×42 mm or 10×50 mm binoculars manufactured by Swarovski, Leica, Nikon or Olympus. Those who like to take pictures could bring point and shoot cameras such as Nikon P1000, Canon SX70HS, Sony Cybershot RX20 IV.

Bird Photography Trip in Lake Linow of North Sulawesi

Where is Sonder and how to go there?

Sonder is a small subdistrict town that is located in Minahasa regency of Indonesia. It can be reached by car from Manado city for approximately 1 hour. 

Car route between Manado city and Sonder

Foreign visitors need to fly to one of the major cities in Indonesia and then continue their trip by planes to Manado city. There are daily flights between Manado city and major cities in Indonesia served by Lion Air, Super Airjet, Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, and Wings Air. There are also international direct flights between Singapore and Manado city by Scoot Air, and between Guangzhou and Manado city by TransNusa and China Southern Airlines. 

Flights to Manado city

Accommodation

There are homestays in Sonder for visitors who want to spend several days in Sonder. There are also hotels in the nearby Tomohon town for visitors who are traveling in bigger groups. 

If you are interested in taking a tour in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland, please, contact us by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Related Posts:

• Sonder Bird
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Sulawesi Myzomela
• Birding in Sonder and Mount Mahawu
• Butterfly watching Tour in Sonder Town
• Farmland Tours in Sonder Town of Minahasa Highland

Butterfly watching and Birdwatching in Manado city of North Sulawesi

A few days ago I guided Carolyn, a visitor from the United States on a butterfly watching and birding tour in Manado city of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. We started at around 10:00 in the morning by walking along the farm forest that was filled with coconut trees, lime trees, aren trees and a lot of other tropical plants that grow along the side of a small stream. We saw various species of butterflies and birds.

Ideopsis vitrea

For butterflies, there were The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia), Lime Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus), Common Birdwing (Troides helena), Blanchard's Ghost (Idea blanchardii), Blanchard's Tree Nymph (Ideopsis vitrea), Celebes-banded Swallowtail (Papilio gigon), Australian Lurcher (Yoma sabina nimbus), Brown Pansy (Junonia hedonia), and Pale Blue Tit (Hypolycaena sipylus). There were some other butterflies which I could not identify. 

Papilio gigon

Birding Walk

We also watched some birds such as: Sulawesi Crow (Corvus celebensis), Sahul Sunbird (Cynniris frenatus), a juvenile Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja), Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica), Pale Blue Monarch (Hyphothymis puella), White-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus), Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta), Sulawesi Hanging Parrot (Loriculus stigmatus), Barred Rail (Galliralus torquatus), Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo - (Dicrurus hottentottus leucops), Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum), Yellow-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum aureolimbatum).

The trees and agricultural crops along the roadside are the habitat of Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis), Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia doreya albicapilla), Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Sooty-headed Bulbul and etc.

Pacific Swallow

Sahul Sunbird

I brought my bridge camera, the Fujifilm HS50EXR. With this old photographic device, I could take some pictures of birds and butterflies. 

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker

At around 13:30, heavy rain started to cover the butterfly watching site. We could not continue our activity and had to return to Sam Ratulangi Airport. There, I said Good Bye to Carolyn. She would fly to Singapore by Scoot Air and then continue her trip to back to the United States. 

Also read:

• Manado City Tour
• Birdwatching Tour At The Outskirts of Manado City
• Nature Tour Around Manado City
• Butterflywatching in Sonder town of Minahasa Highland
• Butterfly watching in Minahasa Highland
• Watching Black-naped Oriole in Sonder town of Minahasa
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BUTTERFLY WATCHING AND BIRDING TOUR IN SONDER TOWN OF MINAHASA HIGHLAND

The Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland is a recommended destination for visitors who are interested in watching butterflies, and birds of Sulawesi especially those that live in higher elevation forest. 

Manado Yellow Tiger (Parantica menadensis)

The farmland and forest around Sonder town is the habitat of a lot of species of butterflies and birds. If we walk around the agricultural land, we will be able to see such butterflies as Lime Swallowtail, Common Birdwing, Manado Yellow Tiger, Blanchard's Ghost, The Clipper, Celebes Leafwing, and a lot more. Butterflies like to gather in flowering plants to collect their nectar. Visitors could see a lot of flowering plants in Subdistrict Sonder. 

Yellow-billed Malkoha in the Tounelet slope forest of Sonder town

Birdwatching is another interesting activity which visitors can enjoy while exploring the farmland, rice paddy and forest of Sonder town. A lot of birds could be watched using binoculars and spotting scope. Some of them are listed below.

Crimson Sunbird

• Black-crowned White-eye
• Warbling White-eye (also called Japanese White-eye)
• Hair-crested Drongo
• Sulawesi Drongo
• Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, 
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
• Pygmy Hanging Parrot
• Sulawesi Crow
• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher
• Sulawesi Myzomela
• Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Gray-sided Flowerpecker
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove
• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Zebra Dove
• Sooty-headed Bulbul
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Chestnut Munia
• Black-faced Munia
• Little Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Cinnamon Bittern
• Buff-banded Rail
• Barred Rail
• Isabelline Bush-hen
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Sulawesi Myna
• Finch-billed Myna
• Sahul Sunbird
• Black Sunbird
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Crimson Sumbird
• Sulawesi Scops Owl
• Yellow-billed Malkoha
• Black-naped Oriole
• and etc.

Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker in Tounelet Slope Forest of Sonder town

Where is Sonder? And How to go there?

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of Indonesia. 

• To reach it, visitors need to fly from their own countries to one of the major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Denpasar, Surabaya, Makassar, Balikpapan, Sorong and Ternate. After that they could continue their trip to Manado city by taking a domestic flight served by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, SuperAirjet, TransNusa, Wings Air. It takes around 1 hour by car from the Sam Ratulangi International airport of Manado city to Sonder town.
• Visitors could also take a direct flight from Singapore to Manado city by Scoot Air.
• There are direct flights between Guangzhou in China and Manado city served by TransNusa and China Southern Airlines. 

Flight routes between Manado city and some major cities in Indonesia

Car route from Manado city to Tomohon town and Sonder town and from Manado city to Tangkoko Nature Reserve

If you are interested in taking a butterfly watching and birding tour both in the suburb of Manado city and in Sonder town of Minahasa highland, please, contact us by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Sonder Bird
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Hiking and Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Sonder Bird in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia

Sonder town in Minahasa highland has increasingly become another destination for visitors who are interested in hiking, watching birds of Sulawesi and sightseeing. Birds that could be watched include:

• Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker (Dicaeum nehrkorni)
• Sulawesi Myzomela (Myzomela chloroptera)
• Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis omissus)
• Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra)
• Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos temmincki)
• Citrine Canary- Flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)
• Japanese White-eye (also called: Warbling White-eye)
• Sulawesi Bush Warbler
• Sulawesi Drongo
• Black-faced Munia
• Black Kite
• Lesser Fish Eagle
• Sulawesi Goshawk
• and etc.

Sulawesi Scops Owl in Subdistrict Sonder

During the birding tour in Sonder, we will also do night walk to look for nocturnal bird such as Sulawesi Scops Owl, Speckled Boobook. 

Birds that live in lower montane forest of Sulawesi could also be seen in Sonder. The slope of Tounelet behind Siloam Hospital is still covered by a small forest. It is the natural habitat of such birds as:

• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Black-naped Oriole
• Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove
• Zebra Dove
• Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed)
• Gray-sided Flowerpecker
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Yellow-billed Malkoha
• Pale Blue Monarch
• Sahul Sunbird. 

Crimson Sunbird

The outskirts of Sonder town is mostly covered by farm forest that is the habitat of

• Finch-billed Myna
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Collared Kingfisher
• Black-billed Koel
• Sulawesi Cicadabird
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Ashy Woodpecker
• Sulawesi Crow
• Sulawesi Myna, and etc.

Barred Rail

In paddy field areas of Sonder, we could see:

• Barred Rail
• Buff-banded Rail
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Chestnut Munia
• Isabelline Bush-hen
• White-browed Crake
• Cinnamon Bittern
• and etc.

Yellow-billed Malkoha in Tounelet Slope Forest of Sonder Town

Birding Equipment

To watch birds, visitors need to bring a good pair of 8×42 mm, 10×42 mm or 10 × 50 mm binoculars. Famous brands such as Nikon Monarch, Swarovski, Leica are highly recommended. As a guide, I also bring a spotting scope for everyone to share the image of birds that sit on a branch of a distant tree. 

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

Where is Sonder?

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The capital of the province is Manado city. It is surrounded by hills, rivers and valleys. Visitors who want to visit Sonder town can go by car from Manado city for 1 hour. 

Sonder town

Flight routes to Manado city

Car route from Manado city to Tomohon and Sonder in Minahasa highland

Extending Your Birding Tour

This birding trip in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland can be extended to longer trips to other birding sites in the same region of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The tour plan for the extended tour is described in the following itinerary:

Birding in North Sulawesi

• Day 1

Arriving in Manado city. Lake Linow of Lahendong village.

• Day 2

Birding in Mount Mahawu, and Sonder's Farm Forest.

• Day 3

Birding in Mount Mahawu, Tincep's waterfall and rice field.

• Day 4

Transfer to Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Birding in Temboan Hill

• Day 5

Birding inside Tangkoko forest

• Day 6 

Birding in Naun River

• Day 7

Birding in Temboan, transfer to Manado, check into hotel. Birding at the outskirts of Manado city.

• Day 8 

Transfer to airport.

How to get there?

Forign visitors need to fly from their country to Singapore. There are regular flight service from Scoot Air between Singapore and Manado city. There are also flights between Guangzhou of China and Manado city of Indonesia.

For foreign visitors who fly to Jakarta or Denpasar of Bali, they could take domestic flights provided by such airlines in Indonesia as Garuda, Batik, SuperAirjet, Citilink and Sriwijaya Air. 

Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon

Where to stay?

There are basic homestays in Sonder town. Visitors who look for more comfortable rooms can stay in hotels in Tomohon town which visitors can choose to stay. 

The birding tour in Sonder can be combined with avifauna tour in Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Tangkoko National Park. The duration of this tour is approximately 1 week. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Sonder and other parts of Minahasa Peninsula and want us to organize your trip, please, contact us by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Sonder's Farm Forest
• Nature Tour in Manado city
• Birding and Sightseeing Tour from Manado City
• Butterfly watching in Sonder Town of Minahasa Highland
• Farmland Tours in Sonder Town