Birding in Sulawesi's Minahasa Peninsula

The Peninsula of Minahasa is located in the Province of North Sulawesi of Indonesia. It is a popular destination for visitors who love to watch birds and other wild animals in tropical rainforest of Sulawesi island. There are several interesting sites for birding in this region. They are described as follows:

Green Imperial Pigeon

• The Outskirts of Manado city - This birding site is suitable for visitors who only have got limited time and want to enjoy an outdoor activity instead of staying all day in the hotel. It is the site to watch Sahul Sunbird, Pacific Swallow, Pale Blue Monarch, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc.
• Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the habitat of a lot of tropical birds that live in lowland and lower montane forest such as Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, White-necked Myna, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, and etc.
• Mount Mahawu is located near Tomohon town. It is the destination for visitors who want to see Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, and Sulawesi Pitta. However, it is also the habitat of a lot of other birds including Superb Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Lake Linow is located near Lahendong village in Minahasa Highland and is the natural habitat of a lot of water birds such as Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, White-breasted Waterhen, Sunda Teal, Barn Swallow and etc.
• Subdistrict Sonder - This is a small town in Minahasa regency that is surrounded by hill forest, various agricultural trees, rice fields, rivers and water falls. Sonder is suitable for visitors who love easy birding. They can walk along a clear road, or walking path through farmland to watch such birds as Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Myzomela, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Woodswallow, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Sulawesi Scops Owl, and etc.

Birding activity could be carried out all year round. Visitors need to bring 8×42; 10×42 or 10×50 mm binoculars made by Nikon, Swarovski, Leica and etc. For bird photographer, they usually bring D-SLR or mirrorless camera with telephoto lens. 

Accommodation

In Tangkoko, there are homestays, lodges that are suitable for birdwatchers who want to stay for several days. In Minahasa highland, for birding in Mount Mahawu; Sonder; and Lake Linow, visitors could stay in a hotel in Tomohon town. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.