Birding in Tangkoko

Lowland Forest and Coastal Area of Tangkoko

The tropical rainforest of Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the habitat of hundreds of species of tropical birds. Some of them include Green Imperial Pigeon,  Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, White-necked Myna, Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sahul Sunbird, Ashy Woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc. 

Speckled Boobook at the edge of Tangkoko's forest

Most birdwatchers will need to walk under the canopy of the thick forest of Tangkoko to see most of the above birds. 

Another birding site in Tangkoko that is good for watching birds that like to sit on the canopy of the forest is Temboan Hill. Birds that could be watched and photographed from this hill include Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Black-naped Oriole, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail, Black-billed Koel, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot and Pygmy Hanging Parrot.

Some birds in Tangkoko's Forest

Birds such as Great-billed Kingfisher, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser and Greater Frigatebirds, Pied Imperial Pigeon are usually watched along the coastal area. 

A trip by a motorized boat to Naun river is usually conducted by tour organizer to increase the chance for tour participants to watch the Great-billed Kingfisher. 

The duration of the birding activity in Tangkoko is usually 4 days/3 nights. 

High Elevation Forest of Minahasa Highland

After completing the birding tour in Tangkoko, the tour to watch tropical birds of Sulawesi could be continued to Tomohon town in Minahasa highland to look for Superb Fruit-dove, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Warbling White-eye and etc.. A lot of endemic birds could be watched in this region too. They include: Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pitta, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Speckled Boobook, and Sulawesi Masked Owl. 

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher in Mount Mahawu

Birding activities in Minahasa highland will be conducted in Mount Mahawu of Tomohon, Mount Lengkoan of Sonder, and farm forest between Tomohon and Sonder as well as Lake Linow, wetland ricefield and waterfall areas.

 

Marine Tour to Bunaken Islands

For tour participants who want to combine this birding tour and marine tour, a trip to Bunaken islands can be added in the itinerary to see the seascape of tropical islands of Bunaken, Siladen and Nain Atol as well as to see the wealth of the marine biodiversity coral reef through snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa highland, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read:

• Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu, and Sonder's Farm Forest
• Wildlife Watching in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birds in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland 
• Some Bird List for Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Mount Mahawu of Minahasa Highland
• Wildlife watching and photography tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland