Morning Birding in Tounelet Village of Subdistrict Sonder, Minahasa regency

There is a small forest behind Siloam hospital of Tounelet village. The village was part of Sonder town in Minahasa regency. I did some birding walk this morning at its slope. Some interesting birds could be seen sitting on the branches of the surrounding trees and on the roof-tops of the villagers' houses. Zebra Doves were the first birds that I saw. 

Zebra Dove

After that  I looked for Sulawesi Hanging Parrot that was making noisy sounds among the trees. The bird flew over my head and landed on top of a durian tree. Unfortunately, the bird was covered by twigs and green leaves. 

When I was setting up my spotting scope, I saw an Eastern Yellow Wagtail flying away from me. Perhaps, it was surprised by my sudden appearance. 

There were Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chestnut Munia, Zebra Dove and Cattle Egret. Some Cattle Egret, White-nest Swiftlet and Glossy Swiftlet were also flying in the air. 

I also heard Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo calling from a distant tree. I used my binoculars to find where it was sitting on. It took less than 1 minute to find it. I immediately aimed my spotting scope at the bird. I had attached my cell phone on its lens using a small adapter. I was able to make a decent picture and video of the bird using this simple digiscoping system. 

Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo in Tounelet village of Subdistrict Sonder

Birding at the beach outside Manado city

In addition to this morning birding at the slope of Tounelet village, a day before this, I had  birding walk at the beach of Murex Dive Resort at the outskirts of Manado city. There, I saw Pacific Reef Heron, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Collared Kingfisher, Pacific Swallow and Sooty-headed Bulbul. I did not bring any camera or digiscoping system. So, I did not take pictures of these birds. 

The beach at Murex Dive Resort at the outskirts of Manado city

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi, and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me: Charles Roring by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link. 

Birding Tour in the Hill Forest and Wet Land of Minahasa Highland

Minahasa highland is an interesting destination for visitors who are interested in birdwatching and sightseeing. There are a lot of places which visitors can explore to watch birds and other animals. Some of them are described below:

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency

Hill Forest of Sonder - This is less visited but offers a great experience for birdwatchers. Various species of birds could be seen in this hill. They include Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Mountain Tailorbird, Black-faced Munia, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Drongo, Crimson Sunbird, White-breasted Woodswallow, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black Sunbird, and etc. The nearby farmland is a great site for finding Chinese Sparrowhawk, Collared Kingfisher, Black Kite, Sulawesi Crow, and Sulawesi Serpent Eagle.

Finch-billed Myna in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa

Mount Mahawu - Most birdwatchers go to this volcano to look for Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. However, more birds could be watched in the slope of this volcano. There are Red Jungle Fowl, Barred Rail, Superb Fruit Dove, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Collared Kingfisher, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Ashy Woodpecker, Isabelline Bush-hen, and etc. 

Lake Tondano - After exploring the mountains of Minahasa, we could go to Tondano town to watch birds in Tondano Lake. There, we could watch various species of water birds such as Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Little Egret, Yellow Bittern, Oriental Reed Warbler, Javan Pond Heron, Pacific Swallow, Whiskered Tern, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Black Kite, Osprey, Brahminy Kite, and etc.

Zebra Dove in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa

Tincep Paddy Field is another site in Minahasa highland that is suitable for watching water birds. Visitors could walk along the roadside to watch such birds as Pied Stilt, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Collared Kingfisher, White-browed Crake, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Eastern Cattle Egret, Medium Egret, and etc. If we continue our exploration of Tincep village, we will arrive at waterfall areas which is located in deep ravine. The landscape view is beautiful. We could watch Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Black-naped Oriole, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Hair-crested (white-eyed) Drongo, and etc. 

Sulawesi Myzomela in Sonder's forest of Minahasa highland

Lake Linow is another site for watching water birds. Some of the many birds which visitors could watch include: Sunda Teal, Barn Swallow, Glossy Swiftlet, White-breasted Waterhen, Dusky Moorhen, and etc. 

Birdwatching could also be carried out at nights. Birds that could be found include Sulawesi Scops Owl, and Speckled Boobook, and Sulawesi-masked Owl.

Collared Kingfisher in Tomohon

Extending Your Trip

More birds could be watched in the lowland and lower montane area of Minahasa Peninsula. The recommended sites include the farmland area at the outskirts of Manado city and Tangkoko Nature reserve in Bitung Municipality.  Farmland at the Outskirts of Manado city especially around Sam Ratulangi Airport. Birds that could be watched include: Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Crow, Pacific Swallow, Sahul Sunbird, Pale Blue Monarch, Javan Myna, Java Sparrow, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Zebra Dove, and etc.

Celebes-crested Macaque in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Tangkoko Nature Reserve is also the natural habitat of a lot of species of mammals, insects, and reptiles. Celebes-crested Macaque, Gursky's Spectral Tarsier, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Whitish Dwarf Squirrel, are some of the mammals that we could watch in Tangkoko. 

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Minahasa highland, and want me to guide you, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding in Tomohon of North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Wildlife watching and Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Birding in Tomohon of North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tomohon is a town in Minahasa highland of Indon sia. It is surrounded by volcanoes, farm forest and rice fields. It is also located near Sonder town, another important birding site in Minahasa regency. From Tomohon, most visitors go to Mount Mahawu to look for Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of other birds that are interesting for visitors to see. They include Superb Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Pitta, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, and etc. For nocturnal birds, visitors could watch such birds as Speckled Boobook, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Sulawesi-masked Owl and etc.

Birding Sites Around Tomohon

In addition to Mount Mahawu, there are other birding sites that can be reached from Tomohon town. They include Lake Tondano, Lake Linow, Sonder's farm forest, Kayawu rice field, Tincep's Rice Field and Kengkang Waterfall.

Birding activities are conducted in the mornings from 06:00 to 09:00, late afternoon from 15:00 to 18:00 and at nights from 19:00 to 21:00. 

Sulawesi Pitta

In Lake Linow, Lake Tondano; Kayawu and Tincep's Rice Field, most of the birds that can be watched are water birds. They include Pied Stilt, Javan Pond Heron, White-browed Crake, and etc.

Sonder is a highly recommended destination for highland birds such as Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, and etc. There are also Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Black-naped Oriole, Pygmy Woodpecker, and White-rumped Triller.

After birding in Tomohon, Mount Mahawu, Sonder's forest, Tincep's rice field and Kengkang Waterfall, visitors could continue their trip to other places such as Tangkoko Nature Reserve. The average duration of a birding tour in North Sulawesi is 7 to 9 days.

Birding in Tomohon, Mount Mahawu and Sonder Forest of Minahasa highland

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.

Also read:

• One Week Birding Trip in North Sulawesi
• Birding Tour in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko

Birding Trip in Tangkoko, Mount Mahawu and Sonder Forest of North Sulawesi

A Trip Report by Charles Roring

Overview

From 31 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, I organized and guided Fred Hareau, Canadian birder, on 1-week birdwatching tour across several key birding sites in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.

North Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s most important birding destinations, renowned for its high level of endemism, varied habitats, and relatively accessible forest reserves.

Green-backed Kingfisher

During this trip, we explored a wide range of ecosystems, including lowland rainforest, coastal forest, freshwater lakes, volcanic highlands, agricultural landscapes, and montane forest. The main birding locations were:

• Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Temboan Hill
• Naun River and coastal areas of Batu Putih village
• Lake Tondano and Lake Linow
• Rurukan village and Mount Mahawu (Tomohon Highlands)
• Kayawu rice field
• Mount Lengkoan Forest, Tincep rice fields, and Kengkang Waterfall, Lahendong Slope,  (in Sonder area)
• The farmland at the outskirts of Manado City

In addition to birds, North Sulawesi is also famous for its endemic mammals, which added great value to the experience.

Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher

Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Temboan Hill

31 December 2025 – 1 January 2026

I met Fred at Sam Ratulangi International Airport of Manado city and then together we went by a chartered car to Tangkoko Nature Reserve. It was one of the most famous protected areas in Sulawesi. This lowland forest was a stronghold for many Sulawesi endemics and offers excellent birding along forest trails, fig trees, and forest edges.

Some of the notable birds recorded included:

* Rusty-backed Thrush

* Green-backed Kingfisher

* Lilac Kingfisher

* Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher

* Great-billed Kingfisher

* Ruddy Kingfisher

* Yellow-billed Malkoha

* Sulawesi Babbler

* Knobbed Hornbill

* Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill

* Black-billed Koel

* Black-naped Fruit Dove

* Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove

* Finch-billed Myna

* White-necked Myna

* Chinese Sparrowhawk

* White-bellied Imperial Pigeon

* Isabelline Bush-hen

* Black Naped Oriole

* Oriental Darter

* Little Grebe

Mammal sightings were equally exciting. We observed Celebes Dwarf Squirrel, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, and Celebes Crested Macaque, they are endemic mammals that are frequently encountered by visitors inside Tangkoko's forest.

Birding Tour in North Sulawesi

Naun River and Coastal Birding

2 January 2026

On the second day, we traveled by motorized boat to the Naun River, a productive area for waterbirds and coastal species. This site is particularly known as one of the most reliable places to see the Great-billed Kingfisher that liked to perch on the branches of mangrove trees or on the rachis of coconut leaf.

Along the sea cliffs, beaches, and river mouth, we recorded many coastal and migratory species, including:

• Pacific Swallow
• Blue Rock Thrush
• Lesser Frigatebird
• Pied Imperial Pigeon
• White-rumped Cuckooshrike
• Little Egret
• Medium Egret
• Pacific Reef Heron
• Nankeen Night Heron
• Sulawesi Crow
• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Common Sandpiper
• Terek Sandpiper
• Great-tailed Tattler
• Pied Stilt

During our stay in Tangkoko, we also conducted night birding walks which were very successful. Nocturnal species observed included:

• Ochre-bellied Boobook
• Speckled Boobook
• Northern Boobook
• Sulawesi Scops Owl
• Sulawesi Nightjar

Sulawesi Bear Cuscus in Tangkoko's forest

Lake Tondano and Tomohon

3 January 2026

After three nights in Tangkoko, we moved inland to the highlands and visited Lake Tondano, the largest freshwater lake in North Sulawesi. The lake and its surrounding wetlands are excellent for waterbirds and open-country species.

Birds seen at Lake Tondano included:

• Brahminy Kite
• Black Kite
• Dusky Moorhen
• Oriental Reed Warbler
• White-browed Crake
• Barred Rail
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Chestnut Munia
• Javan Pond Heron
• Cattle Egret
• White-breasted Waterhen

That evening, during night birding around Tomohon, we were rewarded with a sighting of the elusive Sulawesi Masked Owl, a rarely seen endemic species.

Tomohon Highlands and Mount Mahawu

4–5 January 2026

Early on 4 January, we visited Rurukan Village, which was located at the slope of Mount Mahawu. There, we saw the spectacular Sulawesi Pitta. Fortunately, we had good views of this colorful forest bird under the canopy of aren trees.

We then continued to Mount Mahawu, a dormant volcano surrounded by montane forest. This area is ideal for highland species, and we recorded:

• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher
• Citrine Canary Flycatcher
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Warbling White-eye
• Black-crowned White-eye
• Superb Fruit-dove
• Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove
• Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
• Crimson Sunbird
• Black Eagle

Later, we visited Lake Linow, a volcanic lake near Lahendong village. Despite its strong sulfur smell, the lake supports several wetland birds, including:

* Sunda Teal

* Collared Kingfisher

* Purple Heron

* Australasian Swamphen

* Barn Swallow

* Javan Pond Heron

* A possible Whiskered Tern (in winter plumage)

* Barred Rail

* White-breasted Waterhen

Sonder Town: Mount Lengkoan, Rice Fields, and Tincep's Waterfall

5–6 January 2026

From Mount Mahawu, we traveled to the Sonder area, covering Mount Lengkoan Forest, Tincep rice fields, and Kengkang Waterfall. Although we experienced heavy rain during much of this part of the trip, birding was still productive.

Highlights included:

* Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker

* Crimson Sunbird

* Sulawesi Myzomela

* Mountain Tailorbird

* Hair-crested Drongo

* Black-crowned White-eye

* Warbling White-eye

* Sulawesi Serpent Eagle

* Sulawesi Cuckoo-Dove

* Black-naped Oriole

* Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon

* Pygmy Woodpecker

Wetland and open-area species of Tincep village included:

* Barred Rail

* Collared Kingfisher

* Pied Stilt

* Javan Pond Heron

* Purple Heron

* Cattle Egret

* Little Egret

* Zebra Dove

* Black-faced Munia

Manado City Outskirts

**7 January 2026**

On our final morning, we departed Tomohon at 05:48 and birded the outskirts of Manado City. Despite being an urban area, it still offered interesting sightings:

* Yellow-billed Malkoha

* Javan Myna

* Brown-throated Sunbird

* Sahul Sunbird

* Scaly-breasted Munia

* Chestnut Munia

* Sooty-headed Bulbul

* Sulawesi Crow

* Zebra Dove

* Collared Kingfisher

We were surprised to see three Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora), a species not native to Sulawesi. These birds were most likely escaped cage birds, a common phenomenon in Indonesian cities.

Java Sparrow (photographed using cell phone) among green leaves

A raptor was also seen soaring high above the city, but due to cloudy weather, identification was uncertain. It was possibly a Spotted Harrier.

Final Notes

This one-week trip demonstrated why North Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s premier birding destinations. With good infrastructure, a wide variety of habitats, and many endemic species, it is ideal for both short visits and longer birding tours.

The best birding conditions are generally from April to October, but productive birding is possible all year-round.

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi and would like me to organize and guide you during the trip, please contact me:

📧 Email: peace4wp@gmail.com

📱 WhatsApp: via this contact link.

Also read:

• Birds in Sonder of North Sulawesi
• Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve
• Bird Photography Guided Tour in North Sulawesi