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.
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| 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 was also famous for its endemic mammals, which added great value to our birding experience.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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.
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