Tangkoko Birding in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia

Tourists who go to Bunaken or Lembeh Strait for diving often consider taking land tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland. The main activities in both places are hiking and wildlife watching. Birds, butterflies, reptiles and insects could be seen during the land tour. 

There are a lot of species of tropical birds that can be watched in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland. The small ones that can be seen in the surrounding parks of the birding lodges and homestays include Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, and Yellow-sided Flowerpecker. 

When we walk into the jungle of Tangkoko Nature Reserve, we will see more interesting birds such as Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Ashy Woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, and etc. 

Birders must not skip Temboan hill, it is the site for watching big birds such as the famous Knobbed Hornbill, and Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, and other smaller birds such as Sulawesi-crested Myna, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Minahasa Racquet-tail, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Finch-billed Myna, Black-billed Koel, and etc.

Birding in Tangko and Minahasa Highland

Estuary of Naun River

Great-billed Kingfisher could be found in Naun river. It could be reached by motorized boat for around 20 to 30 minutes from Batu Putih village depending on the size of the boat, the power of the engine and the weather. Sea birds that could be seen along the way include White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, and etc. 

In the forest of Tangkoko Nature Reserve, we could also see Celebes-crested Macaque, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, and Gursky's Spectral Tarsier. 

Tomohon and Mount Mahawu

More unique birds of Sulawesi could be seen when we explore the higher elevation forest and farmland of Minahasa. Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Myzomela, and Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove are some of the many birds that could be watched in Mount Mahawu near Tomohon town. 

Corn, vanilla, clove, papaya and rice

Sonder Town and its Surrounding Forest Farm

Most of the population of Minahasa highland work as farmers. They grow various kinds of food crops such as corn, rice, red bean, vegetables and fruits. These food crops attract insects rats, and birds. When we walk in an open farmland of Subdistrict Sonder, sometimes we could see birds of prey soarking in the air. They include Black Kite, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Sulawesi Goshawk, and etc. In paddy fields, we could find White-browed Crake, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Buff-banded Rail, Barred Rail, and Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Scops Owl.

Shrub plants that grow on both sides of the road on the hill of Sonder town are the habitat of Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Black Sunbird, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Black-faced Munia. The big trees on this hill are the habitat of Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Malkoha, and etc. 

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

Related Posts:

• Birding in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland of North Sulawesi Province
• Wildlife Watching in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Farmland Tour in Sonder town of Minahasa Highland

Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu and Sonder's Farm Forest of North Sulawesi

A Trip Report by Charles Roring

Manado city - Temboan Hill - Tangkoko Nature Reserve

In late April 2025, I guided a Dutch photographer on 1 week bird photography tour across Minahasa Peninsula of North Sulawesi of Indonesia. I met my client at Sam Ratulangi Airport of Manado city and then continued our trip by car to Tangkoko Nature Reserve. It took around 2 hours to reach it. For the next 4 days 3 night s exploring the forest of Tangkoko, the coastal area of Batu Putih village, Temboan Hill, the man-made lake. There we watched and photographed a lot of species of birds. It was th first place that we stopped to watch and take pictures of birds. 

Lilac Kingfisher

Temboan Hill at the edge of Tangkoko Nature Reserve

For photographer, Temboan Hill is the most recommended site to visit. A D-SLR camera with 600 mm lens is the recommended device. There, we saw and photographed Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Imperial Pigeon, Sahul Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Minahasa Racquet-tail, Black-billed Koel, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo. We spent several days walking inside the rainforest of Tangkoko which was the habitat of kingfishers. There were Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher. Ashy Woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Blue-backed Parrot, White-necked Myna could also be seen there. We tried to find Great-billed Kingfisher along the riverside but we were not so lucky. We saw the bird but it was impossible to take picture of the kingfisher. He was sitting on a big branch of a tree behind twigs and leaves. We could only see other birds such as Barred Rail, Little Egret and Nankeen Night Heron. The parking lot of Tangkoko was a good site for observing Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. We saw some interesting birds there too including Speckled Boobook, Brahminy Kite and White-bellied Sea Eagle.

At night, we saw and photographed Sulawesi Scops Owl. It was sitting on the branch of a tree near the birding lodge where we stayed. In the morning we saw Isabelline Bush-hen was swimming in a "little water pond" in the middle of the unpaved road that connected our birding lodge with the main road.

There was a man-made lake located between Temboan Hill and Batu Putih village where the birding lodges and homestays were. Oriental Darter, Purple-winged Roller, Slender-billed Crow, Little Grebe, Little Heron, White-breasted Waterhen were seen there.

Bird Photography Trip in the forest of Mount Mahawu

Tangkoko - Manado city - Tomohon - Lake Linow

We continued our trip to Tomohon town which was around 2 hours ride from Tangkoko. There were several birding sites that we visited during our 3 days/2 nights in Tomohon. Lake Linow was the first site that we went to after arriving in Minahasa highland. For water birds, we went to Lake Linow. 

We saw and photographed Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, White-breasted Waterhen, Barn Swallow. We saw terns sitting on the other side of the lake. It was difficult to identify them, too far. We could not spent much time at the lake. Heavy rain started to cover the lake area and its surroundings. 

Lake Linow in Minahasa highland

Tomohon town - Mount Mahawu

In Mount Mahawu, we saw and photographed the famous Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Warbling White-eye, Turquoise Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher and etc. Going to Mount Mahawu too early in the morning was not always a good idea. When we arrived there was strong wind, and the whole forest was covered by fog. In addition to Mount Mahawu, we also visited a restaurant that was surrounded by flower garden. Sulawesi Myzomela, Sahul Sunbird and Yellow-sided Flowerpecker were the birds that we saw there.

Sonder's Farm Forest

We also went to Sonder's farm forest, around 30 minutes drive from Tomohon town. We saw Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Myzomela, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Black Sunbird, Yellow-billed Malkoha. On my previous trip to that site in one morning I saw Black Kite, Sulawesi Goshawk, Black-naped Oriole and White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Black-faced Munia, White-breasted Woodswallow. Sonder's farm forest was not a pristine forest but has got good open areas to watch and photograph birds. Actually there were several more birding sites in Subdistrict Sonder that we had not visited during this trip.

In our last day in Tomohon, we visited Mount Mahawu again in the afternoon. We saw the Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, and a lot of small birds that I have mentioned above. There was Superb Fruit-dove but he flew when we walked closer to photograph him. We left Tomohon for Manado city at around 10:00 a.m. Arriving at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, I said thank you, good bye to my client. 

This short trip report is written by Charles Roring from birdingsulawesi.com

Also read:

• Wildlife Watching and Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

• Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland

• Birds in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Birding in Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Sonder Forest of Minahasa Highland

I guided a British tourist in early October 2024 in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The first site that we visited was Lake Linow. We watched water birds that swam, walked and flew around the lake areas such as: Sunda Teal, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Black-backed Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Barred Rail, Barn Swallow, Whiskered Tern, Javan Pond Heron, Uniform Swiftlet, Common Sandpiper.

   Sulawesi Pitta in Minahasa Highland

Crater of Mount Mahawu and birds that could be found in the area

In the afternoon, at 15:00, we continued our trip to Mount Mahawu where we walked up the stairs that led us to its crater. It was raining at that time, the stairs were slippery. Fortunately, when we reached its top, the rain stopped. 

We saw Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Black Sunbird, Turquoise Flycatcher, Glossy Swiftlet, and a large flock of Warbling White-eye in trees at the edge of the crater.

When we walked down the slope to the parking lot, we saw Sulawesi Malkoha. We continued birding along the road of Mount Mahawu where we saw White-bellied Imperial Pigeon and Gray-sided Flowerpecker.

Warbling White-eye

The next morning, we watched Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, White-eyed Drongo and Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela still in the slope of Mount Mahawu. There was a Sulawesi Serpent Eagle that was soaring high in the sky above the forest area of the volcano. 

Rice field in Minahasa regency

We continued our birding tour to Subdistrict Sonder that late morning. We saw Crimson Sunbird, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Gray-streaked Flycatcher, Sahul Sunbird, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc. I saw a Pink-necked Green Pigeon and then a Stephan's Dove that were flying down fast from the forest down the slope of Sonder's hill to the farmland area.

In late afternoon, we went birding again along the slope of Mount Mahawu. This time the bird was relatively the same as this morning and yesterday. Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Turquoise Flycatcher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker and etc. There were more species that we could later add in our list, i.e. Superb Fruit Dove, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, and Sulawesi Scops Owl. 

Crimson Sunbird in Sonder's forest of Minahasa

The last day of our birding trip in North Sulawesi was conducted in Sonder of Minahasa regency. We saw Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-rumped Triller, Sulawesi Swiftlet, Lesser Fish Eagle, White-browed Crake, Collared Kingfisher, Crimson Sunbird, and Yellow-billed Malkoha. We heard the call of Bay Coucal and Isabelline Bush Hen. Unfortunately, we could not see them. 

North Sulawesi is a highly recommended destination for birdwatching and sightseeing. 

Accommodation

Most tourists who travel to the highland of Minahasa chose Tomohon town as their place to stay. There are hotels and homestays that can be booked from the internet. 

Booking

If you are interested in traveling to Manado city and doing a walking tour for sightseeing or hiking for birdwatching, and butterfly watching, and want a guide to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher
• Black-naped Oriole
• Birdwatching in North Sulawesi

Birding in Sonder and Mount Mahawu of Minahasa Highland with Polish Birdwatchers

A few weeks ago, I guided some Polish birdwatchers in Minahasa highland. We visited Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Subdistrict town of Sonder. 

Black-napes Oriole in the small forest of Tounelet slope of Sonder town, Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia

Finch-billed Myna

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

We arrived late in Mount Mahawu, It was around 14:00 local time when we went birding. Fortunately, we still saw some birds that we were looking for - the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker,  Gray-sided Flowerpecker. 

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher

After lunch, we went to the territory of Subdistrict town of Sonder, we saw more birds there including the Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Barred Rail, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, and Citrine Canary Flycatcher. Our time window for birding was too narrow. We missed the Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, and White-faced Cuckoo Dove. 

Turquoise Flycatcher

We went to the rice field area but we did not see the Isabelline Bush-hen that we we're looking for. We only heard their sounds in the bush.

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove

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

Also read:

• Discovering Black-naped Oriole, a tropical jewel of the Canopy
• Birdwatching and Photography Trip in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Butterflywatching in Minahasa Highland
• Birds in Minahasa

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher in Mount Mahawu

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher

This is the photograph of Scaly-breasted Kingfisher (Actenoides princeps) that I saw in the forest of Mount Mahawu several kilometers from Tomohon town. I organized bird trip for 4 Taiwanese tourists at that time. We were walking along the trails inside the forest when we saw the bird roosting on the branch of a tree around 1.5 meters above the ground. It was a very good sighting because the bird stayed on the branch for more than 5 minutes.
The bird is an important target among birders who want to see endemic avifauna of Sulawesi.
Guiding Service

As a tourist guide, I offer birding tours to this region for visitors who want to go to Sulawesi. Please, read this tour package. However, it can be customized according to the interest of customers.
In addition to watching birds, visitors could see local people who are working in the farmlands, or making traditional palm sugar or even see how local villagers make metal farming tools.

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

Also read:

• Kingfishers in Minahasa Peninsula

• Tangkoko Birding