Overview
Tour report
Species list
Reference
 


MEROPIDAE

  • Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
  • Purple-bearded Bee-eater Meropogon forsteni: Another spectacular gem of an endemic, that was observed at length near its nest in the highlands of Lore Lindu. They were a little elusive this year and indeed our first group observations were disrupted somewhat by the discovery of the nightjar!
Purple-bearded
Bee-eater

CORACIIDAE

  • Purple-winged Roller Coracias temminckii: Some great views at Lore Lindu and in the (newly formed!) clearing in Dumoga Bone. Disappointing to some at first, but once this species is seen in goodlight its true colours become apparent.
  • Common Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis: Just one on Halmahera.
  • Purple Dollarbird (Azure Roller) Eurystomus azureus: Great views of a pair in a clearing near the lodge on Halmahera. A rare opportunity to study this deep blue species at close quarters.

BUCEROTIDAE

  • Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill (Sulawesi H) Penelopides exarhatus: Fine views at Karaenta Forest but only heard thereafter.
  • Knobbed Hornbill Rhyticeros cassidix: Common at Lore Lindu but stunning.
  • Blyth’s Hornbill (Papuan H) Rhyticeros plicatus: Superb to watch mobs of these on Halmahera. I have never seen an obvious juvenile here and the population may largely be wandering adults that can survive but may not be breeding!
Blyth's Hornbill

PICIDAE

  • Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker Picoides temminckii
  • Ashy Woodpecker Mulleripicus fulvus: Several great encounters with this stunner at Lore Lindu NP.

PITTIDAE

  • Blue-breasted Pitta (Red-bellied P) Pitta erythrogaster: Some great views for all in Dumoga Bone NP as a stunning individual hopped around us for many minutes in response to my whistles.
  • Ivory-breasted Pitta Pitta maxima: The usual stress and difficulties with this one but as usual, perseverance paid off and we all got stunning views in the end on Halmahera.

HIRUNDINIDAE

  • Barn Swallow Hirundorustica
  • Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica

MOTACILLIDAE

  • YellowWagtail Motacilla flava: The three in the paddyfields near to Dumoga Bone showed characters of the race simillima.
  • Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
  • Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

  • Caerulean Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina temminckii: Some great views of this white-eyed species in the flocks at Lore Lindu NP.
  • Pied Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina bicolor: Seemed especially conspicuous (vocally) in Dumoga Bone this year where we managed to get some excellent views of males and females.
  • White-rumped Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina leucopygia: Great views near to Manado, this proved to be the last Wallacean endemic of the tour.
  • Halmahera Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina parvula: Several good looks on Halmahera this year. Quite surprising as this is often a difficult species to see.
  • Pygmy Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina abbotti: Several seen in flocks up at Anaso in Lore Lindu NP.
  • Common Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris: Seen and heard uttering its cicada-like calls on Halmahera.
  • Sulawesi Cicadabird Coracina morio
  • Sulawesi Triller Lalage leucopygialis: A few sightings in Lore Lindu and at Dumoga Bone. This form was previously lumped in Pied Triller.
  • White-shouldered Triller Lalage sueurii: Several seen in the vicinity of Ujung Pandang.
  • Rufous-bellied Triller Lalage aurea: A common but attractive Moluccan endemic.

PYCNONOTIDAE

  • Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster
  • Golden Bulbul Ixos affinis: Fairly common on Halmahera.
Listen to
Sulawesi Drongo
179k Quicktime 4

 

 

 

 

DICRURIDAE

  • Sulawesi Drongo Dicrurus montanus: Fairly common high up at Lore Lindu NP.
  • Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
  • Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentotus: Regular in the lowlands of Sulawesi. A well-marked form with gleaming white eyes (leucops).

ORIOLIDAE

  • Dusky-brown Oriole Oriolus phaeochromus: One of the duller members of its family and one of the very few true Halmahera endemics. More easily heard than seen though we did manage some good views.
  • Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

CORVIDAE

  • Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca
  • Piping Crow Corvus typicus: Regular at Lore Lindu and seen at Karaenta Forest. Its calls, pied plumage and weird flight are highly characteristic. One of my favourites, they are full of charisma!!
  • Long-billed Crow Corvusvalidus: Some great views on Halmahera. The extremely long bill and pale eye give it a bizarre look especially when it’s calling and cocking its tail at the same time!

PARADISAEIDAE

  • Paradise Crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus: Some great views of this rather dull bird of paradise on Halmahera.
  • Standard-wing Bird of Paradise (Wallace’s Standardwing) Semioptera wallacii: Superb views on both occasions that we sweated up the hill to the display area. The male really is a spectacular creature and was not surprisingly voted as bird of the trip. We also saw a female in heavily degraded forest nearby.