There are a lot of pigeons and doves in Sulawesi island of Indonesia. One of them is called Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia doreya albicapilla). Generally, it is about 35 to 37 cm (14 to 15 inches). Previously, it was called Slender-billed Cuckoo-dove. In 2016, the Slender-billed Cuckoo Dove was split into 3 species, i.e. Brown Cuckoo-dove of Eastern Australia; Amboyna Cuckoo-dove of Eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea; and Sultan's Cuckoo-dove of Sulawesi and the Northern Moluccas.
According to Wikipedia, the Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove is the subspecies of Sultan's Cuckoo-dove. The bird could be found in rainforest from lowland upto higher montane forest. The bird eats fruits and spreads the seeds to all corners of the forest.
The above photograph of Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove was taken in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland. The bird could be seen in almost all regions of Sulawesi island. However, as a birdwatching guide, I often see the this Sulawesi Cuckoo-Dove in Mount Mahawu and Sonder's Farm Forest. Sometimes it could be seen in Tangkoko Nature Reserve.
In addition to Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, birdwatchers who travel to Minahasa highland could see a lot of other tropical birds such as Superb Fruit-dove, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pygmy Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Brush-Cuckoo, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sulawesi Myzomela, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, and etc.
Birdwatchers usually bring a good pair of binoculars such as the 8×42 mm; 10×42 mm; or 10×50mm binoculars made by Nikon, Swarovski, or Leica. For taking pictures of birds in distant trees, a D-SLR or mirrorless camera with 600 mm telephoto lens is a good choice.
If you want a guide to arrange your birding tour in Indonesia, particularly in Manado city, Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa highland, and guide you during the trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.