Birding in Raja Ampat

Red Bird of Paradise

Raja Ampat islands in Indonesia have been considered as the best destination for scuba diving, snorkeling and other activities that are related to marine tourism. However, its hundreds of tropical islands are also very good destination for bird and wildlife watching. I have visited the islands a lot of times to organize marine tours as well as land tours for tourists.

Beautiful Birds

I guide birding visitors to Raja Ampat islands to see such birds as:

• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita),
• Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), 
• Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), 
• Moluccan King Parrot,
• Rainbow Lorikeet which is now called Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)
• Red-cheeked Parrot,
• Great-billed Parrot
• Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra), 
• Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica),
• Hook-billed Kingfisher, 
• Rufous Bellied Kookaburra, 
• Sacred Kingfisher, 
• Beach Kingfisher, 
• Spice Imperial Pigeon, 
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon
• Pied Imperial Pigeon
• Great cuckoo Dove
• Pink-spotted Fruit Dove
• Radjah Shelduck
• Pacific Swallow
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Sooty Tern
• Lesser-crested Tern,
• Striated Heron
• Eastern Reef Egret
• Little-pied Cormorant
• Lesser Frigatebird, 
• Eastern Osprey, 
• Brahminy Kite, 
• White-bellied Sea Eagle,
• Torresian Crow
• and a lot more. 

The duration of the birding walk can be as short as 2 days to as long as 1 full week. Most often, the birdwatching tour is combined with sightseeing trip by boat to various tropical islands and snorkeling activities in coral reef sites of Raja Ampat.

American tourists were birdwatching in Waigeo island

Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson B.O.P. and most other paradise birds are polygynous meaning that they are sexually very active and have more than one partners. To attract females, a male Red B.O.P. has to creates beautiful sounds of calls, perform a courtship dance to show his bright color plumage. This mating ritual, if I may call it, is performed early in the mornings (approximately from 06.00 to 09.00) and in the afternoons from around 15.00-17.00. We may consider them as philander or womanizer from the forest but these birds have to do that in order to survive.

Map Location of Raja Ampat

When you decide to take a birding trip to Raja Ampat islands, there are certain things that you need to bring such as:

• A good pair of binoculars
• Birding camera
• A spotting scope (optional)
• Watch/ alarm clock to manage your wake-up and birding time.
• Field guide book Birds of New Guinea
• Hat that you may need to use when birding during sunny days
• Anti-insect lotion/ spray
• Darker color clothing (dark green t-shirt and etc.)
• Flashlight

Visitors who also want to enjoy snorkeling could bring their snorkeling sets (masks, snorkels, and fins) as well as underwater camera.
If you are interested in visiting Raja Ampat and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
Also read:
Wilson's Bird of Paradise
Marine Life in Raja Ampat
Snorkeling Tours in Raja Ampat