Olive-backed Sunbird

Olive-backed Sunbird in Raja Ampat

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) is a small bird that lives in tropical rainforest particularly in lowland and coastal areas. Its yellow underpart often becomes the main physical characteristics that is used by birdwatchers to call him Yellow-bellied Sunbird.

I saw this bird in Manokwari city, Sorong hill forest, Raja Ampat and even as far as Numfor island. His wings have got olive-greenish look. This small but very beautiful bird eats nectar of wild flowers in tropical rainforest. When I was guiding a tourist from India, I saw the sunbird was feeding on nectar of coconut flowers. I immediately turned on my Fujifilm HS50 EXR camera and shot the bird several times.

Olive-backed Sunbird in Sorong forest

My most recent photographs of the bird were made when I went hiking and birdwatching in savanna hills near Sorong city. To watch this small bird, we need a good pair of binoculars that has got such magnification as 10×42 mm. My recommendation will be Swarovski, Nikon, Leica, or Zeiss binoculars. I personally use more affordable alternative - the Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars.

If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in Sorong city and want to see Olive-backed Sunbird and other tropical birds of West Papua, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180

Birding Tour in Rainforest near Sorong City

Hiking and Birding

Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus)

This is the picture of Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) which I saw yesterday in the forest near Sorong city. I also saw Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides), Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii), Olive-crowned Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pectorale), Coconut Loriket (Trichoglossus haematodus), and a couple of Back Lory (Chalcopsitta atra).

Terrestrial Spathoglottis Orchid

The rainforest was relatively quite far from Sorong city. It took 2 hours ride from the city center. Another alternative site for birdwatching is Sorong ridge forest. It is around 30 minutes ride to reach the starting point for hiking. On the average, visitors need to go hiking for approximately 30 minutes to one hour to see the forest and enjoy birdwatching. Birds are usually active in the mornings and in the afternoons.
Birding Equipment
Visitors who want to enjoy birdwatching in Sorong forest need at least a pair of good binoculars. Most often avid birders carry spotting scope with tripod and adaptor for taking picture using cell phone. I personally use a pair of Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars, a 20-60x60 spotting scope and a Fujifilm HS50EXR binoculars. Experienced birdwatchers use Swarovski, Leica or Nikon ED Lens, Bak4 prism 10×42 or 8.5x42 mm binoculars.
The Jungle tour

Tropical Rainforest of Sorong

This forest can become a hiking and sightseeing destination for visitors who are waiting for their flight back home or who has just arrived in Sorong city of West Papua.
Hiking and birding tour in this forest can be organized for 1 day or several more days. For day trip, visitors can start the tour at 05.00 and then leave before dark. For multiple day hiking and birding tour, overnights stay in tents in the jungle can be arranged for visitors. Besides watching birds, visitors can see wild flowers, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles, and a lot of unique plants of Papua forest.
If you are interested in birding and hiking in this forest, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180.