Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Regency

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is surrounded by forest, agricultural dry land, paddy fields (wet land) and water streams. They are the habitat of various species of birds. Visitors who are interested in taking a birding tour in Sonder need to bring their own binoculars, and other optional equipment such as spotting scope and camera with telephoto lens. 

Sulawesi Myzomela

Birding is usually carried out early in the mornings and late afternoons. In the hill forest of Sonder, we could find such birds as Black-faced Munia, Warbling White-eye, Crimson Sunbird, Black Kite, Sulawesi Crow, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Pitta, Van Hasselt's Sunbird, Yellow-billed Malkoha, and etc.

Van Hasselt Sunbird

At a slope of Tounelet village in Sonder town, there is a small forest that is located behind Siloam Hospital. Walking around it, visitors could see Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Black-crowned White-eye, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Oriole, Cattle Egret, Chestnut Munia and Sahul Sunbird.

Black Kite

The farmland of Sonder is also great place for sightseeing tour and birding. There are a lot of birds that we could watch including Black Kite, White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfishers Sulawesi Crow, Barred Rail, Brown-throated Sunbird, and etc. 

More birds such as Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Myna, Black-naped Oriole, and White-rumped Triller could be seen in paddy field area and inside the forest of Sonder.

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

Sahul Sunbird, Barred Rail, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Malkoha

Where is Sonder and how to get there?

Sonder is located in Minahasa highland. It is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car from the airport of Sam Ratulangi in Manado city. 

Visitors need to fly to Manado city in order to visit Sonder and other villages in Minahasa highland. Every day, there are regular flights from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar and Sorong to Manado city. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air and TransNusa. There is also direct flight from Singapore to Manado city served by Scoot Air. The next trip to Sonder could be done by car using Grab Car, Go Car or taxis from airport to Sonder town.

Flights to Manado city

Car route between Manado city and Sonder

For accommodation, visitors could stay in homestays in Sonder. For more comfortable accommodation, visitors could stay in hotels in Tomohon town. 

If you are interested in birding in Sonder town of Minahasa and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.