West Papua (Irian Jaya)

May 2009

Rob Hutchinson

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Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise, Batanta               © Rob Hutchinson/Birdtour Asia

Our first morning was exploring the secondary habitat and forest patches which predominate on the hills outside Sorong and which is good for views of species like Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Orange-fronted, Beautiful, Orange-bellied and Dwarf Fruit Doves, Dusky and Black-capped Lory,  which are more easily seen here than in the more forested areas on the tour. We were also very fortunate to find a pair of calling Red-breasted Paradise Kingfishers, the calls were deceptively far from the road and only after scrambling down the valley, crossing the river and scaling the bank opposite where we able to enjoy one of the birds lower down the steep slope. During the speed boat journey out to Batanta island we were able to appreciate the spectacular forests of the island and its larger neighbour – Salawati, stretching almost untouched from the coast to the highest ridges. The lowlands of Batanta had great bird activity; fruiting trees attracting a variety of colourful Fruit Doves, Pinon Imperial Pigeons, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Black Lory, spectacular Palm Cockatoo and many more. In the lower forests we found Hooded and Red-bellied Pittas, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra and watched in awe as Red Birds-of-paradise displayed in the canopy of a forest giant. Secretive Red-necked Crakes were twice encountered and Papuan Frogmouth entertained us nightly around the camp, and guarded a nearby nest during the daytime. The pre-dawn trek up into the hills is steep and tiring but the prize of seeing Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise is spectacular. We spent three sessions in specially constructed hides, giving great views of the action. Often touted as one of the best birds in the worlds with their glossy red mantle, bright yellow back shield, bulging blue ‘brains’, bright blue legs, neatly curled tail feathers and bright yellow mouth flashing as they deliver an ear-popping call, this is indeed an astonishing creation, and we were able to watch them calling, diligently cleaning the display area and then flashing himself to passing females. Our time also produced more Red Birds-of-paradise, Golden Whistler, Puff-backed Meliphaga and a passing Pheasant Pigeon.

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Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise (left) and Long-tailed Paradigalla (right), Arfak Mountains

A morning in the flat lowland forests of Salawati brought another new set of birds headed by raucous King Bird-of-paradise, another exquisitely designed birds with red body, sharp white belly, tiny yellow bill, finished with shiny green discs decorating its tail streamers. Northern Cassowary were heard several times and one was glimpsed as it thundered past us in the forest, whereas a Western Crowned-Pigeon surprised us by flying down from the canopy to land on the forest floor beside us where we indulged in this huge galliform with its maroon mantle, and soft grey headcomb as it wandered off with tail pumping.
Next destination was the Arfak mountain range, a top world birding destination, with many special birds including several restricted to this northern Vogelkop peninsula. The lower forests near the villages have their own specialties and here we found Northern Scrub Robins in the understory, Red-breasted Pygmy Parrots excavating a nest hole, Long-tailed Paradigalla, beautifully marked Spotted Jewel Babbler, Tit Berrypecker (together with Crested Berrypecker, recently elevated to family status), Fairy Lorikeet and a pair of White-striped Forest-Rails which inquisitively approached to a few meters.
A well appointed hide here allows views of an active Magnificent Bird-of-paradise display area – in our case fanning his yellow nape feathers above his head in full display on three occasions, meanwhile a pre-dawn excursion found an excited Papuan Boobook calling overhead. Further up into the forest the first of another set of hides allows close views of Vogelkop Bowerbird, a rather inornate regional endemic which instead attracts the ladies with a meticulously and elaborately decorated bower. The next hide overlooks a Western Parotia display where we watched in awe as the huge bird turned himself into a huge umbrella before dancing around his arena with head shaking rapidly to flash his impressive head plumes – his female entourage perched above surely couldn’t fail to have been impressed.

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Two different day-roosting Feline Owlet-Nightjars, Arfak Mountains

Other delights in the forest were New Guinea Logrunner, several Black Sicklebills including a huge male, Lesser Ground Robin, Garnet Robin, Spotted Berrypecker, White-eared Bronze Cuckoo, Modest and Brehm’s Tiger Parrots. In the highest mossy forests Arfak Astrapia sightings included close looks at a spectacular male but a calling New Guinea Harpy Eagle showed only in flight. A night-time excursion was necessary to find a close Sooty Owl but our sharp-eyed guides saved us the trouble of further nocturnal forays by locating two Mountain and a single Feline Owlet Nightjar at their day roosts.
Hiking far down into the river valley for a three-night stay at a lower altitude brought a new set of birds including Black-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Red-bellied Pitta, Dwarf Whistler, Wallace’s Fairy-Wren, White-faced Robin, White-rumped Robin, Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, Black-winged Monarch, Dwarf Koel, Crested Pitohui, Trumpet and Crinkle-collared Manucodes, Lesser Bird-of-paradise and another day-roosting Feline Owlet Nightjar. Sneaky Chestnut-backed Jewel Babblers eventually gave good views and we were delighted to find two species which had eluded us higher up – Papuan Parrotfinch feeding alongside their commoner Blue-face relatives, and Buff-tailed Sicklebill. Highlight however were several Masked Bowerbirds (a split from the Flame Bowerbirds of southern New Guinea) including some gaudy yellow, orange and black males.
Finally the newly constructed road to Manokwari cuts through forest at various altitudes and here we finally found the scarce Vogelkop Whistler, more White-faced Robins and Pygmy Lorikeets.
The lowland rainforests of Nimbokrang are some of the richest for birding on the island but they don’t always give up their prizes easily so a return visit this year was certainly in order. We concentrated this time on locating site for a couple of more difficult species; firstly the handsome Vulturine Parrot, a really prehistoric looking creature which has declined hugely due to hunting for its impressive feathers, and is now rare over much of its range. Another target was the brutish Shovel-billed Kingfisher, we located some good areas where birds called regularly pre-dawn, and on one occasion we were able to track one down later in the morning.

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A stunning male Masked Bowerbird and a male Western Parotia performing his incredible ‘ballerina’ dance, Arfak Mountains

Of course in these forests we recorded many more special birds during our searches; Lesser Bird-of-paradise displaying and even mating, Magnificent Riflebird, Papuan King Parrot, Brown Lory, Cinnamon Ground Dove, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Brown-collared Brush Turkey, Jobi Manucode and even the bizarre-looking Hook-billed Kingfisher during the daytime. A Papuan Nightjar hawking at dusk was a rare sighting of this rather silent species.

Click here to download the report as a pdf

For further information on our tours to West Papua please contact us via e-mail or follow the links for our scheduled departure tours, please click here.

Photo Gallery
              
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More stunning views of the day-roosting Feline Owlet-Nightjars, Arfak Mountains

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Day-roosting (above) and nocturnal views (below) of Mountain Owlet-Nightjar, Arfak Mountains

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The stunning Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise gave amazing views at its display grounds in the hills of Batanta Island

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Clockwise from top left: Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot, White-eared Bronze Cuckoo, Black-throated Robin and Red-breasted Pygmy Parrot, Arfak Mountains

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Western Parotia, Arfak Mountains                            Papuan Frogmouth, Batanta

Batanta, Salawati, Arfak Mountains and Nimbokrang Systematic List

Struthioniformes > Casuariidae > Casuariini
Cassowaries 
Dwarf Cassowary  Casuarius bennetti  F
Northern Cassowary  Casuarius unappendiculatus  NG
Craciformes > Megapodiidae
Megapodes 
Red-billed Talegalla  Talegalla cuvieri  WP
Brown-collared Talegalla  Talegalla jobiensis  NG
Bucerotiformes > Bucerotidae
Typical Hornbills 
Blyth's Hornbill  Aceros plicatus
Coraciiformes > Coraciidae
Typical Rollers 
Dollarbird  Eurystomus orientalis 
Coraciiformes > Alcedinidae
Alcedinid Kingfishers 
Variable Dwarf Kingfisher  Ceyx lepidus 
Coraciiformes > Dacelonidae
Halcyonid Kingfishers
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra  Dacelo gaudichaud  NG
Shovel-billed Kookaburra  Clytoceyx rex  NG
Hook-billed Kingfisher  Melidora macrorrhina  NG
Yellow-billed Kingfisher  Syma torotoro
Common Paradise-Kingfisher  Tanysiptera galatea 
Red-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher  Tanysiptera nympha  NG
Coraciiformes > Meropidae
Bee-eaters 
Blue-tailed Bee-eater  Merops philippinus 
Cuculiformes > Cuculidae
Old World Cuckoos
Brush Cuckoo  Cacomantis variolosus 
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo  Cacomantis castaneiventris 
Fan-tailed Cuckoo  Cacomantis flabelliformis  H
White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx meyeri  NG
Dwarf Koel  Microdynamis parva  NG
Asian Koel  Eudynamys [scolopacea] scolopacea  H
Cuculiformes > Centropodidae
Coucals 
Greater Black Coucal  Centropus menbeki  NG
Lesser Black Coucal  Centropus bernsteini  NG
Psittaciformes > Psittacidae
Parrots 
Black Lory  Chalcopsitta atra  WP
Brown Lory  Chalcopsitta duivenbodei  NG
Dusky Lory  Pseudeos fuscata  NG
Rainbow Lorikeet  Trichoglossus haematodus 
Black-capped Lory  Lorius lory  NG
Pygmy Lorikeet  Charmosyna wilhelminae  NG
Fairy Lorikeet  Charmosyna pulchella  NG
Papuan Lorikeet  Charmosyna papou  NG
Whiskered Lorikeet  Oreopsittacus arfaki  NG
Yellow-billed Lorikeet  Neopsittacus musschenbroekii NG
Palm Cockatoo  Probosciger aterrimus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo  Cacatua galerita 
Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot  Micropsitta bruijnii 
Salvadori's Fig-Parrot  Psittaculirostris salvadorii  WP
Brehm's Tiger-Parrot  Psittacella brehmii  NG
Modest Tiger-Parrot  Psittacella modesta NG
Red-cheeked Parrot  Geoffroyus geoffroyi 
Eclectus Parrot  Eclectus roratus 
Pesquet's Parrot  Psittrichas fulgidus  NG
Moluccan King-Parrot  Alisterus amboinensis 
Papuan King-Parrot  Alisterus chloropterus  NG
Orange-fronted (Papuan) Hanging-Parrot  Loriculus aurantiifrons  NG
Apodiformes > Apodidae > Apodinae > Collocalini
Swiftlets 
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Mountain Swiftlet  Aerodramus hirundinacea  NG
Uniform Swiftlet  Aerodramus vanikorensis 
Apodiformes > Apodidae > Apodinae > Chaeturini
Needletails 
Papuan Needletail  Mearnsia novaeguineae  NG
Apodiformes > Hemiprocnidae
Treeswifts
Moustached Treeswift  Hemiprocne mystacea 
Strigiformes > Tytonidae
Barn and Grass Owls 
Sooty Owl  Tyto tenebricosa 
Strigiformes > Strigidae
Typical Owls 
Jungle Hawk-Owl (Papuan Boobook)  Ninox theomacha  NG
Strigiformes > Aegothelidae
Owlet-Nightjars 
Feline Owlet-Nightjar  Aegotheles insignis  NG
Mountain Owlet-Nightjar  Aegotheles albertisi  NG
Strigiformes > Podargidae
Australian Frogmouths 
Papuan Frogmouth  Podargus papuensis 
Marbled Frogmouth  Podargus ocellatus  H
Strigiformes > Eurostopodidae
Eared'-Nightjars 
Papuan Nightjar  Eurostopodus papuensis  NG
Strigiformes > Caprimulgidae > Caprimulginae
Nightjars 
Large-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus macrurus 
Columbiformes > Columbidae
Pigeons, Doves
Slender-billed (Brown) Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia amboinensis
Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia nigrirostris 
Great Cuckoo-Dove  Reinwardtoena reinwardtii 
Stephan's Dove  Chalcophaps stephani 
Cinnamon Ground-Dove  Gallicolumba rufigula  NG
Bronze Ground-Dove  Gallicolumba beccarii 
Pheasant Pigeon  Otidiphaps nobilis  NG
Wompoo Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus magnificus 
Ornate Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus ornatus  NG
Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus aurantiifrons  NG
Superb Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus superbus 
Coroneted Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus coronulatus  NG
Beautiful Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus pulchellus NG
White-bibbed Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus rivoli 
Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus viridis 
Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus iozonus  NG
Dwarf Fruit-Dove  Ptilinopus naina  NG
Spectacled Imperial-Pigeon  Ducula perspicillata 
Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon  Ducula rufigaster  NG
Shining (Rufescent) Imperial-Pigeon  Ducula chalconota  NG
Pinon Imperial-Pigeon  Ducula pinon  NG
Collared Imperial-Pigeon  Ducula mullerii  NG
Banded Imperial-Pigeon  Ducula zoeae  NG
Papuan Mountain-Pigeon  Gymnophaps albertisii 
Western Crowned-Pigeon  Goura cristata WP
Gruiformes > Rallidae
Rails, Gallinules, Coots 
White-striped Forest-Rail  Rallina leucospila  WP
Red-necked Crake  Rallina tricolor 
Buff-banded Rail  Gallirallus philippensis 
Ciconiiformes > Scolopacidae > Tringinae
Godwits, Curlews, Sandpipers, Phalaropes 
Grey-tailed Tattler  Tringa brevipes 
Ciconiiformes > Laridae > Larinae > Sternini
Terns 
Great Crested-Tern  Sterna bergii 
Ciconiiformes > Accipitridae > Pandioninae
Osprey 
Osprey  Pandion haliaetus
Ciconiiformes > Accipitridae > Accipitrinae
Hawks, Eagles 
Pacific Baza  Aviceda subcristata 
Long-tailed Buzzard  Henicopernis longicauda  NG
Brahminy Kite  Haliastur indus 
White-bellied Fish-Eagle  Haliaeetus leucogaster
Variable Goshawk  Accipiter [novaehollandiae] hiogaster 
Grey-headed Goshawk  Accipiter poliocephalus  NG
Collared Sparrowhawk  Accipiter cirrhocephalus 
New Guinea Eagle  Harpyopsis novaeguineae  NG
Ciconiiformes > Sulidae
Boobies, Gannets 
Brown Booby  Sula leucogaster 
Ciconiiformes > Ardeidae
Herons, Bitterns, Egrets
Pacific Reef-Egret  Egretta sacra 
Pied Heron  Ardea picata 
Intermediate Egret  Mesophoyx intermedia 
Cinnamon Bittern  Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 
Ciconiiformes > Fregatidae
Frigatebirds 
Lesser Frigatebird  Fregata ariel 
Passeriformes > Pittidae
Pittas 
Hooded Pitta  Pitta sordida 
Red-bellied Pitta  Pitta erythrogaster 
Passeriformes > Climacteridae
Australo-Papuan Treecreepers 
Papuan Treecreeper  Cormobates placens  NG
Passeriformes > Ptilonorhynchidae
Bowerbirds 
White-eared Catbird  Ailuroedus buccoides  H NG
Spotted Catbird  Ailuroedus melanotis 
Vogelkop Bowerbird  Amblyornis inornatus  WP
Masked Bowerbird  Sericulus [aureus] aureus  NG
Passeriformes > Maluridae > Malurini
Fairywrens 
Orange-crowned Fairywren  Clytomyias insignis  NG
Wallace's Fairywren  Sipodotus wallacii  NG
White-shouldered Fairywren  Malurus alboscapulatus  NG
Emperor Fairywren  Malurus cyanocephalus  NG
Passeriformes > Meliphagidae
Honeyeaters, Macgregor's 'Bird of Paradise' 
Mountain Myzomela  Myzomela adolphinae  NG
Red-headed Myzomela  Myzomela [erythrocephala] erythrocephala 
Red-collared Myzomela  Myzomela rosenbergii  NG
Long-billed Honeyeater  Melilestes megarhynchus  NG
Green-backed Honeyeater  Glycichaera fallax 
Forest Honeyeater  Meliphaga montana  NG
Hill-forest Honeyeater  Meliphaga orientalis  NG
Scrub Honeyeater  Meliphaga albonotata  NG
Puff-backed Honeyeater  Meliphaga aruensis  NG
Mimic Honeyeater  Meliphaga analoga  NG
Yellow-gaped Honeyeater  Meliphaga flavirictus  NG
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater  Xanthotis flaviventer 
Spotted Honeyeater  Xanthotis polygramma  NG
Marbled Honeyeater  Pycnopygius cinereus  NG
Streak-headed Honeyeater  Pycnopygius stictocephalus  NG
Meyer's Friarbird  Philemon meyeri  NG
New Guinea (Helmeted) Friarbird  Philemon [buceroides] novaeguineae 
Rufous-sided Honeyeater  Ptiloprora erythropleura  WP
Cinnamon-browed Melidectes  Melidectes ochromelas  NG
Vogelkop Melidectes  Melidectes leucostephes  WP
Western (Arfak) Smoky Honeyeater  Melipotes gymnops  WP
Passeriformes > Pardalotidae > Acanthizinae > Sericornithini
Mouse-warblers, Scrubwrens 
Rusty Mouse-warbler  Crateroscelis murina  NG
Mountain Mouse-warbler  Crateroscelis robusta  NG
Perplexing Scrubwren  Sericornis [beccarii] virgatus  NG
Large Scrubwren  Sericornis nouhuysi  NG
Vogelkop Scrubwren  Sericornis [rufescens] rufescens WP
Grey-green Scrubwren  Sericornis arfakianus  NG
Pale-billed Scrubwren  Sericornis spilodera  NG
Passeriformes > Pardalotidae > Acanthizinae > Acanthizini
Thornbills, Gerygones 
Mountain (Grey) Gerygone  Gerygone cinerea  NG
Fairy Gerygone  Gerygone palpebrosa 
Yellow-bellied Gerygone  Gerygone chrysogaster NG
Large-billed Gerygone  Gerygone [magnirostris] magnirostris 
Brown-breasted Gerygone  Gerygone ruficollis NG
Passeriformes > Eopsaltriidae
Australo-Papuan Robins
Lesser Ground-robin  Amalocichla incerta  NG
Torrent Robin  Monachella muelleriana 
Lemon-bellied Flyrobin  Microeca flavigaster 
Yellow-legged Flyrobin  Microeca griseoceps 
Canary Flyrobin  Microeca papuana  NG
Garnet Robin  Eugerygone rubra  NG
White-faced Robin  Tregellasia leucops
Black-chinned Robin  Poecilodryas brachyura  NG
Black-sided Robin  Poecilodryas hypoleuca  NG
Smoky Robin  Peneothello cryptoleucus  WP
Blue-grey Robin  Peneothello cyanus  NG
Ashy Robin  Heteromyias albispecularis 
Green-backed Robin  Pachycephalopsis hattamensis  WP
Northern Scrub-Robin  Drymodes superciliaris
Passeriformes > Orthonychidae
Logrunners 
New Guinea Logrunner  Orthonyx [temminckii] novaeguineae  NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Cinclosomatinae
Quail-thrushes, Whipbirds, Jewel-Babblers 
Spotted Jewel-Babbler  Ptilorrhoa leucosticta  NG
Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler  Ptilorrhoa castanonota  NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Pachycephalinae > Neosittini
Sittellas 
Varied Sittella  Daphoenositta chrysoptera 
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Pachycephalinae > Pachycephalini
Whistlers, Shrike-thrushes, Pitohuis, Wattled Ploughbill 
Mottled Whistler  Rhagologus leucostigma  NG
Goldenface  Pachycare flavogrisea  NG
Rufous-naped Whistler Aleadryas rufinucha  NG
Vogelkop Whistler  Pachycephala meyeri  WP
Grey (Grey-headed) Whistler  Pachycephala simplex 
Golden Whistler  Pachycephala pectoralis 
Sclater's Whistler  Pachycephala soror  NG
Regent Whistler  Pachycephala schlegelii  NG
Little Shrike-thrush  Colluricincla megarhyncha 
Variable Pitohui  Pitohui kirhocephalus  NG
Hooded Pitohui  Pitohui dichrous  NG
Rusty Pitohui  Pitohui ferrugineus  NG
Crested Pitohui  Pitohui cristatus  NG
Black Pitohui  Pitohui nigrescens  NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Corvinae > Corvini
Crows 
Brown-headed Crow  Corvus fuscicapillus  NG
Grey Crow  Corvus tristis  NG
Torresian Crow  Corvus orru 
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Corvinae > Paradisaeini
Birds of Paradise, Melampitta 
Lesser Melampitta  Melampitta lugubris  NG
Glossy-mantled Manucode  Manucodia atra  NG
Crinkle-collared Manucode  Manucodia chalybata  NG
Trumpet Manucode  Manucodia keraudrenii
Long-tailed Paradigalla  Paradigalla carunculata  WP
Black Sicklebill  Epimachus fastuosus  NG
Brown Sicklebill  Epimachus meyeri  NG
Black-billed (Buff-tailed) Sicklebill  Epimachus albertisi  NG
Pale-billed Sicklebill  Epimachus bruijnii  NG
Superb Bird of Paradise  Lophorina superba  NG
Western Parotia  Parotia sefilata  WP
Magnificent Riflebird  Ptiloris magnificus 
Magnificent Bird of Paradise  Cicinnurus magnificus  NG
Wilson's Bird of Paradise  Cicinnurus respublica  WP
King Bird of Paradise  Cicinnurus regius  NG
Arfak Astrapia  Astrapia nigra  WP
Red Bird of Paradise  Paradisaea rubra  WP
Lesser Bird of Paradise  Paradisaea minor  NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Corvinae > Artamini
Butcherbirds, Australian Magpie, Wood-swallows, Peltops 
Hooded Butcherbird  Cracticus cassicus  NG
Black Butcherbird  Cracticus quoyi 
Mountain Peltops  Peltops montanus NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Corvinae > Oriolini
Orioles, Cuckoo-shrikes, Trillers 
Brown Oriole  Oriolus szalayi  NG
Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike  Coracina caeruleogrisea  NG
Boyer's Cuckoo-shrike  Coracina boyeri NG
Black-shouldered Cicadabird  Coracina incerta  NG
New Guinea (Black) Cuckoo-shrike  Coracina melas  NG
Black-bellied Cuckoo-shrike  Coracina montana  NG
Black-browed Triller  Lalage atrovirens  NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Dicrurinae > Rhipidurini
Fantails 
Willie-wagtail  Rhipidura leucophrys 
Northern Fantail  Rhipidura rufiventris 
Sooty Thicket-Fantail  Rhipidura threnothorax  NG
Black Thicket-Fantail  Rhipidura maculipectus  NG
White-bellied Thicket-Fantail  Rhipidura leucothorax  NG
Black Fantail  Rhipidura atra  NG
Chestnut-bellied Fantail  Rhipidura hyperythra  NG
Friendly Fantail  Rhipidura albolimbata  NG
Dimorphic Fantail  Rhipidura brachyrhyncha NG
Rufous-backed Fantail  Rhipidura rufidorsa  NG
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Dicrurinae > Dicrurini
Drongos 
Pygmy (Mountain / Papuan) Drongo  Chaetorhynchus papuensis  NG
Spangled Drongo  Dicrurus bracteatus 
Passeriformes > Corvidae > Dicrurinae > Monarchini
Monarchs, Magpie-larks 
Black Monarch  Monarcha axillaris  NG
Black-winged Monarch  Monarcha frater 
Spot-winged Monarch  Monarcha guttulus  NG
Hooded Monarch  Monarcha manadensis  NG
Golden Monarch  Monarcha chrysomela 
Frilled Monarch  Arses [telescophthalmus] telescophthalmus 
Shining Flycatcher  Myiagra alecto 
Yellow-breasted Boatbill  Machaerirhynchus flaviventer 
Black-breasted Boatbill  Machaerirhynchus nigripectus NG
Torrent-lark  Grallina bruijni  NG
Passeriformes > Sturnidae > Sturnini
Starlings, Mynas 
Singing Starling  Aplonis cantoroides 
Metallic Starling  Aplonis metallica 
Golden Myna  Mino anais  NG
Yellow-faced Myna  Mino dumontii 
Passeriformes > Hirundinidae > Hirundininae
Swallows 
Pacific Swallow  Hirundo tahitica 
Passeriformes > Zosteropidae
White-eyes 
Black-fronted White-eye  Zosterops [atrifrons] minor  NG
Capped (Western Mountian) White-eye  Zosterops fuscicapillus  NG
Passeriformes > Sylviidae > Acrocephalinae
Gray's Grashopper-Warbler, Reed-Warblers, Leaf-Warblers 
Island Leaf-Warbler  Phylloscopus [trivirgatus] poliocephalus 
Passeriformes > Nectariniidae > Nectariniinae > Dicaeini
Flowerpeckers 
Olive-crowned (Papuan) Flowerpecker  Dicaeum [pectorale] pectorale  WP
Red-capped Flowerpecker  Dicaeum [pectorale] geelvinkianum  NG
Passeriformes > Nectariniidae > Nectariniinae > Nectariniini
Sunbirds 
Black Sunbird  Leptocoma sericea 
Olive-backed Sunbird  Cinnyris jugularis 
Passeriformes > Melanocharitidae > Melanocharitini
Berrypeckers 
Black Berrypecker  Melanocharis nigra  NG
Lemon-breasted Berrypecker  Melanocharis longicauda  NG
Fan-tailed Berrypecker  Melanocharis versteri  NG
Streaked Berrypecker  Melanocharis striativentris  NG
Spotted Berrypecker  Melanocharis crassirostris  NG
Passeriformes > Melanocharitidae > Toxorhamphini
Longbills 
Green-crowned (Yellow-bellied) Longbill  Toxorhamphus novaeguineae  NG
Plumed Longbill (Dwarf Honeyeater) Toxorhamphus iliolophus  NG
Pygmy Longbill  Oedistoma pygmaeum  NG
Passeriformes > Paramythiidae
Painted Berrypeckers 
Tit Berrypecker  Oreocharis arfaki  NG
Passeriformes > Passeridae > Passerinae
Sparrows 
Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus 
Passeriformes > Passeridae > Estrildinae > Estrildini
Estrildine Finches 
Blue-faced Parrotfinch  Erythrura trichroa 
Papuan Parrotfinch  Erythrura papuana  NG
Streak-headed Munia  Lonchura [tristissima] tristissima  NG
H = Heard only
F = Foot-prints only!
NG = Species endemic to New Guinea 
WP = Species endemic to West Papua

Click here to download the report as a pdf

For further information on our tours to West Papua please contact us via e-mail or follow the links for our scheduled departure tours, please click here.