birding...

Flores

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Great scenery and great birds. The large selection of endemics ranges from the easy to the very hard.

Komodo

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Famous for giant lizards, but also great for Yellow-crested Cockatoo!

Lombok

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The short hop across Wallace's line ensures a trip to Lombok has birds to make it worthwhile.

Sumba

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Easy roadside birding, beautiful scenery and amazing local culture; and a ton of endemics!

Timor

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Easy access to some great sites and birds. A trip to Timor is well worthwhile.

Wetar

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Not an easy place to get to, but anyone who tries it will be rewarded with a selection of endemics that very few people have ever seen.

* Field Guides & Bird Song

For a comprehensive list of recommended titles covering Indonesia as a whole - please see the Indonesia page of Fatbirder

2004 [September] - David Milton & Sandra Harding - Sumba Island

Report

The objective of the trip was to see the potential new birds of Sumba. We had the ‘Birding Indonesia’, book and several previous trip reports. While we did not know whether we would find accommodation outside of Waingapu, and in reasonable proximity to forest, we did end up staying at Waikabubak. Our driver made the suggestion and it seemed a practical thing to do. Also our driver did have knowledge of the sites to look for birds and this was helpful. We were pleased with our views of the Elegant Pitta and Sumba Hornbill, both of which we were keen to see...

2008 [August] - Henk Hendriks

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We followed the more or less “standard” birding trail of the Lesser Sundas. Ever since reading the excellent reports of Philippe Verbelen, back in the nineties I was eager to visit this region. In the past I had birded Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Halmahera and so it seems logical to expand my birding activities within this fascinating country to the southeast. So we/I visited Sumba, Timor, Flores, Rinca/Komodo and I also spent a few days on Bali at the end of my trip. According to Birdlife International, Sumba, Flores and Timor are Endemic Bird Areas and together they hold most of the endemics and specialties of the Lesser Sundas...

2010 [August] - James Eaton

Report

The seldom-visited islands of the Lesser Sundas might produce a relatively small trip list of 246 species inside three weeks but this includes an impressive 68 endemics by exploring just four islands. Kicking off on Sumba we found all 12 island endemics with ease including both endemic boobooks, numerous Sumba Cockatoo and also Elegant Pitta and Chestnut-backed Thrush...

Vacation Indonesia Tours

Tour Operator

Vacation Indonesia Tours, owned by Nurlin Djuni & Darwin Sumang, is your gateway to Indonesia. We can immerse you in our culture, heritage and our extraordinarily diverse natural history. The Islands of Indonesia are justly famous for birdwatching. Over 372 species have been recorded and many are found nowhere else. Nurlin Djuni specialises in Birdwatching/Holidays Tours in Sulawesi, Halmahera, Papua, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Lesser Sundas and Sumatera...

Nihiwatu

Accommodation

"For trekkers there are incredible waterfalls and beaches to discover and while hiking through the tropical forests you can also search for the indigenous birds of Sumba Island. If you are looking for adventure, true natural beauty or just relaxing and really getting away to another world, Nihiwatu Resort, in Indonesia is the place to be."

Birding in the Lesser Sundas – Burung-Nusantara / Birds-Indonesia

Website

Information about birding sites in the Lesser Sundas, including key species, maps, access, local guides and resources. The string of islands east of Bali are a fascinating region of Indonesia to go birding, and one that’s growing in popularity. Access to the main islands is pretty easy, and the sites themselves are not difficult to reach. For those that try birding in the Lesser Sundas very high endemism awaits, plus some fascinating scenery and culture. Browse sites from the map or the table. Each site page will show links to birding trip reports, guides and other content that is relevant. Help us keep this information up to date by posting your experiences back here as comments...

Birds of Sumba Island

Website

On the island of Sumba, birds are a special treasure. Although this ecoregion`s overall biodiversity is low, about 180 bird species can be found here, including seven that are endemic. But the rapid pace of deforestation on the island is threatening these and other species.