Lesser Sundas, Indonesia - Birdtour Asia

Lesser Sundas, Indonesia 

(Bali, Sumba, Timor, Flores and Komodo) 

8 th – 25 th July 2008 

Leader: James Eaton 

Participants: Brian Foster, Ron Hoff, Dollyann Myers, 

Magnus Jaderblad, Eja Blomqvist and Peter and Dorothy Webster 

Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Pulau Komodo © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia 

This most enjoyable 18-day tour of the still little-visited island chain notched up a total of 227 species of 

which 70 are endemic to the Lesser Sundas. Bird-wise we would have struggled to do better, missing only 

2 endemics possible on the tour. Typically highlights are too many to cram into one paragraph; a Sumba 

clean-up included plenty of stunning views of Sumba Hornbill, gorgeous Red-naped Fruit Doves and the 

super rare Citron-crested Cockatoo. As expected we had to really work hard on Timor but the rewards 

were plentiful and included a real bonus in the form of a flock of Timor Black Pigeon, the first sighting at 

Camplong for several years. Flores was really good fun despite the sometimes inclement weather and we 

reveled in great views of the endangered Flores Hawk Eagle, Wallace’s Hanging Parrot, many spectacular 

White-rumped Kingfishers and best of all Flores Scops Owl. We finished off in style and leisure with a 

leisurely visit to Komodo Island and a successful search for the mighty Komodo Dragon and critically 

endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo.

We all gathered first on Bali, the ‘island of the Gods’, and we managed to fit in a couple of little excursions 

to bump up our lists. Firstly, Bedugul Botanical Gardens nestled high in the hills produced a nice variety of 

new birds for all of us. Birding around the gates at first light was great, Indonesian Honeyeater was 

extremely common feeding lowdown in the bottlebrush, large numbers of Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon 

buried themselves amongst the berries in the car park and flocks of Short-tailed Starlings betrayed their 

presence by continually chirping overhead. We gradually gained height as we reached less disturbed 

habitats where species composition changed (and dried up!), Blood-breasted Flowerpecker and Spotbreasted 

Woodpecker were a continual sight and sound, along with the honeyeaters and a Flame-fronted 

Barbet which took some finding before performing along with a beautiful male Golden Whistler. Our 

second excursion took us to the south coast for some sea-watching at Ulu Watu Temple. Within 5 minutes 

of leaving the car a big bonus appeared in the form of 6 Black-winged Myna hedge-hopped their way 

through a small valley and away along with the increasingly rare (on their native grounds anyway) Javan 

Myna. Scanning the choppy water for a couple of hours was most enjoyable especially when the Whitetailed 

Tropicbird, picked up 500m out to sea flew straight in and landed on the white cliffs directly below 

us! Wedge-tailed Shearwaters appeared among the large numbers of Streaked Shearwater along with 

other fly-bys including Brown Booby and Bridled Terns. The surrounding bushes kept us equally 

entertained; Pink-necked Green Pigeon, White-shouldered Triller, Bar-winged Prinia, Barred Buttonquail 

and Chestnut-headed Bee-eater all added themselves to the impressive morning. 

Sumba Boobook and Sumba Hornbill, Sumba © James Eaton 

Eventually the ‘real’ birding got underway as we landed into Waingapu, the capital of Sumba Island. 

Spending 3 nights with our wonderful hosts, we couldn’t have done much better as we completely 

cleaned-up on all the endemics. In fact, we had found all but two of the endemics by the end of our first 

morning! Night-birding straight from the airport proved a wise decision as both the wonderfully marked 

Sumba Boobook and recently-described Little Sumba Boobook shone beautifully in the spotlight, especially 

the former as a pair duetted together just overhead. The following evening we completed the night-birding 

with the recently described Mees’s Nightjar hawking low overhead. Most surprising was the Barn Owl, an 

endemic race, we found roosting outside its presumed nest-hole in the heart of the forest giving wonderful 

views of this species. 

We split our time between two forest patches, both sites were very much enjoyed. Our first site, birding 

along a main road through good forest, turned up trumps with all the forest endemics encountered and 

seen by all of us. A huge fruiting tree must have been close by as both the regal Sumba Hornbill and 

spectacular Red-naped Fruit Dove proved unusually co-operative on both visits sitting out on open 

branches in the early morning sunlight. Other frugivores were also reasonably conspicuous as Sumba 

Green Pigeon, Metallic Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit Dove and a host of parrots all performed. Of the parrots 

the expected Marigold Lorikeet’s were typically noisy, flying around in small groups occasionally landing 

and providing a huge source of entertainment with their various branch-swinging antics. Our final morning 

here was quite something else; in just 20 minutes we recorded 44 Great-billed Parrots tree-hopping along 

a ridge along with 5 Electus Parrots and most amazingly 3 Citron-crested Cockatoo, a critically 

endangered species that appears all but doomed unless drastic action is taken to protect this charismatic 

species. The cockatoo’s were even more welcome as the previous days visit to another forest patch in 

search of this species had resulted only in distant perched views for most of us. Winding our way down 

this wonderful forested valley produced our other endemics; Apricot-breasted Sunbird was typically 

common as was Pale-shouldered Cicadabird, the trio of tricky endemic flycatchers fortunately all showed

well, including super views of shy Sumba as well as canopy loving Sumba Brown and somber looking 

Sumba Jungle Flycatcher (a split from Flores Jungle), fiery-red Sumba Myzomela, Yellow-spectacled and 

Ashy-bellied White-eyes, Golden Whistler, the distinctive endemic race of Blood-breasted Flowerpecker 

(another potential split?), less-pretty Helmeted Friarbirds, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher and a close Rustybreasted 

Cuckoo. During our regular forays inside the forest chasing Elegant Pittas we sat quietly 

obtaining several wonderful looks at Chestnut-backed Thrush, one of the most attractive zoothera, 

especially when seen this well. 

A visit to a larger forest patch much further afield in search of the previously mentioned cockatoo was a 

real hive of activity in the early morning, amazingly we recorded more than 25 Sumba Hornbill including a 

single flock of 15 tree-hopping as they left a fruiting tree that was dripping in Sumba Green Pigeons (at 

least 60!), more Red-naped Fruit Doves and dozens of Thick-billed Flowerpeckers and Short-tailed 

Starlings. As we sat on top of our vantage point a neat pair of Broad-billed Flycatcher came to inspect us 

on a couple of occasions as the odd Marigold Lorikeet. Great-billed Parrot and Red-cheeked Parrot passed 

overhead while lurking inside the forest gave us our first looks at the beautiful Cinnamon-banded 

Kingfisher as a bird sat above the forest calling away. Shortly afterwards our hard work chasing pittas paid 

off as we finally located a calling Elegant Pitta perched 2 metres off the ground, trying his best to conceal 

himself in dark forest, he sat there for 10 minutes giving great scope views, what a morning! 

With the forest birding successfully completed, we scurried through some coastal grasslands for our final 

endemic; Sumba Buttonquail which was flushed several times with ease, and with some careful 

manoeuvring we were all able to obtain really good looks, even the extensive rufous upper flanks were 

visible! Brown Quail was flushed in the process to as were seemingly hundreds of Australasian Bushlarks 

(or were they just the same 8, over and over again?!). The nearby mangroves played host to another 

cracking pair of Broad-billed Flycatcher, vocal Indonesian Honeyeaters, Sacred Kingfisher, Whiteshouldered 

Triller, Spotted Harrier and a Brown Goshawk. With everything under our belt with plenty of 

time to spare before our mid-afternoon flight to Kupang we visit a nearby lake that was filled with 600 

Wandering Whistling Duck, 150 Pacific Black Duck, Sunda Teal, White-headed Stilts with chicks, oversummering 

Greenshank, wintering (!) Australian Pratincole and of significant interest 3 pairs of Javan 

Plover, included a fledged youngster, most likely the first records of this species for the island although 

not a great surprise as they have recently been found to be numerous in South Sulawesi and west Flores. 

Red-naped Fruit Dove and Sumba Myzomela, Sumba © James Eaton 

We had 5 days on Timor to see as many of the obtainable endemics as possible, dividing our time 

between 3 sites. Bipolo, an area of coastal monsoon forest, shrimp ponds and rice fields was visited on 3 

occasions and provided the most enjoyable birding. The shrimp ponds hosted a flock of 12 Royal 

Spoonbill, plenty of Red-capped Plover (a recent colonist from Australia) and hundreds of Sunda Teal. We 

spent little time around the rice fields since the main prize; Timor Sparrow was soon picked up as pair 

flew in next to a huge swirling mass of Five-coloured Munia. Black-faced Woodswallow, Australian 

Pratincole, White-faced Heron, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, White-shouldered Triller, Rainbow Bee-eater, 

Pale-headed Munia and Red Avadavat were other species of this rather Australian-feeling zone. In the 

forest fragments other endemics started to spring up. The forest here although small and heavily 

degraded is still full of birds, especially fruit-loving pigeons including a pair of Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon 

sat on the same branch on all 3 visits as they preened and cleaned each other, Timor Figbird, Rose-

crowned and strikingly beautiful Black-backed Fruit Doves became abundant in the early morning sunshine 

as they busily fed in a huge fruiting tree. A pair of Timor Sparrows landed close-by briefly, Timor Friarbird, 

a fly-over Marigold Lorikeet, and finally great views of 4 Olive-shouldered Parrots flying around us. 

Further inland the remaining dry forest that surrounds the village of Camplong hosted most of our 

remaining endemics, the strikingly beautiful Orange-banded Thrush revealed itself in all its splendour on 

several occasions, often singing wide-open in the mid-storey, Timor Oriole was whistled in for close views, 

even posing in the same tree as a pair of Timor Friarbird, a species that mimics the oriole to near 

perfection (or is it vice versa?). After plenty of chasing around even Buff-banded Bushbird gave itself up to 

all for fine views as he ran across an open branch during a morning of sheer perseverance. Fruiting trees 

must have been abundant this year as we had a large flock of Olive-headed Lorikeet here along with daily 

views of a pair of Olive-shouldered Parrot and as we quietly walked through the forest we flushed a large 

dark pigeon, curiously we played the tape and to our amazement up popped a Timor Black Pigeon, a 

species we never thought we would come across and a new bird for the leader. This beautiful bird sat out 

in the open, a beautiful, slender, dark grayish-blue body with prominent yellow eye-ring and red iris for 5 

minutes with an immature bird sitting alongside it. We then got rather blasé about the bird as we saw 

them 3 days running culminating in a flock of 6 birds feeding together in bamboo. The only endemic not 

seen by the whole group was Black-banded Flycatcher which frustratingly only showed to Magnus and Eja 

although they did get exceptional views! Other endemics and near-endemics here included the commonly 

encountered and beautiful Timor Bushchat, Timor Stubtail with its incredibly high-pitched call eventually 

showed well, circling us over and over and over again, typically Spot-breasted Dark-eye proved tough to 

find but fortuitously we located a small group feeding on the same mistletoe every day, Black-chested 

Myzomela zipping through, Red-chested Flowerpecker, Plain Gerygone, Ashy-bellied White-eye, recentlysplit 

Timor Swiftlet, Streak-breasted Honeyeater, Fawn-breasted Whistler, another Greater Wallacean 

Drongo, a vocal Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher and Wallacean Cuckooshrike in a manic five minute period 

that included both our first Timor Black Pigeon and Olive-shouldered Parrot! More widespread species 

included Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Green-winged Pigeon, migrant Gould’s Bronze Cuckoo, Sunda Bush 

Warbler and Spectacled Monarch. 

Timor Black Pigeon, Timor and Sumba Flycatcher, Sumba © James Eaton 

Moving further inland we turned off the main road and rose up through the foothills and small villages to 

Mount Mutis to bird the odd Eucalypt forest that seemingly lacks emergent vegetation thus giving a 

surreal park-like landscape. The focal point here is searching for the endangered and localised Timor 

Imperial Pigeon, which most of us saw very well in flight having been flushed from close-by and not so 

well by the others! Unfortunately we were hit by gale force winds throughout our two day stay here so 

searching for canopy-feeding species and perched pigeons proved difficult to say the least, but we still 

managed good numbers of Metallic Pigeons. Timor Leaf Warbler and Yellow-eared Honeyeaters were 

abundant in the sheltered corners as Olive-headed Lorikeets regularly whizzed over, fortunately on our 

first evening we located a nice flock quietly feeding in some flowering trees though the much rarer Iris 

Lorikeet managed to evade us once again. The vocally distinct timorensis Pygmy Wren Babbler popped up 

with little difficulty and keeping an eye down low twice gave us a couple of immature Tricoloured 

Parrotfinches, a tricky species restricted to Timor and the Tanimbar islands. We saw few other species due 

to the wind, however Little Cuckoo Dove, Black-chested Myzomela, brief Spot-breasted Dark-eye, Little 

Pied and Snowy-browed Flycatchers, White-shouldered Triller and Paddyfield Pipits all put in appearances.

Finally, as one of the vehicles had a Timor Boobook fly past their vehicle pre-dawn we stopped in the heat 

of the day at the same spot on our return to the hotel. After some coaxing out we were all left openmouthed 

as first the pair call backed then one of the birds flew straight for us, landing below us, staring 

straight through us with his piercing yellow eyes, after a few more close encounters we left the birds in 

piece, a wonderful way to finish our time on the mountain. 

After our successes on Timor we flew (typically an hour late) the following morning to Ruteng, high in the 

hills of west Flores. A wet and misty start was not exactly how we hoped to start off, identifying Flores 

Minivet on call and a closely perched shape was actually a Flores Lorikeet (honest!) was not how we 

wanted to see these charming endemics but Russet-capped Tesia put on a real show, bouncing around us 

repeatedly and singing in clear view. The weather became marginally better by dusk when are attempts 

for a nearby calling Flores Scops Owl resulted in spot-lit flight views only! The following morning a short 

drive to Golo Lusang (aptly named ‘Misty Mountain’ as a translation from the local Manggarai language!). 

Arriving at dawn was chilly and it took some time before the chorus of Bare-throated Whistlers started to 

emanate around the valley, this beautiful bird didn’t take long to find as we soon had a male in full swing, 

he’s vocal chords being stretched to the max being as his bare throat skin showed! We spent the first few 

hours of daylight here notching up a few montane endemics, striking Yellow-browed Dark-eyes, 3 Flores 

Lorikeet zipped by twice, rather drab Scaly-crowned Honeyeaters fed quietly nearby and Flores Leaf 

Warblers were typically abundant. 

White-rumped Kingfisher and Flores Jungle Flycatcher, Flores © James Eaton 

Moving down to the coastal lowlands we stopped for some roadside birding while still in the mountains. 

Checking an area of forest it wasn’t long before the quiet, sweet song of a Flores Jungle Flycatcher was 

heard nearby. It was tough at first to get good views as he was a bit flighty but he soon calmed down and 

gave great close views. We then came across a feeding flock brimming with regional endemics; Flores 

Minivet, mega-close Yellow-browed Dark-eyes, cute Brown-capped Fantails, more Flores Leaf and Yellowbreasted 

Warblers and Flores Jungle Flycatchers, Little Pied Flycatcher and both Mountain and yellowbellied 

Oriental White-eyes. Eventually we reached the coast and slipped into our basic but comfortable 

accommodation at Kisol Seminary(!). the seminary gives great access to the nearby forest-cloaked hill 

situated on the coast and home to all of the lowland endemics. Unfortunately an unseasonal storm was 

passing through bringing plenty of rain to the lowlands. Birding was rather stop-start during our 2 days 

here, so much so that we left early to get away from the weather. Flores Crow was typically vocal yet shy 

but on several occasions their whooshing wingbeats alerted us to their presence and we managed several 

views of this rare forest crow. Thick-billed Dark-eye, so often a hard-to-see species proved straight 

forward with some nice views on both days of this wonderfully-marked bird. White-rumped Kingfisher, a 

most-wanted species kept coming into tape too well and vanishing before we could lift our bins but 

eventually sat still giving wonderful close scope views of this striking species. Elegant Pitta though seen 

well on Sumba was looked for hard as the birds on Flores have a different call and in today’s taxonomic 

world, you just never know! In the end we saw a couple, one even bouncing around the canopy in full 

view as he looked for the intruder into his territory. A small fruiting tree held plenty of Black-naped Fruit 

Doves, Flores Minivet and both endemic flowerpeckers; Black-fronted and the ridiculously-named Goldenrumped 

(which does not have a golden-rump!). A non-endemic speciality of the area is Chestnut-capped 

Thrush, an extremely difficult species to find in Malaysia and Borneo. It was once common in all forest 

types on Flores and neighbouring Sumbawa but trapping for the cage-bird industry has caused numbers to

plummet and it is now a shy and rare bird here. After flushing one from the trail side we returned the 

following day to the same area and although this bird stayed true to form and flew into the tape but only 

perched briefly, called back, then flew off never to be seen again! Finally, as we waited for darkness to 

descend the gruff calls of Moluccan Scops Owl were soon heard and it wasn’t long before we had this 

menacing looking grey owl in our beam, even turning around for us so we could see every plumage detail 

at close range. It wasn’t much more of a wait before the harsher, more prolonged calls of the difficult 

Wallace’s Scops Owl were heard and we were able to watch him in our spotlight as it glided slowly 

overhead, most welcome and another night-birding session finished with success earlier than expected! 

With the weather still less than ideal for raptors we headed back to the hills and spent some more time in 

and around Ruteng. Though we were unable to reach the highest elevations due to the appalling condition 

of the road we still saw Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon perched distantly in the telescope, these birds being 

vocally distinct from the taxon on Java and Bali. Birding another forest patch produced plenty of endemic 

Crested Dark-eyes, Red-cheeked Parrot, Flores Minivet with a recently-fledged youngster and best of all a 

superb Bonelli’s Eagle in the late afternoon sunshine. The race occurring on the Lesser Sundas, renschi 

has recently been found to be genetically distinct from populations elsewhere in Asia and Europe so should 

probably be treated as a separate species. 

Flores Scops Owl, Flores © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia 

As the weather looked like improving for the following morning we headed back pre-dawn to Kisol for one 

last look for the endangered Flores Hawk Eagle, stopping on the way for better looks at Flores Scops Owl. 

We changed tactics this time and by walking step-by-step in the forest darkness we climaxed with 

wonderful views of a pair calling in our spotlight, at one point down to just 3 meters but steadfastly 

refusing to look into the light! This wonderful little rufous owl was known from just 3 specimens and a 

captive bird until Birdtour Asia rediscovered the species in 2005 and recorded its previously unknown 

vocalisations. Feeling confident after that success we started to feel a little downbeat as the cloud cover 

was still present as we headed back to the coast. However we still headed to our strategic viewpoint just 

as a local pointed out that a ‘big eagle’ always flies over at 9am, it was 845am now and after a 22 minute 

wait a huge, flat-winged eagle appeared in the distance, eventually floated closer and closer allowing all 

the salient features to be noted on this huge, Philippine Eagle-like bird as it started circling, success! With 

smiles from ear-to-ear we embarked on the long drive to Labuanbajo, situated on the west coast with a 

short stop at some roadside forest for one of the top endemics – Flores Monarch. The monarch was 

described as recently as 1973 and is already classified as endangered due to the continued deforestation 

of the mid-altitude forests on which it depends. Continuing with our days successes it didn’t take long 

before we had a pair of gorgeous adult Flores Monarchs circling us continually for 20 minutes along with 

two inquisitive, rufous-faced juveniles that kept coming too close to focus on! The beers went down very 

nicely at our seaside restaurant this evening, especially as the following morning allowed for a 5am lie-in!

Boarding our James Bond-style speedboat we were whiskered across the sea to Pulau Komodo, the focal 

point of the Lesser Sundas and home to the beasts even Joe Bloggs will have heard of – The Dragons! 

Before we had jumped off our boat a quick scan revealed our first two targets exactly where they should 

be; Great-billed Heron and Beach Thick-knee. After the brief introduction by our keen local guide we set 

off into the bush, Yellow-crested Cockatoo’s soon started appearing, noisily flying about in pairs, 

occasionally being chased off by the menacing Helmeted Friarbirds. Komodo holds one of only a handful of 

viable populations of this near-Indonesian endemic (East Timor holding perhaps 500 birds). Lemon-bellied 

White-eyes were abundantly feeding on the small fruits that the Green Imperial Pigeons so love – an odd 

double-act! Green Junglefowl were common and a single Orange-footed Scrubfowl was busy feeding in the 

leaf-litter. It wasn’t until our near-return to HQ when a huge Komodo Dragon was found bounding down 

the track ahead of us but this big fella quickly slipped away, tantalizing most of us. Our local guide 

seemed thrilled to point out a 6 footer flat-out high in a tree though our adrenalin soon started rushing as 

another dragon bounded along the trail for us all to admire. Still not finished we had a huge 3.5 metre 

beast sat, head-up not far away along with a slightly smaller chap that allowed a close approach before 

dashing into back into the wilds. Asian Koel, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, Barred Dove and 

Indonesian Collared Dove (Island being split into this and Philippine) were some of the other species seen 

along with the dragon’s prey – super-tame Rusa Deer and Wiild Pig. We finished this most enjoyable 

morning with some Lesser Frigatebirds and Black-naped Terns followed by some wonderful snorkelling at 

a nearby beach, a fine end to a wonderful day. 

The final morning of the tour was to sneak in just one last endemic, the nomadic, elusive Wallace’s 

Hanging Parrot. Some initial excitement came when a local pointed to a tree full of ‘hanging parrots’ but 

unfortunately for us this all turned out to be Black-naped Fruit Doves. As we waited along the roadside 

watching a family of Black-fronted Flowerpecker and Flame-breasted Sunbirds a high-pitched zeep soon 

drew our attentions to a small green bullet zipping across the road, not the most prolonged of views but a 

view all the same! Retreating to a different spot via some Ruddy Cuckoo Doves got us excellent views of 

another Wallace’s Hanging Parrot as he circled round us just above eye-level – superb! 

The airline typically produced yet another hour-long delay to our flight back to Bali but we arrived in time 

to enjoy the sun setting over the beach – a fine way to finish off this wonderful tour. 

Barn Owl, Sumba © tour participant Ron Hoff Barred Dove, Flores © James Eaton 

For information regarding our scheduled tours to the Lesser Sundas please click here. Alternatively please 

contact us via e-mail regarding organising a custom tour to the Lesser Sundas or elsewhere in Indonesia. 

Systematic Bird List 

PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae 

Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas 

Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus

PELECANIFORMES: Phaethontidae 

White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus 

PELECANIFORMES: Sulidae 

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster 

PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae 

Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 

Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 

PELECANIFORMES: Fregatidae 

Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel 

CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae 

Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana 

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 

Eastern Great Egret Ardea [alba] modesta 

Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 

White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 

Little Egret Egretta garzetta 

Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra sacra 

Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa 

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus 

Striated Heron Butorides striata 

CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae 

Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 

CICONIIFORMES: Threskiornithidae 

Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae 

Wandering Whistling Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 

Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons 

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 

FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae 

Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 

Black Kite Milvus migrans affinis 

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus intermedius 

White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus 

Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 

Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster sylvestris 

Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus wallacii 

Accipiter fasciatus tjendanea 

Accipiter fasciatus hellmayri 

Rensch's [Bonelli's] Eagle Aquila [fasciata] renschi 

Changeable Hawk Eagle Nisaetus limneatus 

Flores Hawk Eagle Nisaetus floris 

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae 

Spotted Kestrel Falco moluccensis microbalia

GALLIFORMES: Megapodiidae 

Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt reinwardt 

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae 

Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora pallidior 

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus 

Green Junglefowl Gallus varius 

GRUIFORMES: Turnicidae 

Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator powelli 

Sumba Buttonquail Turnix everetti 

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae 

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus orientalis 

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae 

White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 

CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae 

Beach Thick Knee Burhinus magnirostris 

CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae 

Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella 

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae 

Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 

Javan Plover Charadrius javanicus 

Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus mongolus 

Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii 

CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae 

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus variegatus 

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 

CHARADRIIFORMES: Sternidae 

Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus 

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 

Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana 

Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae 

Metallic Pigeon Columba metallica 

Indonesian Collared Dove Streptopelia [bitorquata] bitorquata 

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis tigrina 

Barred Cuckoo Dove Macropygia unchall unchall 

Ruddy Cuckoo Dove Macropygia emiliana emiliana 

Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps orientalis 

Timor Black Pigeon Turacoena modesta 

Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica indica 

Green-winged Pigeon Chalcophaps chrysochlora timorensis 

Barred Dove Geopelia maugei

Sumba Green Pigeon Treron teysmannii 

Black-backed Fruit Dove Ptilinopus cinctus albocinctus 

Ptilinopus cinctus conctus 

Red-naped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus dohertyi 

Rose-crowned Fruit Dove Ptilinopus regina flavicollis 

Black-naped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus melanospilus melanauchen 

Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea polia 

Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon Ducula rosacea 

Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon Ducula lacernulata sasakensis 

Ducula lacernulata lacernulata heard only 

Timor Imperial Pigeon Ducula cineracea 

Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans 

Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon Treron griseicauda 

PSITTACIFORMES: Cacatuidae 

Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea parvula 

Citron-crested' Cockatoo Cacatua [sulphurea] citrinocristata 

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae 

Marigold Lorikeet Trichoglossus capistratus capistratus 

Trichoglossus capistratus fortis 

Flores Lorikeet Trichoglossus weberi 

Olive-headed Lorikeet Trichoglossus euteles 

Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi floresianus 

Geoffroyus geoffroyi geoffroyi 

Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus m. megalorynchos 

Tanygnathus megalorynchos sumbensis 

Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus cornelia 

Olive-shouldered Parrot Aprosmictus jonquillaceus 

Wallace's Hanging Parrot Loriculus flosculus 

Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot Loriculus pusillus heard only 

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae 

Sunda Cuckoo Cuculus lepidus 

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo Cacomantis sepulcralis sepulcralis 

Shining Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus plagosus 

Gould's Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx russatus 

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus malayana 

STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae 

Barn Owl Tyto alba 

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae 

Flores Scops Owl Otus alfredi 

Wallace's Scops Owl Otus silvicola 

Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus albiventris 

Sumba Boobook Ninox rudolfi 

Timor Boobook Ninox [novaeseelanfdiae] fuscus 

Little Sumba Boobook Ninox sumbaensis 

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae 

Mees's Nightjar Caprimulgus meesi 

Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis 

APODIFORMES: Apodidae 

Timor Swiftlet Collocalia [esculenta] neglecta 

Cave Swiftlet Collocalia linchi linchi 

Collocalia [linchi] sumbawae

Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus 

House Swift Apus [affinis] nipalensis 

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae 

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis floresiana 

Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris chloris 

Sacred Kingfisher Halcyonsanctus santus 

Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher Halcyon australasia australasia 

White-rumped Kingfisher Caridonax fulgidus 

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae 

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus 

Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti 

CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae 

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis pacificus 

CORACIIFORMES: Bucerotidae 

Sumba Hornbill Aceros everetti 

PICIFORMES: Capitonidae 

Flame-fronted Barbet Megalaima armillaris 

PICIFORMES: Picidae 

Sunda Woodpecker Dendrocopos moluccensis grandis 

Spot-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos [macei] analis 

PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae 

Elegant Pitta Pitta elegans concinna 

Pitta elegans maria 

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae 

Australasian Bushlark Mirafra javanica parva 

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae 

Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica javanica 

Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata striolata 

Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans timoriensis 

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae 

Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus albidus 

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae 

Wallacean Cuckooshrike Coracina personata personata 

Black-faced Cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae melanops 

Pale-shouldered Cicadabird Coracina dohertyi 

White-shouldered Triller Lalage sueurii 

Flores Minivet Pericrocotus lansbergei 

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae 

Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster (escape) 

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae 

Greater Wallacean Drongo Dicrurus densus densus 

Lesser Wallacean Drongo Dicrurus bimaensis bimaensis 

Dicrurus bimaensis sumbae 

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae 

Chestnut-capped Thrush Zoothera interpres 

Chestnut-backed Thrush Zoothera dohertyi 

Orange-banded Thrush Zoothera peronii peronii 

Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus schlegelii 

Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys leucophrys heard only 

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae 

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis fuscicapilla 

Bar-winged Prinia Prinia familiaris 

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae 

Russet-capped Tesia Tesia everetti everetti 

Timor Stubtail Urosphena subulata subulata 

Sunda Bush Warbler Cettia vulcania everetti 

Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus everetti 

Olive-backed Tailorbird Orthotomus sepium 

Timor Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus presbytes 

Flores Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus [presbytes] floris 

Yellow-breasted Warbler Seicercus montis floris 

Sunda Warbler Seicercus grammiceps 

Buff-banded Bushbird Buettikoferella bivittata 

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae 

Flores Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias oscillans 

Sumba Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias [oscillans] stresemanni 

Sumba Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa segregata 

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra clarae 

Ficedula hyperythra volcani heard only 

Sumba Flycatcher Ficedula harterti 

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni 

Black-banded Flycatcher Ficedula timorensis 

Timor Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hyacinthinus hyacinthinus 

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis sejuncta 

Culicicapa ceylonensis connectens 

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata pyrrhonota 

Saxicola caprata francki 

Saxicola caprata fruticola 

Timor Bushchat Saxicola gutturalis gutturalis 

PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae 

Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris rufiventris 

Brown-capped Fantail Rhipidura diluta 

Arafura Fantail Rhipidura dryas semicollaris 

Rhipidura dryas sumbensis 

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae 

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea prohata 

Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi floris 

Terpsiphone paradisi sumbaensis 

Spectacled Monarch Monarcha trivirgatus trivirgatus 

Flores Monarch Monarcha sacerdotum

Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis ruficollis 

PASSERIFORMES: Pachycephalidae 

Fawn-breasted Whistler Pachycephala orpheus 

Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis fulvotincta 

Pachycephala pectoralis fulviventris 

Pachycephala pectoralis calliope 

Pachycephala pectoralis javana 

Bare-throated Whistler Pachycephala nudigula 

PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae 

Pygmy Wren Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla timorensis 

Pnoepyga pusilla everetti 

Crescent-chested Babbler Stachyris melanothorax heard only 

PASSERIFORMES: Acanthizidae 

Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea sulphurea 

Plain Gerygone Gerygone inornata 

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae 

Grey Tit Parus [major] cinereus 

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae 

Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis convergens 

Anthreptes malacensis rubigena 

Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis ornata 

Apricot-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris buettikoferi 

Flame-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris solaris 

PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae 

Golden-rumped Flowerpecker Dicaeum annae 

Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile tinctum 

Black-fronted Flowerpecker Dicaeum igniferum 

Red-chested Flowerpecker Dicaeum maugei maugei 

Blood-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum sanguinolentum wilhelminae 

Dicaeum sanguinolentum rhodopygiale 

Dicaeum sanguinolentum hanieli 

PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae 

Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus unicus 

Mountain White-eye Zosterops montanus montanus 

Lemon-bellied White-eye Zosterops chloris intermedius 

Ashy-bellied White-eye Zosterops citrinella citrinella 

Yellow-spectacled White-eye Zosterops wallacei 

Yellow-browed Dark-eye Lophozosterops superciliaris 

Crested Dark-eye Lophozosterops dohertyi subcristatus 

Thick-billed Dark-eye Heleia crassirostris 

Spot-breasted Dark-eye Heleia muelleri 

PASSERIFORMES: Meliphagidae 

Scaly-crowned Honeyeater Lichmera lombokia 

Indonesian Honeyeater Lichmera limbata 

Yellow-eared Honeyeater Lichmera flavicans 

Sumba Myzomela Myzomela dammermani 

Black-chested Myzomela Myzomela vulnerata 

Streak-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata 

Timor Friarbird Philemon inornatus

Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides buceroides 

Philemon buceroides neglectus 

PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae 

Timor Oriole Oriolus melanotis melanotis 

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis broderipii 

Timor Figbird Sphecotheres viridis 

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae 

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach bentet 

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridea 

Sunda [Ashy] Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus leucophaeus 

PASSERIFORMES: Artamidae 

White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus albiventer 

Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus perspicillatus 

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae 

Flores Crow Corvus florensis 

Eastern Jungle Crow Corvus levaillantii macrorhynchos 

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae 

Short-tailed Starling Aplonis minor 

Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus 

Black-winged Myna Acridotheres melanopterus 

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae 

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus malaccensis 

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae 

Red Avadavat Amandava amandava flavidiventris 

Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata guttata 

Tricolored Parrotfinch Erythrura tricolor 

Javan Munia Lonchura leucogastroides 

Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca 

Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata nisoria 

Lonchura punctulata sumbae 

Five-colored Munia Lonchura quinticolor 

Pale-headed Munia Lonchura pallida 

Timor Sparrow Padda fuscata 

MAMMALS 

Black-striped Squirrel Callosciurus nigrovittatus 

Common Tree Shrew Tupaia glis 

Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis 

Flores Warty Pig Sus heureni 

Rusa Deer Cervus timorensis 

Indonesian Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus titthaecheilus 

Large Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus 

REPTILES 

Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis 

Tockeh Gecko gecko

Bird of the tour 

1 Sumba Hornbill 

2 Timor Black Pigeon 

3 Flores Scops Owl 

4 Citron-crested Cockatoo 

5= Timor Boobook 

5= Black-banded Flycatcher 

Sunset, Labuanbajo, Flores © James Eaton/Birdtour Asia 

For information regarding our scheduled tours to the Lesser Sundas please click here. Alternatively please 

contact us via e-mail regarding organising a custom tour to the Lesser Sundas or elsewhere in Indonesia.

Lesser Sundas, Indonesia - Birdtour Asia

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