Independent State of Papua New Guinea

• Kiunga

  Satellite View
  Kiunga is a lowland rainforest area in the west of the country near the Irian Jaya border, possible birds include, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Pesquet's Parrot, Blue Jewel Babbler, Palm Cockatoo, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Flame Bowerbird, Twelve-wired, Greater, Raggiana and King Birds of Paradise.

• Tabubil

  Satellite View
  Tabubil is a site in the foothills of the Star Mountains which is good for Chestnut-backed Jewel Babbler, Carola's Parotia and Magnificent Bird of Paradise.

• Tari/Mt. Hagen

  Satellite View
  Tari/Mt. Hagen are Highland sites from 1700 - 2900 metres above sea level. Many birds including Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Black and Brown Sicklebills, Lawe's Parotia, Blue, Crested, Superb and King of Saxony Birds of Paradise.

• Varirata National Park

  InformationSatellite View
  Varirata National Park is near Port Moresby, highlights could include Dwarf Cassowary, Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, Eastern Riflebird and Wallace's Fairy wren.

• Chris Lodge

  http://www.chrislodgeart.com

• Number of bird species: 876

  National Bird - Raggiana Bird of Paradise Paradisaea raggiana

• Number of endemics: 400+

  The above is a figure for the whole of New Guinea (including the Bismarcks and Admiralty Islands) - that is species not found outside this area but many shared across the islands and the nations. There are around 76 for the island of New Guinea with 29 endemic to PNG alone and 42 to West Papua, whilst the Bismarcks/Admiralties have about 54, (and Bougainville another 4).

• Birds of New Guinea

  | By Bruce Beehler & Thane Pratt | Princeton University Press | 2014 | Paperback | 528 pages, 110 plates with colour illustrations; 1 b/w illustrations, 635 colour distribution | ISBN: 9780691095639 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of New Guinea: Distribution, Taxonomy, and Systematics

  | By Bruce M Beehler & Thane K Pratt | Princeton University Press | 2016 | Hardback | 668 pages, 2 plates with 14 colour photos; 2 b/w maps, tables | ISBN: 9780691164243 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of New Guinea: Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville

  | By Phil Gregory | Lynx Edicions | 2017 | Hardback | 464 pages, 1780+ colour illustrations, 867 colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9788494189272 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Papua New Guinea Birds

  | By Roy D MacKay | University of Papua New Guinea Press | 2012 | Paperback | 36 pages, 72 colour photos, 1 b/w map | ISBN: 9789980945808 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Papua New Guinea

  http://www.papuanewguinea.travel/birdwatching "Bird Watchers" - let yourself be amazed by PNG! With around 700 species of birds in Papua New Guinea including the exotic Bird of Paradise and hundreds of unique species there is much to be seen. There are many locations throughout the country to see the beautiful species of birds in Papua New Guinea, so refer to the contact details below for more information on bird life in the various locations of Papua New Guinea

• Papua Bird Club

  Website
  Papua Bird Club is the only organization located in West Papua (Irian Jaya, now Papua); Indonesia that offers customized tours for bird lovers as well as conservation activity for the purpose of conserving the Papuan birds and its nature in their original habitat. Papua offers some of the best birding in the world. Located on the western half of the island of New Guinea, the world`s second largest, Papua still has areas that are waiting to be explored. The province contains several endemic species of Birds of Paradise, Bowerbirds, Cassowaries, Cockatoos, Parrots, etc.The land is also rich in plant and other wildlife, such as the Tree Kangoroo, the giant Leatherback sea turtle, Dugong and the longest varanid species on the planet. West Papua regions also offers the best underwater marine life in the world, according to the recent CI marine survey around the Raja Ampat Island…

Abbreviations Key

• Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area

  Observatory WebsiteSatellite View
  The Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area is the perfect destination for those wanting to experience magnificent rainforests while learning more about the traditional lifestyles of the people who call the rainforest home.

• Mount Gahavisuka National Park

  Observatory WebsiteSatellite View
  …noted for the famed birds of paradise, Mt. Wilhelm (4,509) metres), the Asaro Mudmen village, Kainantu pottery, and Dualo Pass - one of the highest road access points in Papua New Guinea - are just a few of the select tours…

• Waigeo & Batanta

  InformationSatellite View
  Waitanta’s prolonged isolation produced nearly mythical, endemic feathered life forms as Bruijn’s Brush-turkey Aepypodius bruijnii, Wilson's Cicinnurus respublica and Red Bird of Paradise Paradisaea rubra, one by one species that make the hearts of ornithologists and birders alike beat faster. In fact, every self-respecting world birder is bound to at least once in a lifetime undertake the pilgrimage to the avian delights of Waitanta…

• Wopkola Rainforest

  WebsiteSatellite View
  The project has two development priorities: eco-forestry (reforestation) and nature conservation. Reforestation involves the buying of massive sums of tree seedlings and planting them in customary lands inside Kokop Village. The conservation aspect involves the revival and restoration of the once-destroyed “Wopkola Rainforest” inside Kokop Village, and the declaration of this 30 plus hectare site as an indefinite ‘strict conservation zone’.

• BirdQuest

  Tour Operator
  BirdQuest offer several itineraries for Papua New Guinea usually running in July & August

• Birding Ecotours

  Tour Operator
  Papua New Guinea (PNG) is indeed a birder’s paradise. Thirty-four birds-of-paradise live on the island of New Guinea, of which thirty-one can be found in Papua New Guinea. The island of New Guinea is home to an incredible 399 endemics! Together with awe-inspiring scenery, endless rainforests, and fascinating highland societies that only made contact with the outside world in 1930, this makes Papua New Guinea a definite must-do destination for any avid birder.

• Cassowary Tours

  Website
  We also currently run tours to the following international destinations, Papua New Guinea

• Fieldguides

  Tour Operator
  Birds-of-paradise and bowerbirds are the crowning jewels of one of most remarkable bird faunas, set against a fascinating cultural backdrop far removed from our own. Survey tour focusing on forest specialties in diverse and scenic regions

• Milne Bay Birdwatching

  Boat Trips
  Papua New Guinea has over 700 species of birds of which 269 are found in the Milne Bay Provence

• Papua Expeditions

  Tour Operator
  Think huge, man-sized yet infuriatingly wary, flightless cassowaries. Retiring megapodes with fascinating incubation strategies, adeptly manipulating environmental heat sources. A New Guinea Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae delivering its remarkable and far-carrying advertising call towards dusk. Or crowned-pigeons abruptly breaking the relative silence when exploding in clapping wingbeats from alongside a creek at noon. Think of the profusion of parrots in all colors and sizes simply imaginable. Dazzling kingfishers, that include three single-island endemic paradise-kingfishers, and the widespread though rarely seen, aptly-named Shovel-billed Kookaburra Clytoceyx rex. Think mysterious nocturnal owlet-nightjars featuring cuddly, feline faces. Glorious jewel-babblers skulking on the forest floor as if most reluctant to reveal their colors. Think utterly astonishing bowerbirds

• Rockjumper Birding Tours

  Tour Operator
  Over the years we have established an unbeatable reputation for leading highly successful tours to Papua New Guinea, and our tour totals of around 400 species include up to 24 different birds-of-paradise and almost 20 kingfisher species, a feat impossible to match anywhere else! We also offer an extension to New Britain to search for a plethora of endemic doves, kingfishers and parrots.

• Sicklebill Safaris

  Tour Operator
  Sicklebill Safaris was founded with the aim of taking small groups of visitors to New Guinea to experience the wonderful country and its astonishingly varied culture, and to see as many of the 400 endemic species as possible. We aim to support locally owned, minimum impact, sustainable tourism ventures using local guides as much as possible and helping to provide an alternative income source to logging…

• Trans Niugini Tours

  Website
  Established over 35 years ago, we are the only inbound tour operator that not only owns and manages a selection of award-winning Wilderness Lodges, but also our very own fleet of aircraft, vehicles and boats. We can proudly assure you of the highest levels of safety, reliability and consistently excellent standards of service while you relax and savor the adventure that is Papua New Guinea.

• Ventbird

  Tour Operator
  On my last VENT tour, I found four species of birds that would be new for my great friend, David Bishop, whose ornithological explorations in this fascinating country are famous

• 2015 [07 July] - Jay VanderGaast

  Report
  ...Next morning came the first of our two visits to wonderful Varirata NP, still my favorite birding locale in the country. Male Raggiana Birds-of-paradise (BoPs) on their lek were a highlight as always, but memorable too were the great variety of fruit-doves (with Wompoo, Pink-spotted, Superb, Dwarf, and the rare Coroneted all showing well), the stunning Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher, a young male Magnificent (Growling) Riflebird, Black-capped Lories, and a plethora of other great birds making for a fantastic first visit to the park.

• 2015 [11 November] - Des Hume - Milne Bay's Endemics

  PDF Report
  All participants were required to be in Cairns on the day prior to departure (20th November) and accommodation was booked at the Coral Tree Inn. Having some spare time in Cairns nearly always ends up being eaten away doing some birding along the mudflats along the Cairns foreshore and this time was no different.

• 2016 [03 March] - Vincent van der Spek

  PDF Report
  Port Moresby area & the Central Highlands - 143 New Guinea endemics, including representatives of all endemic bird families currentlyrecognised by the IOC, and five semi-endemics (shared with the Bismarck archipelago). We saw 15birds of paradise: Glossy-mantled and Crinkle-collared Manucode, Brown (plenty; no males though)and Black Sicklebill (male and female), King of Saxony Bird of Paradise (two males), Lawes’s Parotia(male and female), Superb (common; several males), Magnificent (female-type + 2 heard only) andKing Bird of Paradise (unfortunately heard only), Princess Stephanies (2 males and 1 female) andRibbon-tailed Astrapia (one adult male, several females and young males), Growling Riflebird (severalmales), Lesser (immature male), Raggiana (plenty, including displaying males) and Blue Bird ofParadise (4-5; one male).

• 2016 [06 June] - Phil Gregory

  PDF Report
  ...We did well at the park with showy male Raggiana BoP’s, several sightings of the elusive Growling Riflebird, the old faithful Barred Owlet-nightjar back in his longtaim roost hole, Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher and almost a sighting of Pheasant Pigeon, plus Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Hooded Pitohui and Rusty Pitohui....

• 2016 [07 July] - Phil Gregory - new Britain

  PDF Report
  ...Highlights here included Beach Thick-knee, Black Noddy, Nicobar Pigeon, Mackinlay’s CuckooDove, Island Imperial Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher, Red-bibbed (Sclater’s) Myzomela, Island Monarch, and Mangrove Golden Whistler. The Garu Wildlife Management Area gave us Red-knobbed, Finsch’s and Yellowish Imperial Pigeons, White-mantled Kingfisher, Violaceous Coucal, White-necked Coucal, Ashy Myzomela and Bismarck Flowerpecker...

• 2016 [08 August] - Wayne Jones

  PDF Report
  ..frustratingly shyGrowling Riflebirds and Papuan King Parrots- a lucky few at the front of the queue managedglimpses of a Pheasant Pigeon as it flushedfrom the path. The group had better luck withBrown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, anothernotoriously reticent species, which thankfullyallowed everyone super views. Other birdsalong the trails included Yellow-bellied andFairy Gerygones, Black Berrypecker, RustyMouse-Warbler, Chestnut-bellied Fantail,Mimic Honeyeater, Hooded Butcherbird,Black, Spot-winged and Frilled Monarchs, endearing White-faced Robin, Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon, RustyPitohui, Black Cicadabird, Grey Whistler and Wompoo Fruit Dove.

• 2016 [09 September] - Adam Walleyn

  PDF Report
  ...We then had alook at the bower of a Fawn-breasted Bowerbird,before moving on to the ponds area. As usual,there was a multitude of waterbirds present,including Plumed and Wandering WhistlingDucks, Pacific Black Ducks, Little Pied andLittle Black Cormorant, Australasian LittleGrebe, Australian White Ibis, Australasian Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Comb-crested Jacana andeven 2 Pacific Golden Plovers....

• 2016 [09 September] - Adam Walleyn - New Britain

  PDF Report
  ...A pleasant assortment of birds sat out on bare branchesin the early morning light: Variable Goshawks, Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon, numerous EclectusParrots, Purple-bellied Lories, Red-flanked Lorikeets, White-necked Coucals, Moustached Treeswift,Blyth’s Hornbills, Long-tailed Mynas and Metallic Starlings....

• 2016 [11 November] - Jay VanderGaast & Doug Gchfeld - New Guinea & Australia

  Report
  ...We started things off with an afternoon visit to PAU, where, among many other species, we enjoyed great looks at dapper Pied Herons, a trio of massive Papuan Frogmouths, raucous Yellow-faced Mynas, and at day's end, unbeatable views of a scarce Black Bittern. Our visits to nearby Varirata National Park were equally productive, as among expected standouts such as Raggiana BoP, Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Barred Owlet-Nightjar, Frilled Monarch, and Hooded PItohui there were also some wonderful surprises in the forms of Dwarf Koel, Hooded Pitta, and Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, all three of which allowed us lengthy scope studies! Fruit-doves were also memorable here, with Pink-spotted, Orange-bellied, the tiny Dwarf, and the beautiful Beautiful fruit-doves all giving excellent views...

• 2017 [08 August] - Graham Talbot

  PDF Report
  Dablin Creek:Located 30min from town, thisis basically ashort,steep gravel road that leads to the water intake area. Birding isfrom the road. It was hard going at times; much of the forest is inaccessible and degradedbut it holds the birds(Carola’s Parotiaand Magnificent Bird-of-Paradisewere easy when wevisited; also White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo, flyover Vulturine Parrots, Obscure Berrypeckerseen but tricky and White-rumped Robinvocal but even more of a devil to see).

• 2017 [08 August] - Oscar Campbell & Aidan G Kelly - Manus

  PDF Report
  ...This short report outlines a birding trip to Manus Island, PNG made by Oscar Campbell, Aidan Kelly and Steve James in August 2017. The trip was an extension to a three-week jaunt around Papua New Guinea . Although we failed in the trip’s primary objective (to see Superb Pitta), we had a very pleasant time looking and thought it would be worth outlining our experiences (both positive and negative!) Without too much difficulty we saw most of the other possible Manus endemics(with theexception of the recently split Manus Dwarf Kingfisher),and an eclectic but interesting range of Admiralty / Bismarck Island species (including some classic small island specialistson Tong Island) and lowland PNG species. To judge from available information on the Internet, Manus Island appears to be very rarely visited, especially by independent birdwatchers, so this update will hopefully be useful and inspire others to visit this beautiful place. And get that pitta pinned down....

• 2017 [09 September] - Gareth Robbins - New Brittain

  PDF Report
  ...We then continued to another section of the plantations and birded next to the Kulu River,wherewesaw Blythe’s Hornbill, Long-tailed Myna and a couple of Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeons. Further ahead of us was a large pool of water,and we made a brief stop here to see some White-browed Crakes after hearing them call within the surrounding areas.

• 2017 [10 October] - Jay VanderGaast

  Report
  ...Birding began in the Port Moresby region, with a stop at PAU starting things off nice and easy with a good assortment of waterbirds (including Rufous Night-Heron and Pied Heron) and a small selection of endemics like the lovely Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove, White-shouldered Fairywrens, and Yellow-faced Myna among them. Things got even more serious the next morning with our first visit to the wonderful Varirata NP. Among many excellent sightings there, standouts included a remarkably unwary Yellow-legged Brush-Turkey (first I've seen in the park!), striking Pacific Bazas, several scarce Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeons, two species of paradise-kingfishers, and Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise.

• 2017 [11 November] - Jay VanderGaast - New Guinea & Australia

  Report
  I'm not sure what factors were at play at Varirata on our first visit there, but for me, this tour will always be memorable for "the day of the kingfisher", when we tallied great views of 8 different species of these incredible birds! The park is always great for these birds, with regulars like Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and Yellow-billed Kingfisher all having high "wow!" factors.

• 2018 [06 June] - Dani Lopez Velasco

  PDF Report
  Our first tour to Papua New Guinea –including New Britain- in 2018 was a great success and delivered a high number of quality birds. A total of 21 species of Birds-of-paradise (BoPs) - undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary, and “out of this world” bird families in the world-, were recorded, perhaps most memorable being a superb male Blue BoP, seen at close range near Kumul for as long as we wished. Just as impressive though were spectacular performances by displaying Raggiana and Greater BoPs in excellent light, stunning males King and Twelve-wired BoPs in the Kiunga area, a cracking adult male Growling Riflebird at Varirata, several amazing King-of-Saxony BoPs, waving their incredible head plumes like some strange insect antennae in the mossy forest of Tari Valley, great sightings of both Princess Stephanie´s and Ribbon-tailed Astrapias with their ridiculously long tail feathers, superb scope studies of Black –doing full display!- and Brown Sicklebills, uttering their machine-gun like calls, and so on.

• 2019 [09 September] - Stephan Lorenz

  PDF Report
  Papua New Guinea's birding allure stems from its diversity of birds-of-paradise and several fascinating, ancient bird families, of which seven are restricted to the island

• 2023 [08 August] - Andrew Walker

  PDF Report
  We recorded 21 species of astonishing birds-of-paradise: Splendid Astrapia, Princess Stephanie’s Astrapia, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise, Queen Carola’s Parotia, Short-tailed Paradigalla, Black Sicklebill, Brown Sicklebill, Black-billed Sicklebill, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Trumpet Manucode, Crinkle-collared Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Growling Riflebird, Greater Lophorina, King Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Greater Bird-of-paradise, Raggiana Bird-of-paradise, and Blue Bird-of-paradise.

• 2023 [08 August] - Andrew Walker - New Britain Extension

  PDF Report
  The list of highlights was very long and included Melanesian Megapode, Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon, Yellowish Imperial Pigeon, Island Imperial Pigeon, Finsch’s Imperial Pigeon, Nicobar Pigeon, Knob-billed Fruit Dove, MacKinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Singing Parrot, Purple-bellied Lory, Bismarck Hanging Parrot, Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, White-necked Coucal, Violaceous Coucal, Blyth’s Hornbill, Golden Masked Owl, New Britain Boobook, Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher, New Britain Dwarf Kingfisher, White-mantled Kingfisher, Melanesian Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Bismarck Pitta (New Britain Pitta), Bismarck Crow, Spangled (Bismarck) Drongo, New Britain Friarbird, Sclater’s Myzomela, Black-bellied Myzomela, Ashy Myzomela, Black-tailed Monarch, Velvet Flycatcher, Long-tailed Myna, Red-banded Flowerpecker, and Buff-bellied Mannikin. Two Wood Sandpipers in a flooded field were a surprise find and were vagrants to New Britain.

• Bird of Paradise Hotel - Goroka

  Trip Advisor
  The untouched beauty of the Eastern Highlands Province is the setting for the Bird of Paradise Hotel where luxury, style and impeccable service await you. The hotel`s central location in Goroka provides easy access to every modern facility, yet only a short drive away is the timeless village of the Asaro Mudmen.

• Wilderness Lodges of PNG

  Accommodation
  An inspired mixture of local architecture, spectacular views and modest luxury off the beaten track. Located at 7000 feet (2100 meters) in the PNG Southern Highlands, homeland of the Huli clan with their human hair wigs adorned with colorful flowers…

• Kiunga

  Website
  Kiunga is a small river port sited on the upper reaches of the Fly River in the remote Western Province of Papua New Guinea. It is surrounded by vast tracts of swamp forest and lowland rain forest, and one thing that has become clear over recent years is just how good the area is; a sort of lowland equivalent of Ambua for species diversity. When we first started going there in 1991, there were 7 really special birds that we were particularly looking for: Southern Crowned Pigeon (one of the world`s most incredible species); Flame Bowerbird, New Guinea Flightless Rail, Large Fig-Parrot, Little Paradise-Kingfisher, White-bellied Pitohui and Yellow-eyed Starling.

• Papua New Guinea Birds

  Website
  New Guinea birds with their brilliant colour, surpass those of any other country. Beautiful Birds of Paradise (the country's emblem); and wonderful dances of the flag-birds and others. There are 650 species, within 75 families.

• Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria

  Website
  Crowned pigeons are larger than all other pigeons. They are mainly distributed throughout New Guinea. These particular pigeons receive their name from the lacy feathers on their heads. They rank among some of the prettiest and brightest pigeons. Usually it they are hunted for plumage