Psittacidae-parrots, lories and allies:
East of wallacea’s line the forests resound with the screeches of parrots: Indonesia boasts no fewer than 30 endemic species. Most parrots are conspicuous and easy to identify, and the sight of a flock of cockatoos assembling for roost, red lories scorching over the florest canopy, or the exqusite, turquoise wings of a Great-billed Parrot catching the evening sun are some of the most enduring memories of a birding trip to Indonesia (72 species).
East of wallacea’s line the forests resound with the screeches of parrots: Indonesia boasts no fewer than 30 endemic species. Most parrots are conspicuous and easy to identify, and the sight of a flock of cockatoos assembling for roost, red lories scorching over the florest canopy, or the exqusite, turquoise wings of a Great-billed Parrot catching the evening sun are some of the most enduring memories of a birding trip to Indonesia (72 species).
Cuculidae-cuckoos, koels and coucals:
This is another mega-diverse family in Indonesia comprising typical migrant and Asian Species, with several island endemics. The javan coucal has the distinction of being one of Indonesia’s most endangered bird, and the plaintive and Brush Cuckoos the most maddening, because of their persistent, annoying, ascending whistles and the difficulty of getting good views to tell them apart. (53 species).
Caprimulgiformes-owls, frogmouths, owlet-nighjars and nightjars:
If you want to make a name for yourself in birding circles, this is the group to focus on. The boobooks and scopsowls readily speciate on islands, as yet undescribe forms have been seen by birders on Timor and Sumba, and almost nothing is known about the Taliabu and Lesser Masked Owls of Moluccas. (66 species)
Apodiformes-swiftlets, swifts and tree-swifts:
The 12 species of swiftlet are among Indonesia’s commonest birds but are so difficult to identify that most birders do not bother. Tree-swifts are larger, wit long, scythe-shaped wings and forked tails; they sit around on exposed branches of forest trees. (24 species).
Trogonidae-trogons:
These beautiful and unobtrusive forest birds, with their black hoods, red or orange bellies and exquisitely vermiculated wing feathers, are quite common in lowland forests of Sumatra, borneo and Java. The Blue-tailed Trogon is an exception: it is a montane forest specialist with blue-and-yellow plumage. (8 species)
Taken from Jepson, P, 1997, Birding Indonesia, Periplus Editions. Singapore