The massive and spectacular Kerinci-Seblat National Park in west Sumatra covers the large fertile Kerinci valley, and is one of Asia’s premier birding sites. The most popular base is the village of Kerisik Tua at the foot of Mt Kerinci, at 3,800 m the highest peak west of Papua. The trail up the mountain takes you through a succession of habitats culminating in sub-alpine heath and bogs towards the summit, but it is at the lower altitudes that several of Sumatra’s rarest endemics are regularly seen.
Other recommended birding sites in the vicinity are the Letter “W” waterfall and the Mt Tujuh trail, but other possibilities remain to be explored. Muaro Sako, on the road between Sungai Penuh, the main town in the valley, and Tapan, on the west coast, are good areas to see lower-altitude species.
Key species
Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant
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Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant, Salvadori’s Pheasant, Red-billed Partridge, Horsfield’s Woodcock, Waterfall Swift, Weathed Hornbill, Fire-tufted Barbet, Orange-backed Woodpecker, Schneider’s Pitta, Pink-headed Fruit-dove, Blue-tailed Trogon, Blue-masked Leaf-ird, Sunda Laughing-thrush, Rusty-breasted Wren-babbler, Sumatran Cochoa, Sunda Treepie.
taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore