Bird Families (6)

Alcedinidae-Kingfishers and kookaburras:
The great variety of kingfishers is one of the real joys of birding in Indonesia, and their diversity in North Celebes and Halmahera is a major factor in the increasing popularity of this region. Kingfishers range in size from the huge Black-billed Kingfisher of Celebes and Shoved-billed Kingfisher of Papua to the diminutive dwarf kingfishers of western Indonesia and Celebes. (45 species)

Meropidae/Coraciidae-beeeaters and rollers:
The distinctive, triangular wings and chirping calls of bee-eaters grace most open country habitats in Indonesia. Rollers and dollarbirds are larger species and have spectular display flights. The endemic Purple-bearded Bee-eater and Purple-winged Roller are top attractions of Celebes (9 species).

Bucerotidae-hornbills:
These massive birds are an unmistakable and unforgettable feature of Indonesia’s forest. Diversity is highest in Sumatra and Borneo, where up to seven species can be seen at one site. Two species occur in Celebes, and Blyth’s Hornbill is the eastern representative of the group in north Mo;uccas and Papua. Horbills are absent from Lesser Sundas and South moluccas, except Sumba, which has an endemic of its own. (15 species).

Piciformes-barbets, woodpeckers and piculets:
The Piciformes are a western Indonesian family, with only two species, both woodpeckers, crossing Wallace’s line into Celebes. The monotonous tonk-tonk of barbets is a charecteristic rainforest sound, though getting views of these colourful, stocky birds can be neck-breaking. Some woodpeckers-the Crimson winged and other Yellownapes-are equally gaudy. (41 species)

Eurylaimidea-broadbills:
These boldly patterned and coloured birds, with their distinctive round heads and broad gapes, are confined to the rain forest of western Indonesia. They can be difficult to see, but the effort is well worthwhile. (8 species).

Pittidae-pittas:
Pitas are quail or partridge-sized ground birds of forest and secondary growth. The group most sought after by birders, they have it all: beuty of form and colour and an abilty to wind you up into frenzy of anticipation before they finally reveal themselves. Half the world’s species occur in Indonesia and four are endemic. (16 species).

Camppephagidae-cuckoo-shrikes, cicadabirds, trillers and minivets:
Another diverse group heaving with endemics, but, with the exception of the striking red-snd-black or yellow-and-black (female) minivets, they are rather boring grey or pied birds, field identification is difficult, mainly because they are hard to get worked up about and no one has yet sorted oout the various species in detail. (46 species)
Technorati Profile

BIRD FAMILIES (5)

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).

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