Birds of Sulawesi

Every birds in the Wildlife of Sulawesi guide: 421 species, grouped by family or group. Each name opens its page with photos, identification notes, habitat and range.

Avibase Complete Checklist Additions

• Spotted Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna guttata
• Green Pygmy-Goose Nettapus pulchellus
• Garganey Spatula querquedula
• Hardhead Aythya australis
• Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
• Sula Megapode Megapodius bernsteinii
• Orange-footed Megapode Megapodius reinwardt
• Green Junglefowl Gallus varius
• Metallic Pigeon Columba vitiensis
• Flores Sea Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia macassariensis
• Sula Cuckoo-Dove Turacoena sulaensis
• Sulawesi Ground Dove Gallicolumba tristigmata
• Elegant Imperial-Pigeon Ducula concinna
• Pink-headed Imperial-Pigeon Ducula rosacea
• Gray Imperial-Pigeon Ducula pickeringii
• Sombre Pigeon Cryptophaps poecilorrhoa
• Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus
• Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus
• Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis
• Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae
• Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis
• Moluccan Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus musschenbroeki
• Northern Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx hyperythrus
• Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx fugax
• Sulawesi Cuckoo Cuculus crassirostris
• Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus
• Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
• Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
• Purple Needletail Hirundapus celebensis
• Cave Swiftlet Collocalia linchi
• Snoring Rail Aramidopsis plateni
• Blue-faced Rail Gymnocrex rosenbergii
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
• Australasian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
• Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
• Talaud Bush-hen Amaurornis magnirostris
• Pale-vented Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana
• Band-bellied Crake Zapornia paykullii
• Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius
• Oriental Plover Anarhynchus veredus
• Siberian Sand-Plover Anarhynchus mongolus
• Tibetan Sand-Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons
• Greater Sand-Plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii
• Malaysian Plover Anarhynchus peronii
• Kentish Plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus
• Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea
• Little Curlew Numenius minutus
• Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis
• Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura
• Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
• Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
• Red Knot Calidris canutus
• Ruff Calidris pugnax
• Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
• Red-backed Buttonquail Turnix maculosus
• Australian Pratincole Glareola isabella
• Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
• Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
• Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
• Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
• Blue-billed White-Tern Gygis candida
• Black Noddy Anous minutus
• Aleutian Tern Onychoprion aleuticus
• Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus
• Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
• Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
• Chinese Crested Tern Thalasseus bernsteini
• Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
• White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
• Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
• Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
• Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia
• Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
• Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
• Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
• Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea
• Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
• Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
• Black Bittern Botaurus flavicollis
• Schrenck's Bittern Botaurus eurhythmus
• Yellow Bittern Botaurus sinensis
• Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
• Pied Heron Egretta picata
• Great Egret Ardea alba
• Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus
• Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni
• Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata
• Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza rhodogaster
• Japanese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza gularis
• Brown Goshawk Tachyspiza fasciata
• Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus
• Lesser Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga humilis
• Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus
• Minahasa Masked-Owl Tyto inexspectata
• Australasian Grass-Owl Tyto longimembris
• Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica
• Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata
• Northern Boobook Ninox japonica
• Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting
• Sangihe Lilac Kingfisher Cittura sanghirensis
• Talaud Kingfisher Todiramphus enigma
• Oriental Hobby Falco severus
• Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus
• Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
• Moluccan Eclectus Eclectus roratus
• Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos
• Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus lucionensis
• Purple-naped Lory Lorius domicella
• Black-capped Lory Lorius lory
• Red-and-blue Lory Trichoglossus histrio
• Violet-necked Lory Trichoglossus squamatus
• Sula Hanging-Parrot Loriculus sclateri
• Sangihe Hanging-Parrot Loriculus catamene
• Philippine Pitta Erythropitta erythrogaster
• Minahasa Hooded Pitta Pitta forsteni
• Elegant Pitta Pitta elegans
• White-eared Myza Myza sarasinorum
• Rufous-sided Gerygone Gerygone dorsalis
• Black-faced Cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae
• Slaty Cuckooshrike Coracina schistacea
• Sangihe Whistler Coracornis sanghirensis
• Maroon-backed Whistler Coracornis raveni
• Moluccan Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha
• Drab Whistler Pachycephala griseonota
• Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone cinnamomea
• Island Monarch Monarcha cinerascens
• Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis
• Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
• Banggai Crow Corvus unicolor
• Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
• Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
• Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
• Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
• Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis
• Gray's Grasshopper Warbler Helopsaltes fasciolatus
• Tawny Grassbird Cincloramphus timoriensis
• Sangihe Golden-Bulbul Hypsipetes platenae
• Togian Golden-Bulbul Hypsipetes aureus
• Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
• Island Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus poliocephalus
• Sulawesi White-eye Zosterops consobrinorum
• Everett's White-eye Zosterops everetti
• Moluccan Starling Aplonis mysolensis
• Short-tailed Starling Aplonis minor
• Helmeted Myna Basilornis galeatus
• Chestnut-cheeked Starling Agropsar philippensis
• Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
• Pale-bellied Myna Acridotheres cinereus
• Red-and-black Thrush Geokichla mendeni
• Wallacean Island-Thrush Turdus schlegelii
• Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus
• Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
• Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana
• Matinan Flycatcher Eumyias sanfordi
• Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra
• Banggai Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis pelingensis
• Great Shortwing Heinrichia calligyna
• Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina
• Rufous-throated Flycatcher Ficedula rufigula
• Red-chested Flowerpecker Dicaeum maugei
• Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus
• Flores Sea Sunbird Cinnyris teysmanni
• Elegant Sunbird Aethopyga duyvenbodei
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
• Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch Erythrura hyperythra
• Blue-faced Parrotfinch Erythrura trichroa
• Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
• Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi
• Indonesian Serin Chrysocorythus estherae

Sulawesi Endemics

• Maleo Macrocephalon maleo
• Knobbed Hornbill Rhyticeros cassidix
• Sulawesi Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus
• Sulawesi Roller Coracias temminckii

Forest & Wetland Birds

• Sulawesi Serpent Eagle Spilornis rufipectus
• Great-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis melanorhyncha
• Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon Ducula luctuosa
• Golden-mantled Racquet-tail Prioniturus platurus
• Ornate Lorikeet Trichoglossus ornatus
• Bay Coucal Centropus celebensis
• Sulawesi Scops-Owl Otus manadensis
• Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio
• Ashy Woodpecker Mulleripicus fulvus
• Purple-bearded Bee-eater Meropogon forsteni
• Fiery-browed Myna Enodes erythrophris
• White-necked Myna Streptocitta albicollis
• Finch-billed Myna Scissirostrum dubium
• Sulphur-bellied Whistler Pachycephala sulfuriventer

Shared Island & Coastal Birds

• Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster
• Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
• Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
• Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa
• Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
• Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
• Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
• Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
• Eastern Cattle Egret Ardea coromanda
• Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

Waterfowl & Ground Birds

• Wandering Whistling Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
• Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons
• Blue-breasted Quail Synoicus chinensis
• Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

Verified Shared Species

• Asian Woolly-Necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
• Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
• Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
• Red-Footed Booby Sula sula
• Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
• Great-Billed Heron Ardea sumatrana
• Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta
• Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes
• Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
• Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
• Black Kite Milvus migrans
• Black-Winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
• Gray-Faced Buzzard Butastur indicus
• Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis
• Rufous-Bellied Eagle Lophotriorchis kienerii
• Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus lanceolatus
• Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
• Slaty-Legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
• Buff-Banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
• Slaty-Breasted Rail Lewinia striata
• White-Breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
• White-Browed Crake Poliolimnas cinereus
• Ruddy-Breasted Crake Zapornia fusca
• Black-Backed Swamphen Porphyrio indicus
• Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
• Beach Thick-Knee Esacus magnirostris
• White-Headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
• Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva
• Black-Bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
• Greater Painted-Snipe Rostratula benghalensis
• Swinhoe's Snipe Gallinago megala
• Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus
• Black-Tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
• Bar-Tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
• Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
• Common Redshank Tringa totanus
• Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
• Grey-Tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
• Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
• Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
• Sanderling Calidris alba
• Red-Necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
• Long-Toed Stint Calidris subminuta
• Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
• Gull-Billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
• Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
• Black-Naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo
• Little Tern Sternula albifrons
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
• White-Winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
• Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
• Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
• Zebra Dove Geopelia striata
• Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica
• Pink-Necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans
• Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor
• Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides
• Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus
• Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
• Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
• Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis
• Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis
• White-Nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus
• White-Throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
• Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
• Pacific Swift Apus pacificus
• House Swift Apus nipalensis
• Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda
• White-Throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
• Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater Merops philippinus
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
• Golden-Bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea
• Long-Tailed Shrike Lanius schach
• Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
• Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
• Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis
• Golden-Headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis
• Bar-Winged Prinia Prinia familiaris
• Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
• Gray-Streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
• Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
• Snowy-Browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra
• Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
• Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
• Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
• Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
• Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis
• Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
• Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus

Further Photo-backed Species

• Green-backed Kingfisher Actenoides monachus
• Sahul Sunbird Cinnyris frenatus
• Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla
• Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
• Yellow-billed Malkoha Rhamphococcyx calyorhynchus
• Grey-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum celebicum
• Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher Cittura cyanotis
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum aureolimbatum
• Pacific Swallow Hirundo javanica
• Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot Loriculus stigmatus
• Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia doreya
• Barred Rail Gallirallus torquatus
• Sulawesi Crow Corvus celebensis
• Black Sunbird Leptocoma aspasia
• Sulawesi Babbler Pellorneum celebense
• Sulawesi Myzomela Myzomela chloroptera
• Pale-blue Monarch Hypothymis puella
• Lemon-bellied White-eye Zosterops chloris
• Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx fallax
• Turquoise Flycatcher Eumyias panayensis
• Black-crowned White-eye Zosterops atrifrons
• Ochre-bellied Boobook Ninox ochracea
• Citrine Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa helianthea
• Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus temminckii
• Warbling White-eye Zosterops japonicus
• Black-naped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus melanospilus
• Rusty-backed Thrush Geokichla erythronota
• Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
• Azure-rumped Parrot Tanygnathus sumatranus
• White-shouldered Triller Lalage sueurii
• Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher Cyornis omissus
• Sulawesi Pitta Erythropitta celebensis
• Little Heron Butorides atricapilla
• Scaly-breasted Kingfisher Actenoides princeps
• Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeon Treron griseicauda
• White-faced Cuckoo-Dove Turacoena manadensis
• Superb Fruit Dove Ptilinopus superbus
• Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis virescens
• Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
• Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaeum nehrkorni
• Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
• Pale-headed Munia Lonchura pallida
• Black-ringed White-eye Zosterops anomalus
• Spotted Kestrel Falco moluccensis
• Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
• White-rumped Cuckooshrike Coracina leucopygia
• Speckled Boobook Ninox punctulata
• Isabelline Bush-hen Amaurornis isabellina
• Sulawesi Myna Basilornis celebensis
• Diabolical Nightjar Eurostopodus diabolicus
• Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar
• Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca
• Philippine Megapode Megapodius cumingii
• Ivory-backed Woodswallow Artamus monachus
• Sulawesi Fantail Rhipidura teysmanni
• Blue-fronted Flycatcher Eumyias hoevelli
• Sulawesi Drongo Dicrurus montanus
• Sulawesi Goshawk Lophospiza griseiceps
• White-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula forsteni
• Sulawesi Honey-buzzard Pernis celebensis
• Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus
• Cerulean Cuckooshrike Coracina temminckii
• Geomalia Zoothera heinrichi
• Javan Plover Anarhynchus javanicus
• Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis
• Red-eared Fruit Dove Ramphiculus fischeri
• Little Bronze Cuckoo Chalcites minutillus
• Sulawesi Heleia Heleia squamiceps
• Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
• Malia Malia grata
• Sulawesi Masked Owl Tyto rosenbergii
• Moluccan Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus
• White-rumped Triller Lalage leucopygialis
• Black-billed Koel Eudynamys melanorhynchus
• Spot-tailed Goshawk Tachyspiza trinotata
• Dark-eared Myza Myza celebensis
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster
• Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail Prioniturus flavicans
• Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora
• Hylocitrea Hylocitrea bonensis
• Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus
• Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus
• Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet Trichoglossus meyeri
• Pygmy Cuckooshrike Celebesica abbotti
• Piping Crow Corvus typicus
• Pygmy Hanging-Parrot Loriculus exilis
• Great Eared-Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis
• Cinnamon Bittern Botaurus cinnamomeus
• Sulawesi Thrush Turdus turdoides
• Sulawesi Bush Warbler Locustella castanea
• Sulawesi Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus nesophilus
• Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
• Rufous-winged Buzzard Butastur liventer
• Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni
• Lompobattang Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus sarasinorum
• Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove Ramphiculus gularis
• Stephan's Emerald Dove Chalcophaps stephani
• Cinnabar Boobook Ninox ios
• Sulawesi Nightjar Caprimulgus celebensis
• Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
• Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon Ducula radiata
• Lompobattang Flycatcher Ficedula bonthaina
• Small Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza nanus
• Pied Cuckooshrike Coracina bicolor
• Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
• Sulawesi Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa sodhii

Frequently asked questions

How many birds are in the Wildlife of Sulawesi guide?

The guide lists 421 birds of Sulawesi, each with its own page covering identification, habitat and range.

Which groups of birds are covered?

Avibase Complete Checklist Additions (177), Sulawesi Endemics (4), Forest & Wetland Birds (14), Shared Island & Coastal Birds (12), Waterfowl & Ground Birds (5), Verified Shared Species (99), Further Photo-backed Species (110).