If you are into birding, then this article on Bird Watching in Flores would be of great interest to you. I visited Flores twice in 2016 and both on a mission to explore this amazing destination which is relatively unknown to the general tourism world, perhaps many may know of Komodo Island as this is currently one of the top places to visit in Indonesia.
Therefore, I wrote this article on bird watching in Flores for any serious birders who would like to increase their bird numbers. Before I continue, I would like to confess that I am only a beginner bird watcher as I have been doing this only for the last five to six years, mainly around Malaysia, especially at Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island.
My birding activities have taken me to many national parks, forest reserves, conservation's, shorelines, islands and highlands. Even backyard birding is on my list at times. In general, I may have seen over 500-600 species of birds in the last five years or so and in Borneo, perhaps around 300 plus birds. As my job takes me to many places, I somehow manage to find the time to do some birding and in Flores, I was lucky to have time to explore some of the birding spots.
Flores is located in the east most part of Indonesia, after Bali and Lombok Island and just before Papua Indonesia. To get here, the best possible way is by taking a flight. I would recommend using Skyscanner for flights to Flores as it would narrow down the cheapest and easiest ways to fly here from anywhere in the world. Let us get to the birding in Flores.
A pair of pigeons seen at the Komodo National Park on Komodo Island
Bird Watching in Flores
There are at least 10 popular spots to do birding in Flores and the best place to start is no other than the town of Labuan Bajo in the west most part of Flores. Labuan Bajo also serves as the main gateway to Komodo Island, where birding is also recommended. There are specialized bird guides found in this town and you can book them by getting in touch with some of the tour companies here.
Labuan Bajo also offers some really nice hotels and resorts for your accommodations and the facilities are up to general tourist standards, or birding standards. By saying this, I mean you will not find a Nikon Optics shop in Flores, so please bring all your equipment and spares if you have to.
Bird Watching Spots in Flores
The entire island is literally bird-watchable as there is no major development whatsoever being done here. However, there are a few notable places around Flores for bird watching which are listed from Labuan Bajo and heading outwards. This means for those planning a short birding trip to Flores can just focus around Labuan Bajo areas.
Dolat Wetlands - Only 4 kilometers south of Labuan Bajo, you can come here twice a day. Spot the Wandering Whistling-duck, Malaysian Plover, Mees’s Nightjar, Sunda Teal, Black-faced Munia, Beach Thick-knee, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Javan Plover, Flame-throated Sunbird, Crakes and Rails among the many bird here.
Potawangka Road - East of Labuan Bajo and 10 kilometers from the town area. Spot Bonelli’s Eagle, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, White-rumped Kingfisher, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Zebra Finch, Flores Green Pigeon, Elegant Pitta, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Wallace’s Hanging-Parrot, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Green Junglefowl and many others.
Komodo National Park - This will be everyone's must-go place when you are in Flores and apart from seeing the Komodo Dragons, you will be in for a good bird watching experience here. Some of the park guides know quite a bit about the Komodo Island birds.
The beautiful five colored Munia in Flores
Lake Sano Nggoang and Nunang Village - Southeast of Labuan Bajo along the Flores Highway to Ruteng. Spot Wallace’s and Moluccan Scops-Owls, Glittering Kingfisher, Flores Crow, Flores Green Pigeon, Pacific Black Duck, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Elegant Pitta, Flores Minivet, Flores Monarch, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Yellow-ringed White-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker and many more.
Puarlolo - East of Labuan Bajo and easy to do as a day trip. Spot the famous Flores Monarch, Flores Crow, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Short-toed Eagle, Green Junglefowl, Thick-billed Dark-eye, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Chestnut-capped Thrushes, Russet-capped Tesia, Wallace’s Hanging-Parrot, Rufous-chested Flycatcher and many others.
Golo Lusang and Danau Rana Mese Lake - South and East of Ruteng, on route to Bajawa. Spot the Flores Minivet, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Pacific Black Duck (lake area), Russet-capped Tesia, Wallace’s Scops-Owl, Black-backed Fruit Dove, White-rumped Kingfisher, Timor Leaf-warbler, Scaly-crowned Honeyeater, Helmeted Friarbird, Pale-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Brown-capped Fantail, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Blood-breasted Flowerpecker and many other birds.
Poco Ranaka - East Ruteng near to Lake Rana Mese, chances to spot Bonelli’s Eagle, Chestnut-backed Thrush, White-browed Shortwing, Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch and the Pygmy Wren-babbler.
Pagal - North of Ruteng and you can find Elegant Pitta, Wallace’s Hanging-Parrot, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Flores Green-Pigeon, White-rumped Kingfisher, Ruddy Cuckoo Dove, Brown-capped Fantail and Russet-capped Tesia, which have been recorded around here.
Kisol Village - Southeast of Ruteng. Spot the rare Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Brown-capped Fantail, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Flores Green Pigeon, Flores Crow, Thick-billed Dark-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Moluccan and Wallace’s Scops-Owl, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Mees’s Nightjar, White-rumped Kingfisher, Elegant Pitta, Flores Crow, Russet-capped Tesia, Chestnut-capped Thrush.
One of the sign boards at Kelimutu National Park, Flores
Kelimutu National Park - Near Ende and Maumere, you can spot montane endemics like Bare-throated Whistler, Flores Green Pigeon, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Crested Dark-eye, Ruddy Cuckoo Dove and Five-coloured Munia. The best is to trek using the general path all the way to the peak. It takes about 20-30 minutes trek up.
What Kind of Birds Are Found in Flores
Because Flores is an island and sitting between certain flyways, you can see lots of migrating birds here. But Flores is also home to many endemics like the Flores Crow and Flores Green Pigeon just to name a couple. Check the Flores Bird List below for endemics. Varieties include coastal birds, lowland birds, hill birds, sub-montane forest birds, montane birds, raptors and even unique birds.
A Rainbow Bee Eater spotted in Flores, near Labuan Bajo
Bird List of Flores
The bird list below is not complete but better than anything because there is no offical list out there. The birds of Flores list here is provided by Burung Nusantara (http://burung-nusantara.org/) and a bird watching trip report. Note the Flores birds in bold are endemic while from No.1 to No.50 are mostly the star birds to spot.
Green Junglefowl
Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Flores Hawk-Eagle
Wallace’s Hanging Parrot
Leaf (Rainbow) Lorikeet
Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon
Black-backed Fruit Dove
Barred Cuckoo Dove
Parzudaki’s (Ruddy) Cuckoo Dove
Black-naped Fruit Dove
Flores Green Pigeon
Flores Scops Owl
Wallace’s Scops Owl
Moluccan Scops Owl
White-rumped Kingfisher
Cerulean Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Elegant Pitta
Flores Minivet
Flores Crow
Flores Monarch
Flores Warbling-flycatcher (Russet-backed Jungle-Flycatcher)
Trumpeting (Brown-capped) Fantail
Bare-throated Whistler
Chestnut-capped Thrush
Chestnut-backed Thrush
Flores (White-browed) Shortwing
Pygmy Cupwing (Wren Babbler)
Russet-capped Tesia
Flores Leaf-Warbler
Scaly-crowned Honeyeater
Wallace’s Heleia (Yellow-spectacled White-eye)
Eyebrowed Heleia (Yellow-browed Dark-eye)
Thick-billed Heleia (Dark-eye)
Crested Heleia (Dark-eye)
Golden-rumped Flowerpecker
Black-fronted Flowerpecker
Flores (Blood-breasted) Flowerpecker
Flame-breasted Sunbird
Flores Spangled (Wallacean) Drongo
Pale-shouldered Cicadabird
Wallacean Cuckooshrike
Pale-headed Munia
Five-coloured Munia
Black-faced Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Timor Zebra Finch
Bulwer's Petrel (Komodo)
Streaked Shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Red-throated Little Grebe
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Great Frigatebird
Lesser Frigatebird
Little Pied Cormorant
Red-footed Booby
Brown Booby
Abbotts'Booby
Great-billed Heron
Purple Heron
White-faced Heron
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Pacific Reef Egret
Cattle Egret
Javan Pond-Heron
Little Heron
Rufous Night Heron
Cinnamon Bittern
Woolly-necked Stork
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Black-winged Kite
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Chinese Goshawk
Variable Goshawk
Brown Goshawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Bonelli's Eagle
Rufous-bellied Eagle
Changeable Hawk-eagle
Spotted Kestrel
Wandering Whistling Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck
Sunda Teal
Pacific Black Duck
Buff-banded Rail
White-browed Crake
White-breasted Waterhen
Common Moorhen
Black-winged Stilt
Pacific Golden Plover
Kentish (Javan) Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Red-necked Stint
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Pomarine Jaeger
Whiskered Tern
Black-naped Tern
Sooty Tern
Greater Crested Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Brown Noddy
White-throated Pigeon
Island Collared Dove
Spotted Dove
Ruddy Cuckoo-dove
Barred Dove
Green Imperial Pigeon
Yellow-crested Cockatoo
Great-billed Parrot
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo
Oriental Cuckoo
Common Koel
Lesser Coucal
Large-tailed Nightjar
Edible-nest Swiftlet
Glossy Swiftlet
Fork-tailed Swift
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Common Dollarbird
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
Australasian Bushlark
Barn Swallow
Pacific Swallow
Striated Swallow
Grey Wagtail
Richards Pipit
Pale-shouldered Cicadabird
White-shouldered Triller
Black-naped Oriole
Large-billed Crow
Great Tit
Flyeater
Mountain Tailorbird
Arctic Warbler
Yellow-breasted Warbler
Golden-headed Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Little Pied Flycatcher
Black-naped Monarch
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Common Golden Whistler
White-breasted Wood-swallow
Hill Myna
Helmeted Friarbird
Brown-throated Sunbird
Olive-backed Sunbird
Oriental White-eye
Mountain White-eye
Lemon-bellied White-eye
Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Coot
Little Grebes
Spectacled Monarch
An Orange-footed Scrubfowl spotted at Komodo Island, Flores
When is the Best Time for Bird Watching in Flores
Overall, the entire year is great for bird watching in Flores, but there is a rainy season from December to March and if you don't like the rain, avoid these months. Also, in February, the seas have high waves as it is the peak of the monsoon season, so avoid mid January to mid March. July to August is Komodo High Season, so Labuan Bajo will be pretty crowded and so will Komodo Island. If you do not like large crowds, avoid these couple of months.
How Much is Bird Watching in Flores
Depending on the type of package you choose, the price of bird watching in Flores varies anywhere from US$1000 to US$2000 per person. A couple of tour companies provide bird watching tours in Flores and for a 7 Day Bird Watching Package, the price is around US$1625.00 per person with a minimum of 2 persons.
However, for those who are on a budget, you can also do bird watching in Flores for less than the prices mentioned above. Probably for under US$1000 per person, but it would be mostly around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.
If you are visiting this island in East Nusa Tenggara, do read my other article on things to do in Flores as it sheds some information about what else you can do around this beautiful island. You should also read my other article on things to do in Labuan Bajo, as that is the most popular area in Flores.
One of the colorful birds spotted just outside of Labuan Bajo, Flores
For me, being a beginner birder, I use very basic equipment for this hobby. My birding equipment is a Nikon D5100 DSLR camera with a 300mm Nikkor Telephoto Lens, an Omicron Barbet RF 8x32 Binoculars, a Cabin Zero Bag and mid range tripod. To date, they have served me pretty well as I travel around quite a bit, therefore I need easy and light equipment.
The beauty about traveling from place to place on a short time is that you get to see multiple places, but for the serious birder, this would be frustrating. Well, for my work, I only have very little time to bird watch or photograph, therefore I make the best of what time I have. And this is also one of the main reasons that I travel light, due to my work schedules.
Omicron Binoculars, which I use for my bird watching.
I have to admit that I do not know most of the birds spotted during my trip here as I did not have the Flores Bird Guide Book. I have ordered it and on my next birding trip to Flores, I will bring it along to identify all the birds. You can also visit my Facebook album on Flores birds, where I have posted more photos there.
In general, Flores is one of the new places for bird watching as it is located far from the main commercial Southeast Asia region and closer towards Papua New Guinea. With minor development happening, flora and fauna is still considered to be rich all over the island. And for anyone wanting to do Bird Watching in Flores, I strongly recommend you engage a good bird guide who speaks the local language.