Common Birds of Indonesia

One of the world's rarest birds — fewer than 50 remain in the wild in West Bali NP, a snow-white starling with electric-blue eye mask and golden yellow tip to an otherwise brilliant white plumage.

A megapode that buries its enormous eggs in geothermally heated sand and abandons them — the chick hatches fully feathered and must dig itself out unaided.

Endemic to Sulawesi — the male develops a remarkable wrinkled yellow casque that distinguishes it from all other hornbills; flies in spectacular flocks through Sulawesi's forests.

The smallest Bird-of-Paradise — Pieter de Marees called it "the most beautiful bird in the world," with vivid crimson body and coiled wire-like tail ornaments.

Endemic to Seram — the deep salmon-pink crest raised when alarmed is one of the most beautiful sights in Indonesian birding; wild flocks are still found in Manusela NP.

The only solid-casqued hornbill — its "ivory" casque has driven extreme poaching pressure; one of Asia's most critically threatened birds due to illegal wildlife trade.

Forms enormous flocks in Indonesian New Guinea — the raucous screaming calls of hundreds of birds descending on a fruiting fig tree is an unforgettable experience.

Considered one of the world's most beautiful parrots — a vivid patchwork of red, blue, and green with a black cap; found in lowland forest throughout the New Guinea region.