Composed of multiple islands, Indonesia is one of the richest countries in biodiversity. This top 10 of birds presents some of these natural treasures.
Bali Myna
Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) is endemic to the island of Bali. It is also the only endemic vertebrate of this paradise island popular with tourists. This bird almost disappeared and is the subject of a conservation program. This includes breeding to release birds into the wild.
Almost all white, it is unique. It feeds on seeds, fruits and invertebrates.
To see the extraordinary diversity of the world’s birds on video, it’s here:
Nicobar Pigeon
Feathers with metallic green and blue reflections, elongated feathers at the level of the neck which form like a bib on the chest, it is the elegant Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica). It lives in dense rainforests and mangroves. Its range covers much of Southeast Asia. However, its populations there are very fragmented and this bird mainly inhabits small islands. It has a mainly herbivorous diet which it supplements with small invertebrates.
It is at the beginning and end of the day that this animal is most active.
Orange-breasted Trogon
Like other trogons, the Orange-breasted Trogon (Harpactes oreskios) is a magnificent bird. It nests in a nest that it digs in a dead tree and feeds mainly on insects. Separate subspecies live on the islands of Java, Borneo and Sumatra. It is a medium-sized bird, 27 to 32 cm.
Java Sparrow
Java Sparrow (Padda or Lonchura oryzivora) is approximately the size of a house sparrow. It is naturally present in Indonesia, especially on the islands of Java and Bali. Appreciated as a cage bird, it has also been introduced to many other countries, such as Sri Lanka (the top 10 birds of Sri Lanka).
It often forms large groups and appreciates the surroundings of rivers, as well as bamboos. This sparrow belongs to the Estrildidae family.
Sacred Kingfisher
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is present in Indonesia, but also in New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand (top 10 birds of New Zealand).
It eats a wide variety of small prey (reptiles, amphibians, rodents, crustaceans, insects… but rarely fish. Not picky, it lives in a wide range of habitats.
Wrinkled Hornbill
Wrinkled Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus) is a singular-looking bird in danger of extinction. It is a frugivorous forest species that consumes figs in particular. It nests in cavities in trees. The female cements the entrance. Once locked up with her eggs, then these young, she depends on the male for food.
This hornbill, about 70 cm long, suffers a lot from deforestation. It is distributed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the extreme south of Thailand.
Knobbed Hornbill
Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix) is another species in the family Bucerotidae (the hornbills), birds with a large, powerful beak topped with a helmet. This species is endemic to Indonesia and a little less threatened than the Wrinkled Hornbill, as it is less demanding in terms of habitat. Also a fruit eater, it plays an important role in the dissemination of seeds. However, it also eats small animals.
Like other species in this family, the Knobbed Hornbill is monogamous and form pairs for the whole life.
Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher
Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca) is also called black-backed kingfisher or three-toed kingfisher.
It is a small bird, 12 to 14 cm, with a large orange beak which it uses to catch its prey: insects, arachnids, worms, crustaceans, amphibians and reptiles.
It is one of the smallest representatives of the Alcedinidae family. This bird lives in the forests and wetlands of India and Sid-East Asia, especially in Cambodia (see the top 10 birds of Cambodia).
Palm Cockatoo
Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is a large parrot, 55 to 60 cm, also known as goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo. It lives in eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and the northern tip of Australia (Cape York Peninsula).
This intelligent bird has a long lifespan, with a verified maximum age of 56 years. He could even become octogenarian, or even nonagenarian. He is frequently kept as a pet. Unlike other cockatoos, it does not feed in groups.
Eclectus Parrot
Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) is a species of bird in the Psittaculidae family. It has a distribution similar to the previous species. A special case among the psittacines, it presents a marked sexual dimorphism, to the point of having been considered for a time as two separate species. Males are mostly green with a partially orange-yellow beak, while females are scarlet and dark red. Both sexes have more or less blue.
With such colours, it is valued as a pet. Their length is about 35 cm. It mainly eats fruit.
Do you like Indonesian birds? You will certainly enjoy discovering some of these best dishes, as well as the island of Bali to browse through the Top 100 places to see, or by region: East Bali, North Bali, South Bali and West Bali.
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