Papua New Guinea Birding Tours - PNG Birding with the Best
Our birding and logistical experience in across Papua New Guinea (PNG) is unrivalled, and tours run by us consistently record a higher percentage of rare endemics than any other operator. This independent country makes up the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, with the other half (West Papua) administered by Indonesia.
This birding tour company was founded with the incomparable Blue Bird-of-paradise as our logo, a species we have always considered to be one of the most amazing things that evolution has ever produced. Of course it follows that we believe Papua New Guinea to simply have the best birding in the world, and the region is a must for any intrepid global birder.
See more Bird-of-Paradise Species with Ornis Birding
Using the modern AviList taxonomy which links with eBird, there are 44 species of bird-of-paradise. Many of these are widely considered the most spectacular and awe-inspiring birds in the world. The island of New Guinea holds 39 of them, from Wilson's Bird-of-paradise and Red Bird-of-paradise in the west to Twelve-wire Bird-of-paradise and Goldie's Bird-of-paradise to the east. We are proud to be the only birding tour company who has been able to show 38 of these 39 endemic New Guinea species to our guests, a feat which involves running expeditions far off the usual birding circuits to the most remote mountain ranges on the island, in addition to the usual circuits. We are working on getting to that 39th species, but it hasn't been seen alive by human eyes for two decades!
Tours Led by World-Experts in the Birds of Papua New Guinea
Dedicated to pursuing the region's rarest endemics, our leaders have spent large portions of their careers birding both within the borders of PNG and across the entire island of New Guinea. It is one of those places that no matter how many times we visit, there are always new and exciting things to discover. We have have published scientific papers, assisted authors of the major field guides with vital species notes, rediscovered 'lost birds' across the island, and even captured the first-ever photographs of several cryptic species. Our bird guides bring an unparalleled level of frontier fieldcraft to any birding tour to the island, guaranteeing the best possible chance of securing the most exciting birds found in Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea: Highlights
In this shortened version of our classic PNG: Mainland tour, over the course of just twelve days we can offer many of the most phenomenal birds found here at a significantly reduced cost. This tour features an excellent chance at seeing all seven endemic bird families, plus more than fifteen dazzling bird-of-paradise species.
%20900x600.jpeg)
Papua New Guinea: Islands
This unique birding cruise comprehensively explores the archipelagos east of New Guinea, all on a comfortable liveaboard boat with two land-based nights at the end on Manus Island. We expect to record over 75 endemics during the tour, including Superb Pitta, Goldie's Bird-of-paradise, and Mussau Fantail!
%20900x600.jpg)
Papua New Guinea: Mainland
Our comprehensive birding tour around classic PNG in search of more than twenty dazzling bird-of-paradise species, and all the hardest endemics to be found in this exciting but challenging country. We should see all seven families endemic to New Guinea, plus other stunners like Spangled Owlet-nightjar and Flame Bowerbird!
Papua New Guinea: Remote Expedition
We periodically offer tours to visit the most remote corners PNG, searching for some of the least-observed birds in the world. Here you will be able to find itineraries for all the expeditions we have previously run, and we encourage you to contact us if any are of particular interest.
.jpg)
When you include a few off-lying archipelagos like the Bismarcks and Louisiades, the fabulous New Guinea regions hosts approximately 416 endemic birds. Around 330 of these can be easily seen on the eastern PNG side, where access to all the major biogeographic zones and largest off-lying archipelagos groups is possible.
We cover all of the top birding sites on our PNG: Mainland tour, and offer a shorter version called PNG: Highlights for those with limited time. Both tours include all seven endemic bird families (we have never failed to get the full set on these itineraries), plus of course a dazzling array of birds-of-paradise and other endemic species.
Our PNG: Islands tour complements these classic trips by visiting four entire archipelagos: Admiralty, Bismarck, D'Entrecasteaux, and Louisiade. No other birding cruise anywhere in the world can claim to encounter 75 island endemics in one trip! It's a truly outstanding route from Normandby and Rossel up to New Ireland and Mussau, before ending on Manus.
Sporadic PNG: Remote Expedition trips following varied itineraries have seen us visit almost every possible birding area in the country in recent years (like the island of Bougainville, the remote Huon Peninsula, and the infamous Kokoda Track). Thanks to thorough coverage of this challenging but exciting country, we have seen and photographed numerous species on our tours that no other birding company has ever recorded.
_edited.jpg)