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  • Photograph of Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

    A fabulous Raggiana Bird-of-paradise in its display tree at Varirata National Park by Mark Harper.

  • Where to watch birds and wildlife in
  • PAPUA NEW GUINEA

    Photograph of Blue Bird-of-paradise

    A beautiful male Blue Bird-of-paradise in a 'garden' in the Tari Valley, by Paul Macklam.


    Best Birds and other wildlife in Papua New Guinea

    Birds

    Mainland Endemics 33 (136 endemics including islands, from those just to the east of the mainland, and those from Manus in the Admiralty Islands through New Britain and New Ireland of the Bismarck Archipelago, to Bougainville)
    (Two bowerbirds and 11 birds-of-paradise)
    Central 15
    Grey-naped Pheasant-pigeon, Creamy-breasted (Orange-breasted) Fig-parrot, Campbell’s Fairy-wren (west), Rufous-backed Honeyeater, Long-bearded Honeyeater, Dimorphic Jewel-babbler, Brown-backed Whistler, White-bellied Whistler (also Louisiade Archipelago), Lawes’s Parotia, Growling Riflebird, Stephanie’s Astrapia, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Central Highlands), Blue Bird-of-paradise, Raggiana Bird-of-paradise and Spotted (Thick-billed) Berrypecker.

    Southeast mainland 11
    Scheepmaker’s Crowned-pigeon, Brown-headed Paradise-kingfisher, Black-capped (Black-eared) Catbird, Streaked Bowerbird, Elegant Honeyeater, Variable (Little) Shrike-thrush (also nearby islands), Eastern Parotia, Lesser Lophornia (Superb Bird-of-paradise), Yellow Satinbird, Grey-headed Mannikin/Munia and Alpine Mannikin/Munia.

    Adelbert Mountains, northeast mainland 1
    Fire-maned Bowerbird.

    Adelbert Mountains and Huon Peninsula 1
    Wahnes’s Parotia.

    Huon Peninsula 5
    Huon (Black-eared) Catbird, Spangled Honeyeater, Huon Honeyeater, Huon Astrapia and Emperor Bird-of-paradise.

    Offshore East New Guinea
    D’Entrecasteaux Islands 4
    Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon (Fergusson), Long-billed Myzomela (Goodenough), Goldie’s Bird-of-paradise and Oya Tabu (Capped) White-eye.

    D’Entrecasteaux Islands and Trobriand Islands 1
    Curl-crested Manucode.

    D’Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade Archipelago 1
    Louisiade Imperial-pigeon.

    Louisiade Archipelago 11
    Colonist Kingfisher (also nearby islands), Louisiade Pitta (Rossel), White-chinned Myzomela, Tagula Honeyeater (Tagula), Louisiade Whistler, Tagula (Little) Shrike-thrush (Tagula), Rossel (Common) Cicadabird (Rossel), Tagula Butcherbird (Tagula), Tagula White-eye (Tagula), Louisiade White-eye (also other islands) and Louisiade Flowerpecker.

    Bismarck Archipelago (Admiralty Islands, New Britain, New Ireland, New Hanover etc.) 68
    Karkar Island, off northeast mainland 1
    Sclater’s Myzomela (also other small islands).

    Admiralty Islands (Manus etc.) 8
    Manus Masked-owl, Manus Boobook, Manus Dwarf-kingfisher, Superb Pitta, White-naped Friarbird, Manus Cuckooshrike, Admiralty Cicadabird and Manus Monarch.

    Admiralty Islands and rest of Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain, New Ireland, New Hanover etc.) 5
    Pied Cuckoo-dove, Yellowish Imperial-pigeon, Yellow-breasted Pygmy-parrot (only St Matthias in Bismarck Archipelago), Bismarck Black Myzomela and Manus Fantail (extinct on Manus).

    Widespread New Britain, New Ireland, New Hanover etc. 16
    Finsch’s Imperial-pigeon, Bismarck Imperial-pigeon, Knob-billed Fruit-dove, Pied Coucal, Violaceous Coucal, New Britain Sparrowhawk, Bismarck Kingfisher, Red-chinned Lorikeet, Bismarck Hanging-parrot, Bismarck Whistler, White-backed Woodswallow, Bismarck Fantail, Black-tailed Monarch, Bismarck Crow, Bismarck (Black-headed) White-eye and Red-banded Flowerpecker.

    New Britain 20
    New Britain Bronzewing, New Britain Rail, Golden Masked-owl, New Britain Boobook, Black Honey-buzzard, New Britain Goshawk, Slaty-backed Goshawk (also Umboi), New Britain Dwarf-kingfisher, New Britain Kingfisher, Black-headed Paradise-kingfisher, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, New Britain Pitta, New Britain Friarbird, Bismarck Honeyeater, Ashy Myzomela (also Umboi), Black-bellied Myzomela, New Britain Flyrobin, New Britain (Bismarck) Thicketbird, Rusty Thicketbird and New Britain Thrush.

    New Ireland 8
    New Ireland Dwarf-kingfisher, White-naped Lory, New Ireland Pitta, New Ireland Friarbird, Reddish Myzomela (also nearby islands), New Ireland Myzomela, Ribbon-tailed Drongo and New Ireland Mannikin.

    New Ireland and New Hanover 1
    Bismarck Boobook.

    New Hanover 1
    New Hanover Mannikin/Munia.

    Tabar 1
    Tabar Pitta.

    Djaul 2
    Djaul (Mussau) Flycatcher and Djaul (Black-tailed) Monarch.

    St Matthias Group 1
    White-breasted Monarch.

    Mussau 4 (St Matthias Group)
    Mussau Triller, Mussau Fantail, Mussau (Dull) Flycatcher and Velvet (Mussau) Flycatcher.

    Bougainville 12 (Papua New Guinea)
    Bougainville Rail, Bougainville Dwarf-kingfisher, Bougainville Moustached Kingfisher, Bougainville Honeyeater, Bougainville Hooded Whistler, Bougainville (Brown) Fantail, Bougainville Monarch, Bougainville Crow, Bougainville Thicketbird, Bougainville Bush-warbler, Bougainville White-eye and Bougainville Thrush.

    New Guinea Mainland, West Papuan and Geelvink (Bay) Islands, and Aru Islands Endemics 293
    (Nine fruit-doves, seven owlet-nightjars, 13 kingfishers, nine bowerbirds, 48 honeyeaters, 35 birds-of-paradise and 21 robins)
    Northern Cassowary, Wattled Brush-turkey, Black-billed (Yellow-legged) Brush-turkey, Collared (Red-legged) Brush-turkey, New Guinea Scrubfowl, Salvadori’s Teal, New Guinea Bronzewing, Cinnamon Ground-dove, Western Bronze Ground-dove, Thick-billed Ground-pigeon, Green-naped Pheasant-pigeon, Sclater’s Crowned-pigeon, Victoria Crowned-pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon, Shining (Rufescent) Imperial-pigeon, Pinon’s Imperial-pigeon, Collared Imperial-pigeon, Zoe’s Imperial-pigeon, Dwarf Fruit-dove, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Eastern Ornate Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Coroneted Fruit-dove, Archbold’s Nightjar, Papuan Nightjar, Feline Owlet-nightjar, Spangled (Starry) Owlet-nightjar (small range), Allied (Vogelkop) Owlet-nightjar, Barred Owlet-nightjar, Wallace’s Owlet-nightjar, Archbold’s Owlet-nightjar, Mountain Owlet-nightjar, Papuan Spinetail, Papuan (Three-toed) Swiftlet, Bare-legged Swiftlet, Mountain Swiftlet, Ivory-billed (Greater Black) Coucal, Black-billed (Lesser Black) Coucal, Dwarf Koel, Long-billed Cuckoo, Rufous-throated Bronze-cuckoo, White-eared Bronze-cuckoo, White-crowned Cuckoo (Koel), Chestnut Forest-rail, Forbes’s Forest-rail, Mayr’s Forest-rail, New Guinea Flightless Rail, Forest Bittern, New Guinea Woodcock, Jungle (Papuan) Boobook, Papuan Hawk-owl, Long-tailed Honey-buzzard, Papuan (New Guinea) Eagle, Papuan Harrier (mostly Papua New Guinea), Grey-headed Goshawk, Black-mantled Goshawk, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Doria’s Goshawk, New Guinea (Papuan) Dwarf-kingfisher, Mountain Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Little Paradise-kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise-kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Spangled Kookaburra, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Shovel-billed Kingfisher, Pesquet’s Parrot, Brehm’s Tiger-parrot, Painted Tiger-parrot (mostly Papua New Guinea), Modest Tiger-parrot, Madarasz’s Tiger-parrot, Plum-faced Lorikeet, Striated Lorikeet, Pygmy Lorikeet, Red-fronted Lorikeet, Fairy Lorikeet, Josephine’s Lorikeet, Stella’s (Papuan) Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Orange-billed Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Brown Lory, Yellow-streaked Lory, Dusky Lory, Goldie’s Lorikeet, Yellow-naped (Large) Fig-parrot, Red-faced (Large) Fig-parrot (mostly Papua New Guinea), Edwards’s Fig-parrot (mostly Papua New Guinea), Black-fronted (Orange-breasted) Fig-parrot, Dusky-cheeked (Orange-breasted) Fig-parrot, Orange-fronted (Papuan) Hanging-parrot, Papuan King-parrot, Blue-collared Parrot, Eastern Hooded Pitta, Ochre-breasted (White-eared) Catbird, Tan-capped (White-eared) Catbird, Northern Catbird, Archbold’s Bowerbird, MacGregor’s Bowerbird, Flame Bowerbird, Masked Bowerbird, Yellow-breasted Bowerbird, Papuan Treecreeper, Wallace’s Fairy-wren, Orange-crowned Fairy-wren, Broad-billed Fairy-wren, Emperor Fairy-wren, White-shouldered Fairy-wren, Silver-eared Honeyeater, Spotted Honeyeater, Meyer’s Friarbird, New Guinea (Helmeted) Friarbird, Ruby-throated Myzomela, Papuan Black Myzomela, Mountain (Elfin) Myzomela, Red-collared Myzomela, Plain Honeyeater, Marbled Honeyeater, Streak-headed Honeyeater, Leaden Honeyeater, Yellowish-streaked Honeyeater, Mayr’s Honeyeater, Grey-streaked Honeyeater, Long-billed Honeyeater, Tawny Straightbill, Olive Straightbill, MacGregor’s Honeyeater, Smoky Honeyeater, Puff-backed Honeyeater, Scrub Honeyeater, Hill-forest Honeyeater (Meliphaga), Mimic Honeyeater, Forest Honeyeater, Mottle-breasted Honeyeater (Spot-breasted Meliphaga), Graceful Honeyeater, Yellow-gaped Honeyeater, Obscure Honeyeater, Black-throated Honeyeater, Sooty Honeyeater (Meliphaga), Short-bearded Honeyeater (Meliphaga) (mostly West Papua), Cinnamon-browed Honeyeater (Meliphaga), Belford’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga), Yellow-browed Honeyeater (Meliphaga) (mostly Papua New Guinea), Ornate Honeyeater (Meliphaga), Goldenface, Yellow-bellied Gerygone, Brown-breasted Gerygone, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Bicoloured Mouse-warbler, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Pale-billed Scrubwren, Papuan Scrubwren, Buff-faced Scrubwren, Grey-green Scrubwren, Perplexing Scrubwren, Large Scrubwren, Grey Thornbill, New Guinea (Papuan) Thornbill, Papuan Logrunner, Papuan Babbler, Ploughbill, Papuan Sittella, Black Sittella, Northern Variable Pitohui, Southern Variable Pitohui, Hooded Pitohui, Brown Oriole, Tit Berrypecker, Eastern Crested Berrypecker, Rufous-naped Bellbird, Piping Bellbird, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler, Blue Jewel-babbler, Painted Quail-thrush, Black Pitohui, Regent Whistler, Sclater’s Whistler, Lorentz’s Whistler, Rusty Whistler, Black-headed Whistler, Golden-backed Whistler, Rusty Pitohui, White-bellied Pitohui, Sooty Shrike-thrush, Sepik-Ramu (Little) Shrike-thrush, Papuan Whipbird, Hooded Cuckooshrike, Boyer’s Cuckooshrike, Golden Cuckooshrike, Black-bellied Cuckooshrike, Grey-headed Cicadabird, Black-shouldered (Papuan) Cicadabird, New Guinea (Black) Cicadabird, Black-browed Triller, Mottled Berryhunter, Lowland Peltops, Mountain Peltops, Hooded Butcherbird, Great Woodswallow, Black-breasted Boatbill, Drongo Fantail, Black Fantail, Sooty Thicket-fantail, Black Thicket-fantail, White-bellied Thicket-fantail, Dimorphic Fantail, Rufous-backed Fantail, Friendly Fantail, Chestnut-bellied Fantail, Blue-capped Ifrit(a), Ochre-collared Monarch, Frilled Monarch, Torrent-lark, Black (Fan-tailed) Monarch, Rufous Monarch, Spot-winged Monarch, Hooded Monarch, Golden Monarch, Grey Crow, Lesser Melampitta, Greater Melampitta, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Jobi Manucode, Crinkle-collared Manucode, King-of-Saxony Bird-of-paradise, Carola’s Parotia, Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Black-billed Sicklebill, Pale-billed Sicklebill, Broad-plumed (Greater) Lophornia, Black Sicklebill, Brown Sicklebill, Short-tailed Paradigalla, Splendid Astrapia, King Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Lesser Bird-of-paradise, Greater Bird-of-paradise, Obscure Berrypecker, Black Berrypecker, Mid-mountain Berrypecker, Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Streaked Berrypecker, Thick-billed (Spotted) Berrypecker, Spectacled Longbill, Pygmy Longbill, Yellow-bellied Longbill, Slaty-headed (Slaty-chinned) Longbill, Loria’s Satinbird, Red (Crested) Satinbird, Yellow-breasted Satinbird, Greater Ground-robin, Lesser Ground-robin, Green-backed Robin, White-eyed Robin, Garnet Robin, Subalpine Robin, Olive Flyrobin, Canary Flyrobin, Torrent Flyrobin, Papuan Scrub-robin, Black-throated Robin, Black-chinned Robin, Black-sided Robin, Black-capped Robin, Banded Yellow (Olive-yellow) Robin, White-winged Robin, Blue-grey Robin, White-rumped Robin, Papuan Grassbird, Fly River Grassbird, Black-fronted White-eye, Green-fronted White-eye, Capped White-eye, New Guinea White-eye, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Yellow-eyed Starling, Red-capped Flowerpecker, Rand’s (Olive-backed) Sunbird, Streak-headed Mannikin, White-spotted (Streak-headed) Mannikin, Great-billed (Grand) Munia, Grey-crowned Munia, Black Munia, Snow Mountain Munia, Mountain Firetail, Papuan Parrotfinch and Alpine Pipit.

    New Guinea and New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago) 3
    Dwarf Cassowary, Red Myzomela and Hooded Mannikin (Munia).

    New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago 3
    Black-billed Cuckoo-dove, Purple-bellied Lory (Papua New Guinea only) and Buff-faced Pygmy-parrot.

    Near-endemics

    New Guinea and Moluccas 3
    Gurney’s Eagle, Pygmy Eagle and Common Paradise-kingfisher.

    New Guinea, Kai Islands and Gebe 1
    Yellow-capped Pygmy-parrot.

    New Guinea to Solomon Islands 5
    White-breasted (White-bibbed) Ground-dove, Island Imperial-pigeon (islands off New Guinea), Papuan Eclectus, Melanesian Cicadabird (Papua New Guinea only) and Singing Starling.

    New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australia 1
    Russet-tailed Thrush (Papua New Guinea only, and Choiseul Island in the Solomon Islands).

    Admiralty Islands, rest of Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville and Solomon Islands 3
    Melanesian Scrubfowl (also Karkar and Bagabag Islands), Eastern Bronze Ground-dove and Yellow-banded (Yellow-bibbed) Fruit-dove.

    Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain etc.) and Caroline Islands 1
    Hunstein’s (Mottled) Mannikin/Munia.

    Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain etc.) and Buka Island (north of Bougainville) 1
    Buff-bellied Mannikin/Munia.

    Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain etc.), Bougainville and Solomon Islands 10
    Yellow-legged Pigeon, Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon, Mayr’s Swiftlet, Heinroth’s Shearwater, Pied Goshawk, Melanesian Kingfisher, Cardinal Lory, Song (Singing) Parrot, Green Pygmy-parrot, Long-tailed Myna and Atoll Starling.

    New Guinea and Australia 92
    Magpie Goose, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Frogmouth, White-throated Nightjar (Papua New Guinea only), Australian Owlet-nightjar (Papua New Guinea only), Black-eared Cuckoo (rare in Indonesia), Pallid Cuckoo (rare in Indonesia), Brolga (Crane), Australian Bustard, Straw-necked Ibis, White-necked (Pacific) Heron, Bush Thick-knee, Pied Oystercatcher (also recorded on Kai Islands), Masked Lapwing (irregular in Indonesia), Red-kneed Dotterel, Australian Gull-billed Tern, Greater Sooty-owl, Australian Masked-owl, Rufous Owl, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Collared Sparrowhawk, Whistling Kite, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher (rare in Indonesia), Torresian (Collared) Kingfisher, Buff-breasted Paradise-kingfisher, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Nankeen (Australian) Kestrel (also Christmas Island, and rare in Indonesia), Brown Falcon, Palm Cockatoo (Cape York only in Australia), Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Double-eyed Fig-parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Papuan Pitta, Noisy Pitta, Black-eared Catbird (Cape York only in Australia), Fawn-breasted Bowerbird (Cape York only in Australia), Brown Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater (Cape York only in Australia), Little Friarbird, Noisy Friarbird, Dusky Myzomela, Red-headed Myzomela, Green-backed Honeyeater (Cape York only in Australia), Brown-backed Honeyeater, Rufous-banded Honeyeater, Varied Honeyeater, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Fairy Gerygone, Green-backed Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone (Papua New Guinea only), Large-billed Gerygone, Mangrove Gerygone (Papua New Guinea only), Tropical Scrubwren (Cape York only in Australia), Grey-crowned Babbler, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Green Oriole (also Romang Island, east of Timor), Brown (Grey) Whistler, Black-tailed Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Rufous (Little) Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-winged Triller (Papua New Guinea only), Varied Triller, Black Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Black-backed Butcherbird (Cape York only in Australia), Black-faced Woodswallow (range also reaches Timor, Leti and Sermata), Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Northern Fantail, Mangrove Fantail (Papua New Guinea and Aru Islands only), Leaden Flycatcher, Satin Flycatcher, Paperbark Flycatcher, Magpie-lark (also east Timor), Black-winged Monarch (Cape York only in Australia), Black-faced Monarch, Trumpet Manucode (Cape York only in Australia), Magnificent Riflebird (Cape York only in Australia), Yellow-legged Flyrobin (Cape York only in Australia), Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, Jacky Winter (Papua New Guinea only), White-faced Robin (Cape York only in Australia), Mangrove Robin, Little Grassbird (West Papua only), Chestnut-breasted Munia, White-bellied Crimson Finch (Cape York only in Australia) and Australasian Pipit (Papua New Guinea only).

    Bougainville and Solomon Islands 24
    Crested Cuckoo-dove, Pale Mountain-pigeon, Solomons Frogmouth, Solomons Nightjar, West Solomons Boobook, Fearful Owl, Imitator Goshawk, Sanford’s Sea-eagle, Ultramarine Kingfisher, Solomons (Ducorps’s) Cockatoo, Meek’s Lorikeet, Duchess Lorikeet, Black-faced Pitta, Red-capped (Scarlet-naped) Myzomela, Oriole Whistler, North Melanesian Cuckooshrike, Solomons Cicadabird, White-winged (Cockerell’s) Fantail, Steel-blue Flycatcher, Solomons Pied (Black-and-white) Monarch, Yellow-throated White-eye, White-eyed Starling, Brown-winged Starling and Midget Flowerpecker.

    Others
    Spotted Whistling-duck, Great-billed and Pied Herons, White-browed Crake, Comb-crested Jacana, Oriental Hobby and Island Thrush. Also, on and around offshore islands; Great and Lesser Frigatebirds, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-footed Booby, Black and Brown Noddies, White Tern and Nicobar Pigeon.

    Mammals
    Speckled Dasyure and Agile Wallaby. Also a chance of Silky Cuscus, Striped Possum, Coppery Ringtail and Long-fingered Triok.

    Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish
    Some of the richest coral reefs on Earth, with 900 fish species around Walindi Dive Resort in Kimbe Bay, New Britain, for example. Green (10%) and Hawksbill (90%) Turtles nest on Edmago and Ral, two uninhabited islands near New Ireland, between September and January.

    Invertebrates
    Hundreds of butterflies and moths including Hercules Moth, one of the largest moths in the world, and Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, the largest butterfly in the world, which, unfortunately, rarely casts shadows over the Popondetta Plain in northern Papua New Guinea, off the usual, well worn, circuits.

    Best Sites for Birds and other wildlife in Papua New Guinea

    Best Times for Birds and other wildlife in Papua New Guinea

    Papua New Guinea has a warm, wet equatorial climate and rain falls year round in the highlands, but there is a dry season in the lowlands which usually lasts from May to September and this is the best time to go, with July arguably being the best month. The best scuba-diving and snorkeling conditions overlap with both ends of this season; from April to June and from September to November. The average temperature in the lowlands from May to September is a hot and sticky 28°C or so but it is cooler and more pleasant in the highlands, usually around 20°C. Long-sleeved shirts, a hat and repellants for chiggers and mosquitoes are recommended.

    Recommended Bird Books etc. for Papua New Guinea

    Birds of New Guinea by P Gregory. Lynx Edicions, 2017.

    Birds of New Guinea by T K Pratt and B M Beehler. PUP, 2014 (Second Edition).

    Birds of New Guinea by B M Beehler et al. PUP, 1986 (First Edition but arguably better than the Second).

    Birds of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago: Photographic Guide by B Coates. Dove Publications, 2001.

    Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds (Helm Identification Guide) by P Gregory and R Allen. Helm, 2020.

    Birding Indonesia edited by P Jepson and R Ounsted. Periplus Editions, 1997.

    Mammals of New Guinea by T Flannery. Cornell University Press, 1995 (Revised Edition).

    Where to watch birds in Australasia & Oceania by N Wheatley. Helm, 1998.

    Don’t know which country/countries/regions to visit in Australasia? Then it may be worth considering taking a look at this book, written by this website’s author. It is many years old of course but it still provides a starting point, an overview and a guiding light to the best birds and the best places to look for them in the region, and could save hours of searching for similar information on the internet. However, it is important to check more up-to-date sources for sites which have been opened up, sites and species which have been discovered, lodges that have been built etc. since the book was published.

    Birding and Wildlife Trip Reports for Papua New Guinea

    Many trip reports, some for Papua New Guinea, are posted on the websites listed here. On some of these websites some reports are independent and some are posted by tour companies who organize tours to Papua New Guinea. These tour companies and others also post their own reports on their websites, which are listed under 'Some Organized Tours to Papua New Guinea' below.

    Local bird and wildlife guides in Papua New Guinea

    The costs of organized tours partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional skills of the local guides they employ. If you are travelling independently, employing such local guides will greatly increase your chances of seeing the wildlife you wish to see.

    Accommodation for birders in Papua New Guinea

    Some Organized Tours for birds and other wildlife to Papua New Guinea

    There are many tour companies who organize tours to see mammals, birds, other wildlife and other natural wonders. The cost of these tours vary considerably according to such variables as the airlines used, the number of days the tours last, the number of sites visited, the number of people in the group (an important consideration if you wish to see such wildlife as rainforest mammals and birds), the number of tour leaders, the standard of accommodation and transport, and the percentage profit the company hopes to make. Generally, where the number of days tours last and the number of sites visited are similar, the cheapest tours are those that use the cheapest airlines, accommodation and local transport, that have the largest groups with the least number of leaders, and that make the least amount of profit. The most expensive tours tend to be those which are exceptionally long, use the most expensive accommodation (ridiculously lavish in some cases, even for single nights) and which make the most profit. Some tour costs partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional skills of the local guides they employ.

    While tour companies organize tours with set itineraries many also organize custom tours for individuals and private groups who instead of taking a tour with a set itinerary want to follow their own itinerary to suit their own personal tastes, whether it be mammals, birds, other wildlife, other natural wonders or even man-made attractions, or a mixture of them all. Many organized tours with set itineraries are also fast-paced and target as many species as possible, whether they are mammals, birds or other wildlife or everything, which usually leaves little time to enjoy the best sites and individual species, but on a custom tour those taking part can specify the pace and the sites and species they wish to concentrate on. Custom tours also suit people who like to travel with people they already know, rather than with a group of strangers, and people with partners with different interests. Individuals and small groups will almost certainly have to pay more than the price of an organized tour with a set itinerary but a large group of friends may be able to travel for less than the price quoted for a set tour.

    Tour companies who run organized tours or can arrange custom tours to Papua New Guinea include the following.