Half Day, 1-Day, and Short (2-3 Days) Bali Bird Tours

Whether you are a serious birder or are in Bali for the start or end of a cruise, to experience the culture of the many ancient temples, to practice yoga, or are relaxing at some of the famous beach areas and fancy a short birdwatching break, we can help with a range of options depending on your location and the time available. We offer a range of morning, half-day, full-day or short (two to three days) Bali birding tours. If necessary, we can also arrange tours that combine east Java with Bali. We have a team of skilled ornithologists who can give you an excellent Bali bird tour.

We have a range of options and will tailor your Bali birdwatching itinerary to your needs. Our guide will discuss with you beforehand your interests and experience and suggest a suitable itinerary based on these and where you are staying. The itineraries below represent typical offerings, but if you have any specific requirements, we will do our best to accommodate these: please discuss with your guide before you come.

Bali has a long list of highly sought-after species and subspecies. We have a long (17-day) Indonesia Birding Tour: Bali and East Java – Bali Myna and Other Rare Regional Specials set departure birding tour, but the following options could work if you have less time available and would still like to experience some of Bali’s great birds. Bird species it is possible to see in Bali include Bali Myna, Black-winged Myna, Sunda Teal, Green Junglefowl, Javan Hawk-Eagle, Javan Owlet, Beach Stone-curlew, Javan Plover, White-tailed Tropicbird, Christmas Frigatebird, Javan Kingfisher, Cerulean Kingfisher, Javan Banded Pitta, Flame-fronted Barbet, Yellow-eared Barbet, Javan Bush Warbler, White-crowned Forktail, Javan Scimitar Babbler, Javan Munia, White-capped Munia, and Java Sparrow.

These can be seen on enjoyable strolls through bird-filled rice paddies, in walks for montane forest birds, and during visits to intertidal mudflats, saltpans, and beach habitat, featuring resident and migrant waterbirds.

The rice paddies around Ubud are a great place to see Javan Kingfisher.

 Birding the Ubud Area

We have several options for morning, 1-day, half-day and longer birding trips in the Ubud area or further afield (e.g., you could combine a few of the options below). Our guide will discuss your interests, the time available and where you are staying before suggesting an itinerary that is devised to best suit you. The range of sites includes the following.

Campuhan Ridge Walk, Bali Bird Walk, Ubud Rice Paddies (morning or half-day)

Our rice paddy walks offer the chance of seeing some common and widespread birds of Bali but also include some of the special birds to be found here, such as Javan Kingfisher, Javan Munia, Javan Pond Heron, Cave Swiftlet, and with luck, the stunning Java Sparrow. These walks around Ubud include the awesome Campuhan Ridge, the Bali Bird Walk, as well as other sites that we continually update in response to the rice-growing schedule and latest information. Other possible species are (Javan) White-crowned Forktail, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Sunda Scops Owl, Savanna Nightjar, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Ruby-throated Bulbul, Black-headed Bulbul, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Striated Swallow, Short-tailed Starling, and White-headed Munia, to name just a few. During the northern winter months (and a little either side) it is possible to find shorebirds (waders) such as Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe’s Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, and Long-toed Stint, and raptors such as Chinese Sparrowhawk, Japanese Sparrowhawk, and Crested Honey Buzzard. During the Eastern Cattle Egret breeding season (around Christmas) there is a huge colony to visit for excellent photo opportunities.

Java Sparrow has been introduced in several locations around the world, such as Hawaii and Thailand, but its natural range is restricted to Java and Bali.

The south coast

There are several coastal birding sites not far from Ubud that can be included in a great full day of birding. We can usually find secretive species here, such as White-browed Crake, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Barred Buttonquail, Greater Painted-snipe, and Yellow Bittern, along with Javan Plover, Cerulean Kingfisher, Javan Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Savanna Nightjar, Golden-headed Cisticola, (Double) Zitting Cisticola, migrant shorebirds including Swinhoe’s Snipe, Pin-tailed Snipe, Pacific Golden Plover, Oriental Plover, and Australian Pratincole, along with Streaked Weaver and White-headed Munia. During the northern winter months Eastern Yellow Wagtail and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler can be found too.

Secretive White-browed Crakes can be found in coastal marshes on Bali.

The mountains of Bedugul (only full-day or multi-day tours)

Within a couple of hours of Ubud are several great upland birding sites. Foremost among these is Bedugul, which has dense forest on the slopes surrounding the crater of the long-extinct volcano. This is best done as part of a multi-day tour but can also be reached with an early start as part of a full-day tour from the lowlands. Also at Bedugul is the botanical garden and the lake area of Danau Buyan, which supports a number of scarce wetland species such as Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow Bittern and, in the northern winter, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler.

The upland areas are home to some of Bali’s most sought-after and poorly known resident species and we can find Javan Owlet, Javan Bush Warbler, Aberrant (Sunda) Bush Warbler, Javan Cuckooshrike, Orange-spotted Bulbul, Brown-cheeked Bulbul, Flame-browed Barbet, Yellow-eared Barbet, (Javan) White-crowned Forktail, Spotted Kestrel, Javan Hawk-Eagle, Javan Scimitar Babbler, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Banded Fruit Dove, Sunda Thrush, Javan Whistling Thrush, Mountain Leaf Warbler, and Sunda Warbler.

Javan Owlet is unusual for Glaucidium owls as it is predominantly nocturnal.

Siberian Thrush is one of several great migrants to be found in the forests.

In addition to the many wonderful resident birds in the hills, during the northern winter, it is possible to find migrants such as Siberian Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher, Arctic Warbler, and Blue-and-white Flycatcher.

Birding the Denpasar Area

Estuary and Wetland Birding (Serangan Island, Nusa Dua Lagoons and mangroves)

There are several birding sites around Denpasar that are easily accessible for anyone staying in the city or nearby tourist areas such as Jimbaran, Seminyak, Kuta, or Sanur (or even if you are staying further afield in Ubud). They make for a perfect half-day or full-day birding trip, and with careful attention to the tide times can make for a great day out.

The birding sites around Denpasar and Nusa Dua are great for a number of resident and migrant species, with top targets including Sunda Teal, Javan Plover, Beach Stone-curlew, Siberian Sand Plover, Tibetan Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Great Knot, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Far Eastern Curlew, Cerulean Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Nankeen Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Australian Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Bar-winged Prinia, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Racket-tailed Treepie, White-shouldered Triller, Pied Triller, Olive-backed Tailorbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Ornate Sunbird, and Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker. Some of these sites also give good opportunities for photography.

Javan Plover can be found around the coast along with other resident and migrant shorebirds.

The tiny Cerulean Kingfisher is strikingly plumaged and sure to delight.

Sea Cliffs (Birding Uluwatu Temple)

At Uluwatu is a famous Hindu temple site perched on the edge of high cliffs at the southwestern-most part of Bali Island. A great site for sea-watching for a morning or photographing the sunset in the evening! Our birding trips here look for White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, Lesser Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Christmas Frigatebird, Streaked Shearwater, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Sooty Tern, and other seabirds (telescope provided). Conditions need to be just right though to get the most out of the site. There are some interesting land birds and passerines in the area too.

Further Afield – Birding Bali Barat National Park and Surrounds

Birdwatching at Bali Barat National Park (multi-day tours only)

Situated at the northwest tip of the island is the famed Bali Barat National Park. Bali’s only national park, which protects a large area of low-lying dry tropical forest and coastal areas that include a diverse array of habitats including mangroves, palm savanna, and forest. This site is the prime location for finding the extremely rare Bali Myna and the almost-as-rare Black-winged (Grey-rumped) Myna. The best option for birding here is a two- or three-day trip to explore the forest, mangrove, and saltpans. We arrange luxury accommodation inside the national park where the birding is right on your doorstep.

Bali Myna is always one of the top targets when birding at Bali Barat National Park.

Black-winged Myna is another rare bird found in Bali Barat National Park.

A stay of a couple of days around the Bali Barat National Park area can be incredibly rewarding with lots of rare and localized species and subspecies possible, including highly sought-after birds such as Javan Banded Pitta, Javan Cuckooshrike, Hair-crested (Javan Spangled) Drongo, Green Junglefowl, Sunda Scops Owl, Black-thighed Falconet, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Barred Eagle-Owl, Laced Woodpecker, Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Oriental Dollarbird, Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot, Kamchatka Leaf Warbler (during the northern winter months), Mangrove Whistler, Oriental Magpie-Robin (of the local subspecies), Grey-rumped Treeswift, Javan Myna, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit Dove, and Orange-breasted Green Pigeon.

Saltpans near Bali Barat NP (as part of a 2-day or 3-day trip that includes Bali Barat)

The saltpans can be great for resident and, depending on the time of year, migrant shorebirds and waterbirds such as Javan Plover, Pied Stilt, Greater Painted-snipe, Beach Stone-curlew, Greater Sand Plover, Siberian Sand Plover, Tibetan Sand Plover, Malaysian Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Marsh Sandpiper, Pacific Reef Heron, Cerulean Kingfisher, and Sunda Teal. With Sunda Collared Dove, Javan Myna, Pied Triller, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Javan Munia, White-headed Munia, and Streaked Weaver all also present.

Estuaries and Mudflats near Bali Barat National Park (half-day while in area on 2-day or 3-day trip)

The estuaries and mudflats of the local area can be excellent too, with chances of Great-billed Heron, Lesser Adjutant, and Beach Stone-curlew, along with numerous terns, frigatebirds, jaegers, herons, and shorebirds. In the right season, Aleutian Tern might also be possible.

Terek Sandpiper is present at the saltpans during the passage/non-breeding season.

Greater Sand Plover overwinters in the saltpans and by March are starting to color up nicely.

Oriental Pratincole can occur in the rice paddies around Bali.

Bird Photography – Javan Banded Pitta and other secretive species of Bali

We are able to arrange access to several different bird blinds (bird hides) across Bali. These blinds can offer photographic opportunities for some highly sought-after and tough to see species. Top of the most-wanted list for many birders’ visiting Bali is seeing the shy, secretive, and stunningly beautiful Javan Banded Pitta.

Javan Banded Pitta is a gorgeous bird that brightens up the dark forest.

Other secretive birds of Bali visiting the blinds can include Orange-headed Thrush (the rare and localized Bali-Java endemic subspecies), Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher (previously called Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher), Green Junglefowl, Laced Woodpecker, Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Crescent-chested Babbler, Horsfield’s Babbler, and more.

Please speak to us if you would like to arrange a visit to a blind for any of the above species, and we will see if one is available in the region you will be visiting, and for the dates of your trip.

Orange-headed Thrush is seldom seen in Bali (or Java) but can occasionally be found coming to feeding stations originally set up for Javan Banded Pittas!

Seeing Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher away from a photography blind when birding in Bali can be tough work but a great highlight when seen!