Birds of Papua New Guinea

About 900 birds live in Papua New Guinea. These avian species can be found in various habitats, including mixed forests, rainforests, and grasslands.

The national bird of Papua New Guinea is the beautiful Raggiana Bird-of-paradise. Other notable species include the Victoria Crowned Pigeon, the Palm Cockatoo, and the Double-wattled Cassowary.

Birds of Papua New Guinea

List of Common Birds Found in Papua New Guinea

Native Birds

  • Archbold’s Nightjar
  • Banded Yellow Robin
  • Barn Swallow
  • Black-capped Lory
  • Black-eared Catbird
  • Black Honey-buzzard
  • Black Kite
  • Black Myzomela
  • Black Sicklebill
  • Black Sittella
  • Black Sunbird
  • Black-tailed Monarch
  • Black-throated Honeyeater
  • Black-winged Monarch
  • Blue Bird-of-paradise
  • Blue-capped Ifrit
  • Blyth’s Hornbill
  • Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher
  • Brown Sicklebill
  • Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
  • Chestnut-bellied Imperial Pigeon
  • Common Kingfisher
  • Common Paradise Kingfisher
  • Common Smoky Honeyeater
  • Doria’s Goshawk
  • Double-wattled Cassowary
  • Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
  • Dusky Lory
  • Dwarf Longbill
  • Eastern Riflebird
  • Eclectus Parrot
  • Emperor Bird-of-paradise
  • Emperor Fairywren
  • Feline Owlet-nightjar
  • Flame Bowerbird
  • Flame-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
  • Glossy-mantled Manucode
  • Gray-headed Goshawk
  • Gray-headed Munia
  • Gray Heron
  • Great Cuckoo-dove
  • Greater Bird-of-paradise
  • Greater Melampitta
  • Greater Sooty Owl
  • Gurney’s Eagle
  • Hooded Mannikin
  • Hooded Pitohui
  • King Bird-of-paradise
  • King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise
  • Lesser Bird-of-paradise
  • Little Egret
  • Long-tailed Honey Buzzard
  • Long-tailed Honeyeater
  • Lowland Peltops
  • Magnificent Riflebird
  • Mimic Meliphaga
  • Modest Tiger Parrot
  • Mountain Firetail
  • Mountain Kingfisher
  • Mountain Peltops
  • New Guinea Harpy Eagle
  • Northern Cassowary
  • Northern Dwarf Kingfisher
  • Olive-backed Sunbird
  • Orange-bellied Fruit Dove
  • Orange-breasted Fig Parrot
  • Painted Quail-thrush
  • Palm Cockatoo
  • Papuan Babbler
  • Papuan Boobook
  • Papuan Dwarf Hornbill
  • Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher
  • Papuan Frogmouth
  • Papuan Grassbird
  • Papuan Harrier
  • Papuan Hawk-owl
  • Papuan King Parrot
  • Papuan Lorikeet
  • Papuan Mountain Pigeon
  • Papuan Scrubwren
  • Papuan Spine-tailed Swift
  • Papuan Treecreeper
  • Pesquet’s Parrot
  • Pygmy Eagle
  • Raggiana Bird-of-paradise 
  • Red Bird-of-paradise
  • Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
  • Red-cheeked Parrot
  • Red-collared Myzomela
  • Red-knobbed Hornbill
  • Rennell Shrikebill
  • Ribbon-tailed Astrapia
  • Rufous-backed Honeyeater
  • Rufous-banded Honeyeater
  • Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
  • Salvadori’s Fig Parrot
  • Salvadori’s Teal
  • Sclater’s Whistler
  • Shovel-billed Kookaburra
  • Sooty Melidectes
  • Sooty Thicket Fantail
  • Spangled Drongo
  • Spotted Whistling Duck
  • Stephanie’s Astrapia
  • Streaked Berrypecker
  • Superb Bird-of-paradise
  • Trumpet Manucode
  • Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise
  • Victoria Crowned Pigeon
  • Wattled Brushturkey
  • Wattled Ploughbill
  • Western Crowned Pigeon
  • White-eared Catbird
  • White-rumped Robin
  • White-shouldered Fairywren
  • Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise
  • Winking Owl
  • Yellow-billed Kingfisher
  • Yellow-billed Lorikeet
  • Yellow-browed Melidectes
  • Yellow-browed Meliphaga
  • Yellow-eyed Starling
  • Yellow-faced Myna
  • Yellow-legged Flycatcher

Non-native Birds

  • Abbott’s Booby
  • Arctic Warbler
  • Bulwer’s Petrel
  • Collared Falconet
  • Common Myna
  • Eurasian Tree Sparrow
  • Gray Falcon
  • Herald Petrel
  • House Sparrow
  • Laysan Albatross
  • Paddyfield Pipit
  • Pohnpei Kingfisher
  • Providence Petrel
  • Spotted Kestrel

Some of the best birding sites in Papua New Guinea include Varirata National Park, Tari Valley, and Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The peak season for birdwatching in Papua New Guinea is generally during the dry season, typically from May to October. This period offers more favorable weather conditions with lower rainfall and clearer skies, making it easier to explore the diverse bird habitats in the country.

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