These are the pictures of Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus) in the forest of Subdistrict Sonder in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. This bird can also be seen in other high elevation forest of Minahasa such as Mount Mahawu, Mount Lokon and perhaps Mounted Klabat. In eBird website and Merlin Bird ID app, this small passerine bird is now called Warbling White-eye. Its scientific Latin name is still the same.
The feather of the head is pale yellow and olive, the wings and lower back is olive green. Its throat is bright yellow. The vent is pale olive green. Japanese White-eye has got white underparts. The bill and legs are black or dark gray.
This bird lives in high elevation forest of Minahasa highland. It likes to fly in small flock hopping from one twigs to another in search of food. This Japanese White-eye feeds on nectar of flowers and insects.
In addition to this Japanese white-eye bird, visitors who take birdwatching and photography trip to high elevation forest of Minahasa highland could see a lot of other species of birds such as Black-crowned White-eye, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Myzomela, Black-faced Munia, Superb Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Pitta, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Mountain Tailorbird, and etc.
In Minahasa highland, there are Lake Tondano and Lake Linow that are often visited by birdwatchers and photographers to watch birds. At these lakes, they could see such birds as Black Kite, White-breasted Waterhen, Sunda Teal, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Dusky Moorhen, Sunda Teal, Whiskered Tern, Oriental Reed Warbler, Javan Pond Heron, and etc.
Another interesting birding site is the waterfall of Tincep. The steep slopes around the waterfall are covered by trees. In the mornings and in the afternoons, we could see birds that occur in lowland. They include Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon and Sulawesi Serpent Eagle.
Tour participants who are photographers need to bring camera with telephoto lens such as the Sigma sport 150 to 600 mm. For those who bring bridge camera, the Nikon P900 or Nikon P1000 is the suitable camera that can reach distant birds in the middle of the lake or at the edge of the lake.
Birding visitors usually bring the 8×42 mm or 10×42 mm binoculars. Spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod can significantly enhance the birding experience of the birdwatchers. A cell phone can be attached behind binoculars or spotting scope using a digiscoping adapter.
How to get to Sonder town to see the Japanese White-eye?
Sonder town is located in Minahasa highland. Visitors who want to visit it need to fly from their country to Manado city.
- There is direct flight between Manado and Singapore served by Scoot Airlines.
- There are regular daily flights between Manado city and big cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Balikpapan, and Sorong.
Accommodation - There are homestays in Sonder where visitors could stay for a few days to explore the forest and farmland of Sonder. There are also hotels and guesthouses in Tomohon town where visitors could stay to explore birding sites in Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Lake Tondano, Sonder forest and Sonder's farmland.
Booking - If you are interested in traveling to North Sulawesi to enjoy birdwatching in Minahasa highland, Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Manado city, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this Contact us link.
By Charles Roring, August 19, 2026.