Date: 26-10-2026

Where to see birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea

Written by: Bed & Birding Team

The best places to see birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea are the highland forests around Ambua Lodge and Rondon Ridge, at about 2,100 metres, and the lowland rainforest of the Sepik at Karawari Lodge. The highlands are where you find King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise, the astrapias and the sicklebills; the lowlands add Twelve-wired and King Birds-of-paradise. There are 44 species of birds-of-paradise in the world, and most of them live on New Guinea, so a trip that combines a highland lodge with a lowland one can show you a good number of them.

This guide covers where each species lives, how to see the displays, when to go and how to combine the lodges. The bird names come from each lodge's bird list on Bed & Birding, and the practical tips from Trans Niugini Tours, which runs all five lodges.

Where to go: five lodges, four habitats

• Highland forest, Southern Highlands: Ambua Lodge, at about 2,100 m above the Tari Valley. Ten birds-of-paradise are on its bird list, including King of Saxony, Ribbon-tailed and Stephanie's Astrapias, three sicklebills and Lawes's Parotia.
• Highland forest, Western Highlands: Rondon Ridge, at about 2,160 m above the Wahgi Valley near Mount Hagen. Its bird list on Bed & Birding has eight birds-of-paradise, and the lodge says ten have been recorded in the surrounding forest. It is also the easiest of the five to reach.
• Lowland rainforest, East Sepik: Karawari Lodge, above the Karawari River. The place for Twelve-wired and King Birds-of-paradise and Magnificent Riflebird.
• Lake and lowland forest, Western Province: Lake Murray Ecolodge, on Papua New Guinea's largest lake, with King and Raggiana Birds-of-paradise and Magnificent Riflebird.
• Wetlands, Western Province: Bensbach Wildlife Lodge, on the flood plains of the Bensbach River. Few birds-of-paradise here; come for Brolga, storks, Magpie Goose and other wetland birds.

Birds-of-paradise to look for

King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise

The male is only about 22 cm long, but carries two scalloped, enamel-blue head plumes up to 50 cm long. It lives in the mountain forest of central New Guinea between about 1,300 and 2,850 metres, mostly between 1,800 and 2,500 metres, the height at which both Ambua Lodge and Rondon Ridge stand. Males sing from high perches with a hissing call often compared to radio static, repeated about once a minute, so listen for it before you look. Rondon Ridge's guides know its display territories in the forest around the lodge. The bird is named after King Albert of Saxony.

Ribbon-tailed Astrapia

The male's two white tail ribbons can be more than a metre long, more than three times the length of its body: the longest tail feathers in relation to body size of any bird. It lives only in the high forest of the western part of Papua New Guinea's central highlands, and it is on the Ambua Lodge bird list.

Stephanie's Astrapia

Another long-tailed bird of the high forest, on the lists of both Ambua Lodge and Rondon Ridge. Rondon Ridge reports it at its bird feeding stations.

Blue Bird-of-paradise

Unlike most birds-of-paradise, the male displays alone, hanging upside down from a thin branch while a female watches. The species is listed as Near Threatened. Rondon Ridge reports it at the lodge's feeding stations.

Black, Brown and Buff-tailed Sicklebills

Named for their long, curved bills. All three are on the bird lists of both highland lodges.

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Papua New Guinea's national bird since 1971, and the bird on the national flag. Males display together at sites called leks, clapping their wings and shaking their heads while females watch. It is common in the forests of southern and north-eastern New Guinea and is on the lists of Ambua Lodge, Rondon Ridge and Lake Murray Ecolodge.

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

A bird of lowland and swamp forest, named for the twelve black, wire-like filaments that curve forward from the male's yellow flank plumes. The male displays from an exposed vertical perch. Look for it at Karawari Lodge.

King Bird-of-paradise

A small crimson-and-white bird of the lowland forest, on the bird lists of Karawari Lodge and Lake Murray Ecolodge.

How to see the displays

• Start early. Trans Niugini Tours, which runs the lodges, finds early mornings the most productive time, particularly for birds-of-paradise.
• Go with a local guide. The lodge guides know the display trees, bowers and feeding sites, which saves days of searching.
• Stay several nights. Extra mornings give you room for rain and for the shyer species.
• Be patient and quiet. Some of the best views come from waiting at one display tree or feeding site.
• Bring: good binoculars, a telephoto lens if photography matters to you, waterproof boots, light rain gear and warm clothes for highland mornings.

When to go

Birds-of-paradise live in Papua New Guinea all year, so you can see them in any month. The drier months, roughly April to October, are the most popular, because forest trails and roads are easier then. Display activity varies by species and by site, and the lodge guides follow the active display sites through the year. Showers are possible in any month, in the highlands as well as the rainforest.

Combining highland and lowland lodges

International flights arrive in Port Moresby. Rondon Ridge is the easiest lodge to reach: several flights a day go to Mount Hagen, and the lodge is about an hour's drive from Mount Hagen's Kagamuga Airport. Ambua Lodge is reached by charter flight to Tari, and Karawari Lodge by small charter aircraft to a private airstrip, then a short jet-boat ride. All five lodges are run by one operator, which also arranges the charter flights between them, so one enquiry can cover a whole trip: for example, Rondon Ridge or Ambua for the mountain species, then Karawari or Lake Murray for the lowland ones. You can plan a Papua New Guinea trip with one enquiry here.

Questions birders ask

Where is the best place to see birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea?

For the most species, the highland forest around Ambua Lodge and Rondon Ridge. For lowland species such as Twelve-wired and King Birds-of-paradise, add Karawari Lodge.

How many species of birds-of-paradise are there?

44 species, most of them on New Guinea. Ambua Lodge alone has ten on its bird list.

What is the national bird of Papua New Guinea?

The Raggiana Bird-of-paradise. It became the national emblem in 1971 and appears on the national flag.

Where can I see King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise?

In the mountain forest of central New Guinea, mostly between 1,800 and 2,500 metres. Ambua Lodge and Rondon Ridge both have it on their bird lists.

When is the best time to see birds-of-paradise?

Any month, because they are resident. Early morning is the best time of day, and April to October is the most popular season.

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