Birding In Taiwan

Taxonomy, names and sequence follow Birds of the World, a Checklist, 5^th edition, 2000, by James F. Clements, updated to December, 2005.  Where the name in Clements differs from that in Birds of Taiwan, 1991, the Clements name is given first, followed by the Birds of Taiwan name in brackets.  Species endemic to Taiwan are shown in bold all caps.  Some birds were not seen by every person. Birds that were “heard only” or “leader only,” are indicated.

            “Shan” = “mountain;”  “tan” = “lake.”

            For itinerary, see TRIP REPORT: BIRDING IN TAIWAN, May 1-14, 2006

Grebes

Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis [Podiceps ruficollis] – many in wetland habitats – Tainan-Chiku-Sihcao.

SHEARWATERS         

Bulwer’s Petrel, Bulweria bulwerii – 1, at sea between Lanyu and Taiwan Islands, May 7.

Streaked Shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas – 15, at sea between Lanyu and Taiwan Islands, May 7.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus – 20, at sea between Lanyu and Taiwan Islands, May 7.

Herons, Egrets and Bitterns

Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea – many in freshwater habitat.

Pied Heron, Egretta picata – 1, seen by 2 participants, Sihcao Wetland, May 9.  Rare.

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta – Abundant in both freshwater and saltwater habitats.

Chinese Egret, Egretta eulophotes – 1, Chiku, May 10.   Rare. 

Pacific Reef Heron [Eastern Reef Heron], Egretta sacra – 2, Lanyu Island, May 7.

Chinese Pond Heron – Ardeola bacchus – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis – many in lowland habitat.

Striated Heron, Butorides striatus – 1, Sihcao Reserve.

Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax – many, associated with freshwater habitats.

Malayan Night-Heron [Tiger Bittern], Gorsachius melanolophus – 1, Wufeng area, 1 Inda Eco-Farm.

Yellow Bittern [Chinese Little Bittern], Ixobrychus sinensis – 10, Sihcao Reserve, including female on nest with 3 nestlings.

Cinnamon Bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus – 2, Sihcao Reserve; 2 Chiku Wetland.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor – 13, Sihcao.  Late.  Globally threatened.

Ducks, Geese and Swans

Mallard, Anas platyrhnchos – 3, Kwantien Wetland; 2, Sihcao Reserve.

Spot-billed Duck, Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha – 40 in wetland habitat.

Hawks, Eagles and Kites

Oriental Honey-Buzzard [Honey Buzzard], Pernis ptilorhynchus [Pernis apivorus] – 2, between Wushe and  Aowanda.                           

            Crested Serpent-Eagle, Spilornis cheela – 2, between Wushe and Aowanda, 11 others in appropriate habitat. 

            Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus – 1, between Wushe and Aowanda; 1, Kenting; 3, Tsengwen Dam area; 2, Taipei County.

Chinese Goshawk, Accipiter soloensis – between Wushe and Aowanda, May 9.

Besra, Accipiter virgatus – 5, in various wooded habitats.

Gray-faced Buzzard, Butastur indicus – 1, Tsengwen Dam area, May 9.  Late.

            Black Eagle [Indian Black Eagle], Ictinaetus malayensis – 1 between Wushe and Aowanda; 1, Tsengwen Dam area; 1, Thaushan.

Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca – 1, Tsengwen Dam area.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle [Hodgson’s Hawk Eagle], Spizaetus nipalensis – 1 between Wushe and Aowanda.

Pheasants and Partridges

           TAIWAN PARTRIDGE [TAIWAN HILL PARTRIDGE], Arborophila crudigularis – Heard on 4 mornings in mountain habitat.       

           Chinese Bamboo-Partridge [Bamboo Partridge], Bambusicola thoracica – 4, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 3 others heard only, in mountain habitat.

SWINHOE’S PHEASANT, Lophura swinhoii –  2, Blue Gate Trail #1, May 4.

Mikado Pheasant, Syrmaticus Mikado – 5, A Li Shan, May 11.

Rails, Gallinues and Coots

Slaty-breasted Rail, Gallirallus striatus – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus – 2, Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

Ruddy-breasted Crake, Porzana fusca – 2, Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea – 1, Lanyu Island; 1 Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

Common Moorhen [Moorhen], Gallinula chloropus – Common in marsh habitat.

Eurasian Coot [Coot], Fulica atra – 1, Sihcao Reserve.

Jacanas

Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus – 8, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Restoration Area,             Kwangtien, Tainan County.  Very rare resident.

Painted-Snipes

Greater Painted-Snipe, Rostratula benghalensis – 1, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Restoration Area, Kwantien.

Stilts and Avocets

Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus – many at Sihcao and Chiku.

Plovers and Lapwings

            Oriental Pratincole. Glareola maldivarum – 3, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Restoration Area, Kwantien; 3, Sihcao Reserve.

Pacific Golden-Plover [American Golden Plover], Pluvialis fulva [Pluvialis dominica] – Many in mudflats of Chiku.

Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola – 1, Lanyu Island; 1, Sihcao Reserve.

Snowy Plover [Kentish Plover], Charadrius alexandrinus – 30, Chiku wetland.

Lesser Sandplover [Mongolian Plover], Charadrius mongolus – many, Sihcao Reserve and Chiku wetland.

            Greater Sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultii – 1, Lanyu Island, May 7; many, Sihcao Reserve and Chiku wetland.

Sandpipers and Allies

Swinhoe’s Snipe, Gallinago megala – 1, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Restoration Area, Kwantien.  Rare.

Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa – 2, Chiku wetland.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica – 7, Chiku wetland.

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus – 2, Chiku wetland.

Far Eastern Curlew, Numenius madagascariensis – 2, Chiku wetland.

Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus – 2, Sihcao Reserve; 1 Chiku wetland.

Common Redshank [Redshank], Tringa totanus – 3, Chiku wetland.

Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis – 5, Sihcao Reserve; 3, Chiku wetland.

Common Greenshank [Greenshank], Tringa nebularia – many in wetland habitat.

Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus – 1, Chiku wetland.

            Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos [Tringa hypoleucos] – 4, Lanyu Island; 2, Sihcao Reserve; 2, Chiku wetland.

            Gray-tailed Tattler, Heterosceles brevipes – 12, Chiku wetland.

            Ruddy Turnstone, Arenria interpres – 6, Lanyu Island; 5, Chiku wetland.

Great Knot, Calidris tenuirostris – 1, Yenshui River.

            Red-necked Stint [Rufous-necked Stint], Calidris rufficollis – 2, Lanyu Island; many in Sihcao and Chiku wetlands.

Long-toed Stint, Calidris subminuta – 3, Chiku wetland.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminate – many at Sihcao and Chiku wetlands.

Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea – 6, Sihcao Reserve; 30, Chiku wetland.

Dunlin, Calidris alpina – 2, Lanyu Island.

Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius – 3, at sea between Lanyu and Taiwan Islands.

Terns

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo – 12, Lanyu Island.

Little Tern, Sterna albifrons – 20, Chiku wetland.

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon [Rock Dove], Columba livia – many in varied habitats.

Ashy Wood-Pigeon, Columba pulchricollis – small numbers in mountain habitat.

            Oriental Turtle-Dove [Rufous Turtle-Dove], Streptopelia orientalis – More than 100 in the Sihcao and Chiku areas; a few individuals in other locations.

Red Collared-Dove [Red Turtle Dove], Streptopelia tranquebarica – seen almost every day, in various habitats.

Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis – common in lowlands.

Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, Macropygia tenuirostris – 7, Lanyu Island.

            White-bellied Pigeon [Japanese Green Pigeon], Treron sieboldii [Sphenurus sieboldi] – 1, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng; 4, A Li Shan National Forest Recreation Area.

            Whistling Green-Pigeon [Red-capped Green-Pigeon], Treron formosae [Sphenurus formosae] – 7, Lanyu Island.

Cuckoos

            Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Cuculus sparverioides – 1 seen, near Thaushan village, 1200 m elevation on May 11; 5 others heard elsewhere in mid-elevation habitat.

Oriental Cuckoo, Cuclulus saturatus – 1, Bagua Mountain, Changhua.

Lesser Coucal, Centropus bengalensis – 3, Lanyu Island; 1, Sihcao Reserve.

Typical Owls

            Mountain Scops-Owl [Scops Owl], Otus spilocephalus – 3, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; heard only.

Ryukyu Scops-Owl, Otus elegans botelensis – 3 seen; 5 heard only.  Subspecies endemic to Lanyu Island.

            Collared Owlet [Collared Pygmy Owlet], Claucidium brodiei – 2, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; heard only.

Swifts

Needletail sp.,  Hirundapus sp. – 1, Blue Gate Trail #1, May 4.

            Fork-tail Swift [Northern White-rumped Swift], Apus pacificus – 20 in Taroko Gorge; 4, Lanyu Island; 20 on May 8 and 9, Kenting and Tsengwen Dam area; 1 at A Li Shan.

House Swift, Apus nipalensis [Alpus affinis] – large numbers in open areas.

Kingfishers

Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis – Several in wetland habitats.

Barbets

            Black-browed Barbet [Muller’s Barbet], Megalaima oorti nuchalis – Common; encountered almost daily except on Lanyu Island.     

Woodpeckers

Gray-capped Woodpecker [Gray-headed Pygmy Woodpecker], Dendrocopos canicapillus – 3, Wufeng;           2, Tsengwen Dam area.  

White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos – 1, Wufeng.

PITTAS

            Fairy Pitta [Indian Pitta], Pitta nympha [Pitta brachyura] – 3, Wufeng; 2, Tsengwen Dam area, heard only.

Larks

Oriental Skylark, Alauda gulgula – 5, Anping Harbor area, Tainan; 2, Sihcao Reserve.     

Swallows

Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica – common in lowlands.

Pacific Swallow, Hirundo tahitica – very common in lowlands.

Striated Swallow, Hirundo striolata – common in lowlands.  (See footnote ¹.)

            Asian Martin [House Martin], Delichon dasypus – 15, Cihen Reserve, Taroko National Park; fairly common in appropriate habitat.

Wagtails and Pipits

            White Wagtail, Motacilla alba – 2, Wufeng; 1, Lanyu Island; 1, Kwantien; 4, Bagua Mountain, Changhua, May 12.

Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava – 1, Lanyu Island. 

yellow wagtail sp., Motacilla sp., – 10, Lanyu Island.

CUCKOO-SHRIKES

Gray-chinned Minivet [Yellow-throated Minivet], Pericrocotus solaris – fairly common in appropriate       habitat; mostly mid-elevation.

BULBULS

Collared Finchbill, Spizixos semitorques – 7, several locations in mid-elevation scrub.

            STYAN’S BULBUL [Taiwan Bulbul], Pycnonotu taivanus – more than 50 in Taroko National Park; more than 50 in the Kenting area.  Endemic species restricted to the extreme east and south of Taiwan.

Light-vented Bulbul [Chinese Bulbul], Pycnonotus sinensis – abundant almost everywhere.

Black Bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus [H. madagascariensis] – common in wooded habitats.

KINGLETS

             FLAMECREST [TAIWAN FIRECREST], Regulus goodfellowi – 4, Hehuan Shan, Taroko National Park; 2, Chaoping Park.

WRENS

Winter Wren [Wren], Troglodytes troglodytes – 1, Hehuan Shan.

ACCENTORS

Alpine Accentor, Prunella collaris – 1, Hehuan Shan, Taroko National Park; 3, Tataka Recreation Area,    Yushan National Park.

THRUSHES

Blue Rock-Thrush, Monticola solitarius – 3, Lanyu Island.

            FORMOSAN WHISTLING-THRUSH [Taiwan Whistling-thrush], Myophonus insularis – 2, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 6, Taroko Gorge; 1, Jhongpu.

             Island Thrush, Turdus poliocephalus [Turdus niveiceps] – 2, Blue Gate Trail #1; 1, A Li Shan.

            White-browed Shortwing [Blue Shortwing], Brachypteryx montana – 4, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng (heard only); I, A Li Shan.        

CISTICOLAS AND ALLIES

Zitting Cisticola [Fan-tailed Warbler], Cisticola juncidis – 5 Long Luan Tan, Kenting.

            Golden-headed Cisticola [Gold-capped Cisticola], Cisticola exilis – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting; 1, Bagua Mountain, Changhua.

            Striated Prinia [BrownHill Warbler], Prinia criniger [Prinia plolychroa] – 2, farming area between Aowanda and Wushe.

Yellow-bellied Prinia, Prinia flaviventris – 1, Kwantien.

Plain Prinia [Tawny-flanked Prinia], Prinia inornata [Prinia subflava] – fairly common in low wetland             habitat.

OLD WORLD WARBLERS

            Japanese Bush-Warbler [Bush Warbler], Cettia diphone – 2, Tataka Recreation Area, Yushan National Park.

            Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler [Strong-footed Bush Warbler], Cettia fortipes – 2 seen, Blue Gate Trail vicinity, May 3; 10 others heard only.

            Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler [Verreaux’s Bush Warbler], Cettia acanthizoides – 3, Hehuan Shan; 2, A Li Shan.

            Russet Bush-Warbler [Mountain Scrub Warbler], Bradypterus seebohmi – 1, Tataka Recreation Area, Yushan National Park.

            TAIWAN BUSH-WARBLER, Bradypterus alishanensis – 1, Hehuan Shan; 1 seen, 10, heard only, Tataka Recreation Area, Yushan National Park,  

Dusky Warbler, Phylloscoopus fuscatus – 1, Blue Gate Trail #1 area.  Single observer.

Arctic Warbler, Phylloscopus borealis – 3, Tsengwen Dam area.

Oriental Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis – 1, Lanyu Island.

            Rufous-faced Warbler [White-throated Flycatcher Warbler], Abroscopus albogularis – 2, Wufeng; 7, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 4, A Li Shan.

OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS

Gray-spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta – 1, Bagua Mountain, Changhua.

Ferruginous Flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea – 6, Taroko National Park; 6, A Li Shan.

Taiga Flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla – 1, Chaoping Park, A Li Shan.

Vivid Niltava, Niltava vivida – 6, Blue Gate Trail #1.

White-browed Bush-Robin, Tarsiger indicus [Erithacus indicus] – 1, Hehuan Shan, May 5.

            COLLARED BUSH-ROBIN, Tarsiger johnstoniae [Erithacus johnstoniae] – 7, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng; 21, A Li Shan.

Daurian Redstart, Phoenicurus auroreus – 3, Blue Gate Trail #1.

Plumbeous Redstart [Plumbeous Water Redstart], Rhyacornis fuliginosus [Phoenicurus fulginosus] – 1, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 7, Taroko National Park; 4, A Li Shan.

            White-tailed Robin [White-tailed Blue Robin], Cinclidium leucurum – 4, Blue Gate Trail #1 vicinity; 2, A Li Shan.

            Little Forktail, Enicurus scouleri – 3 (family group), Twin Waterfall, Naoliao Creek, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 1, Taroko National Park. 

MONARCH FLYCATCHERS

            Black-naped Monarch [Black-naped Blue Monarch], Hypothymis azurea – 1, Blue Gate Trail #1; 2, Houyen Butterfly Valley Resort; 2, Eluanbi Park, Kenting; 3, Tsengwen Dam area.

Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher, Terpsiphone atrocaudata – 3, Lanyu Island.

BABBLERS

            Rusty Laughingthrush [Gray-sided Laughing Thrush], Garrulax poeciloryhnchus [Garrolax caerulatus] – 1, Blue Gate Trail #1 area; 2 (a pair), near Thaushan village, 1200 m elev.

            Hwamei, Garrulax canorus taewanus – 2, km 15, Wushe-Aowanda road

WHITE-WHISKERED LAUGHINGTHRUSH [TAIWAN LAUGHING THRUSH], Garrulax morrisonianus – 10,      Hehuan Shan; 8, A Li Shan.

STEERE’S LIOCICHLA, Liocichla steerii – 47, Blue Gate Trail #1, Hehuan Shan, Taroko; 32, A Li Shan.

Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler [Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler], Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis             [Pomatorhinus erythrogenys] – 2, Blue Gate Trail #1; 4, Tsengwen Dam area; 2, Thaushan.

            Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis – 4, Eluanbi Park, Kenting; 8, Tsengwen Dam area.

Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla – 1, Blue Gate Trail #1, heard only; 2, A Li Shan.

            Rufous-capped Babbler [Red-headed Tree Babbler], Stachyris ruficeps – 1, Wufeng; 8, Blue Gate Trail #1; 1, Tsengwen Dam area; 4, A Li Shan.

Streak-throated Fulvetta, Alcippe cinereiceps – 3, Tataka Recreation Area, A Li Shan.

            Dusky Fulvetta [Gould’s Fulvetta], Alcippe brunnea – 3, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 2, Tsengwen Dam area; 2, Thaushan village.

Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia – Fairly common, mid- to high elevation.

           WHITE-EARED SIBIA [TAIWAN SIBIA], Heterophasia auricularis – many, along Blue Gate Trail #1 and A Li Shan.

TAIWAN YUHINA, Yuhina brunneiceps – many, Blue Gate Trail #1 and A Li Shan.

            White-bellied Yuhina, Yuhina zantholeuca – 6, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 1, Tsengwen Dam area.

PARROTBILLS

            Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Paradoxornis webbianus – 1, Wufeng; 2, Chingjing; 2, Hehuan Shan; 3, Bagua Mountain, Changhua.

            Golden Parrotbill [Blythe’s Parrotbill], Paradoxornis verreauxi [Paradoxornis nipalensis] – 5, Tataka Recreation Area, Yushan National Park.

CHICKADEES AND TITS

Black-throated Tit, Aegithalos concinnus – 45 in small flocks, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng; 2, A Li Shan.

Coal Tit, Periparus ater [Parus ater] – 4, Hehuan Shan.

            Green-backed Tit, Parus monticolus – 2, Wufeng; 6, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng; 4, Hehuan Shan; 10, A Li Shan.

            YELLOW TIT [TAIWAN TIT], Macholophys holsti [Parus holsti] – 5, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng; 3, Hehuan Shan.

Varied Tit, Sittiparus varius [Parus varius] – 2, Blue Gate Trail #1 area; 2, A Li Shan.

NUTHATCHES

Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea – 2, Wufeng; 3, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng.

FLOWERPECKERS

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus – 4, Chihen Reserve, Taroko National Park.

WHITE-EYES

Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus – very common everywhere except highest elevation.

OLD WORLD ORIOLES

Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis – 2 (nesting), Inda Eco-Farm. 

Maroon Oriole, Oriolus trailii – 1, Houyen Butterfly Valley Resort; 2, Tsengwen Dam area.

SHRIKES

            Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus – 2, Yufeng area; 30, Lanyu Island; 10, Long Luan Tan area; 20, lowlands in and near Kwantien Reserve; 5, Sihcao Reserve; 1, Thaushan village.  Migrant.

Long-tailed Shrike [Black-headed Shrike], Lanius schach – 2, lowland habitats.

DRONGOS

Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus – common at low elevation.

CROWS, JAYS AND MAGPIES.

Eurasian Jay [Jay], Garrulus glandarius – 2, Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng; 4 A Li Shan.

            FORMOSAN MAGPIE [TAIWAN BLUE MAGPIE], Urocissa caerulea – 4, Yufeng area; 2, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area; 2, Wulai.           

Gray Treepie [Himalayan Tree Pie], Dendrocitta formosae – Fairly common in mid-elevation habitats.

Eurasian Magpie [Magpie], Pica pica – 5, Yufeng area; 1, East Coast lowlands; 3, Sihcao-Chiku areas.

Eurasian Nutcracker [Nutcracker}, Nucifraga caryocatactes – 5, A Li Shan.

Large-billed Crow [Jungle Crow}, Corvus macrorhynchos – fairly common at mid- to high elevation.

Crested Myna, Acridotheres cristatellus – fairly common in open habitats at low elevation.

Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis – common in open lowland habitats.  Introduced.

White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata – 3, farming area between Wushe and Aowanda.

Nutmeg Mannikin, Lonchura punctulata – common in grassy, scrubby habitats at low elevation.

            Chestnut Munia [Black-headed Munia], Lonchura atricapilla [Lonchura Malacca] – 1, Long LuanTan, Kenting.

Black-faced Bunting, Emberiza spodocephala – 1, Taroko National Park. 

SISKINS, CROSSBILLS AND ALLIES

Vinaceous Rosefinch, Carpodacus vinaceus – 6, Hehuan Shan; 2, Chaoping Park, A LI Shan.

Brown Bullfinch, Pyrrhula nipalensis – 4, A Li Shan.

Gray-headed Bullfinch [Beavan’s Bullfinch], Pyrrhula erythaca – 4, Hehuan Shan; 5, A Li Shan.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow [Tree Sparrow], Passer montanus – abundant in towns.

Total species:  185*; 180 seen by two or more participants, 4 heard only, 1 seen by only one participant.

Endemic species: 13 (of 15) seen; 1 heard only.          Endemic missed:  Taiwan Barwing.

*Plus 2 not identified to species level.

OTHER ANIMALS OBSERVED: