ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST, Taiwan, May 2–11, 2005
 
Compiled by Jo Ann MacKenzie.
 

Birding in Taiwan Leaders: Simon Liao and Ten-Di Wu
 
Taxonomy, names and sequence follow Birds of the World, a Checklist, 5th edition, 2000, by James F. Clements, updated to July, 2004. 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.
Notes: Shan, pronounced sahn, = mountain; tan = lake, hsi = river. Dar Hsi Choi (“Big stream; Old house”) is a farming area (rice, lotus) near Chiayi.
For itinerary, see TRIP REPORT: BIRDING IN TAIWAN, May 2-11, 2005.
 
 
 
Grebes
Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis [Podiceps ruficollis] – many in wetland habitats – Hambao, Aougo Wetland; Tsengwen River estuary; Kwangtien Wetland; Long Luan Tan in Kenting National Park.
 
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea – 2, Aougo Wetland
Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea – 1, Pachang Hsi estuary
Great Egret, Ardea alba [Egretta alba] – common in freshwater habitat
Intermediate Egret, Egretta intermedia – uncommon in freshwater habitat
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta – very common in both freshwater and saltwater habitats
Chinese Egret, Egretta eulophotes – rare, 1, Chiku area. Listed as “Vulnerable” by BirdLife International.
Pacific Reef Heron [Eastern Reef-Heron], Egretta sacra – 1, May 3, single observer
Chinese Pond-Heron, Ardeola bacchus – 1, Kwantien Wetland; 2, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis – many in lowland habitat, especially around farms
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax – many, associated with freshwater habitats
Malayan Night-Heron [Tiger Bittern], Gorsachius melanolophus – 1, on nest, Wufeng area; 1, Mango Valley
Yellow Bittern [Chinese Little Bittern], Ixobrychus sinensis – 1, Aougo wetland
Cinnamon Bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus – 1, Choshui Hsi; 1, Aougo wetland; 1, Kwantien wetland
 
Ibises and Spoonbills
Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor – 1, May 3, Miaoli County; 9, west coast near Putai town. Globally threatened.
 
Ducks, Geese and Swans
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchus – 2, Long Luan Tan
Spot-billed Duck, Anas poecilorhyncha – 2, Tachia Hsi, Ba Sian Shan; 30, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Northern Pintail [Pintail], Anas acuta – 2, Aougo wetland
 
Hawks, Eagles and Kites
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus – Aougo wetland
Black Kite, Milvus migrans – Wufeng area
Crested Serpent-Eagle, Spilornis cheela – 16 in appropriate habitat
Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus – 3, Wufeng area; 1, Tsengwen Dam, 1, Tsongpu town area
Chinese Goshawk [Chinese Sparrow Hawk], Accipiter soloensis – 1, Tonglin area; 1, Aougo
Japanese Sparrowhawk [Japanese Lesser Sparrow Hawk], Accipiter virgatus – 1 Wufeng area; 1 An Ma Shan
Black Eagle [Indian Black Eagle], Ictionaetus malayensis – 1, An Ma Shan
Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clanga – 1, An Ma Shan
 
Falcons and Caracaras
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus – 1, Aougo; 1, Tsengwen Dam area
 
Pheasants and Partridges
TAIWAN PARTRIDGE [TAIWAN HILL PARTRIDGE], Arborophila crudigularis – 1, heard only; An Ma Shan, Trail 210
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge [Bamboo Partridge], Bambusicola thoracica – 1 seen, Tsengwen Dam area; 3 others heard only in appropriate habitat
 
Rails, Gallinues and Coots
White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus – 2, Auogo wetland; 2 Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Ruddy-breasted Crake, Porzana fusca – 4, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Common Moorhen [Moorhen], Gallinula chloropus – common in marsh habitat
Eurasian Coot [Coot], Fulica atra – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
 
Jacanas
Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus – 3, Kwangtien
 
Painted-Snipes
Greater Painted-Snipe, Rostratula benghalensis – 2, Dar Hsi Choi
 
Stilts and Avocets
Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus – more than 100 each at Hambao, Aougo Wetland,and Chiku; 10, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
 
Plovers and Lapwings
Oriental Pratincole, Glareola maldivarum – 1, Lukang; 4, Choshui Hsi
Pacific Golden-Plover [American Golden Plover], Pluvialis fulva [Pluvialis dominica] – 3, Hambao; 2 Aougo Wetland
Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola – 1, Pachang Hsi estuary
Snowy Plover [Kentish Plover], Charadrius alexandrinus – many at Hambao, Aougo Wetland and Chiku
Lesser Sandplover [Mongolian Plover], Charadrius mongolus – many at Hambao and Aougo Wetland
Greater Sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultia – 2, Aougo
Oriental Plover, Charadrius veredus – 1, Hambao; vagrant
 
Sandpipers and Allies
Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago – 2, Hambao
Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica – 1, Chiku; 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata – 1, Pachang Hsi estuary
Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus – 10, near Putai
Common Redshank, Tringa totanus – 1, Hambao
Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis – 1, Hambao
Common Greenshank [Greenshank], Tringa nebularia – 1, Hambao; 20, Aougo Wetland; 12, Chiku; 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus – 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting
Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola – 1, Aougo, leader only
Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus – 1, Hambao; 2, Aougo Wetland; 1, Pachang Hsi estuary
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos [Tringa hypoleucos] – 1, Hambao; 1, Chiku; 1, Long Luan Tan
Gray-tailed Tattler, Heterosceles brevipes [Tringa brevipes] – 2, Hambao; 3, Aougo; 2, Chiku
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres – 6, Hambao; 6, Aougo; 3, Chiku
Sanderling, Calidris alba [Crocethia alba] – 3, Aougo; 2, Chiku
Red-necked Stint [Rufous-necked Stint], Calidris rufficollis – 2, Hambao; 2, Aougo Wetland; 1, Chiku; 1 Long Luan Tan
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminate – 15, Hambao; 10, Aougo
Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea – 2, Hambao; 20, Aougo
Dunlin, Calidris alpina – 10, Hambao
 
Terns
Great Crested Tern, Sterna bergii – 6, Chiku
Black-naped Tern, Sterna sumatrana – 2, Pachang Hsi
Little Tern, Sterna albifrons – 20, Aougo; 50, Pachang Hsi
Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybridus [Sterna hybrida] – 20, Hambao; 20, Aougo Wetland; 50 Chiku and Pachang Hsi; 4, Long Luan Tan
White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus – 20, Hambao; 100+, Aougo Wetland; 25, Chiku
 
Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon [Rock Dove], Columba livia – many in varied habitats
Ashy Wood-Pigeon, Columba pulchricollis – 4, An Ma Shan
Oriental Turtle-Dove [Rufous Turtle-Dove], Streptopelia orientalis – 4, Wufeng area
Red Collared-Dove [Red Turtle Dove], Streptopelia tranquebarica – seen almost every day, in various habitats
Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis – common in lowlands.
White-bellied Pigeon [Japanese Green Pigeon], Treron sieboldii [Sphenurus sieboldi] – 6, An Ma Shan, Trail 220
 
Cuckoos
Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Cuculus sparveroides – 2, An Ma Shan, Trail 210; 1 heard only, An Ma Shan
Oriental Cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus – 2, Wufeng area; heard only, An Ma Shan and Tsengwen Dam
Lesser Coucal, Centropus bengalensis – 3, Aougo Wetland
 
Typical Owls
Mountain Scops-Owl [Scops Owl], Otus spilocephalus – 1, Kwang Tselin hotspring
Collared Scops-Owl, Otus lettia [Otus bakkamoena] – 1, Kukwang
Oriental Scops-Owl [Scops Owl], Otis sunia [Otus scops] – 1 heard only, May 7
 
NIGHTJARS
Savanna Nightjar [Allied Nightjar], Caprimulgus affinis – 6, Choshui Hsi
 
Swifts
Silver-backed Needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis – 1, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
Fork-tailed Swift [Northern White-rumped Swift], Apus pacificus – 2, Wufeng area
House Swift, Apus nipalensis [Alpus affinis] – large numbers in open areas
 
Kingfishers
Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis – Several in wetland habitats
Black-capped Kingfisher, Halcyon pileata – 1, Lukang
 
ROLLERS
Dollarbird [Broad-billed Roller], Eurystomus orientalis – 1, heard only, Wufeng area; 1, Tsengwen Dam
 
Barbets
Black-browed Barbet [Muller’s Barbet], Megalaima oorti – almost daily
 
Woodpeckers
Gray-capped Woodpecker [Gray-headed Pygmy Woodpecker], Dendrocopos canicapillus – 1, Kukwang; 1, Mango Valley; 2, Tsengwen Dam; 1, Inda EcoFarm, Wanluan
Gray-faced Woodpecker [Gray-headed Green Woodpecker], Picus canus – 2, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
 
PITTAS
Fairy Pitta [Indian Pitta], Pitta Nympha [Pitta brachyura] – 1, heard only, Wufeng area; 3, Mango Valley; 1, heard only, Inda EcoFarm, Wanluan
 
Larks
Oriental Skylark, Alauda gulgula – many in open field habitat
 
Swallows
Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia – 6, Hambao
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica – common in lowlands
Pacific Swallow, Hirundo tahitica – common in lowlands
Striated Swallow, Hirundo striolata – common in lowlands. (See footnote 1).
Asian Martin [House Martin], Delichon dasypus – 3, Kukwang; 10, Aougo; 10, Tsengwen Dam
 
Wagtails and Pipits
White Wagtail, Motacilla alba – 1, May 3, single observer
Black-backed Wagtail, Motacilla lugens – 1, Ba Sian Shan Forest Recreation Area
Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava taivana – 1, Dar Hsi Choi
 
CUCKOO-SHRIKES
Gray-chinned Minivet [Yellow-throated Minivet], Pericrocotus solaris – fairly common in appropriate habitat; mostly mid-elevation
 
BULBULS
Collared Finchbill, Spizixos semitorques – 3, Wufeng area; 12, Kukwang-Basian Shan area; 1 Mango Valley; 1, Tsengwen Dam; 6, Tsongpu town area
STYAN’S BULBUL [TAIWAN BULBUL], Pycnonotus taivanus – 20 in Kenting area
Light-vented Bulbul [Chinese Bulbul], Pycnonotus sinensis – common almost everywhere
Black Bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus [H. madagascariensis] – common in wooded habitats
 
THRUSHES
FORMOSAN WHISTLING-THRUSH [Taiwan Whistling-thrush], Myophonus insularis – 1, Kukwang; 2, An Ma Shan; 1, Pachang Hsi; 2, Kwang Tselin; 1, Tsongpu town area; 2, Shihmen Dam
White-browed Shortwing [Blue Shortwing], Brachypteryx montana – 2, heard only, An Ma Shan, Trail 220

CISTICOLAS AND ALLIES
Zitting Cisticola [Fan-tailed Warbler], Cisticola juncidis – 6, Hambao; 1, Kwangtien; 1, Long Luan Tan, Kenting; 6, Dar Hsi Choi
Golden-headed Cisticola [Gold-capped Cisticola], Cisticola exilis – 4, Choshui Hsi
Striated Prinia [Brown Hill Warbler], Prinia criniger [Prinia polychroa] – 1, A Li Shan
Yellow-bellied Prinia, Prinia flaviventris – 3, Aougo
Plain Prinia [Tawny-flanked Prinia], Prinia inornata [Prinia subflava] – fairly common in low wetland habitat
 
OLD WORLD WARBLERS
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler [Strong-footed Bush Warbler], Cettia fortipes – 3, Wufeng area
Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler [Verreaux’s Bush Warbler], Cettia acanthizoides – 1, May 5, Hsaio Xai Shan, Trail 230
Dusky Warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus – 1, An Ma Shan
Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus – 1, Wufeng area
Rufous-faced Warbler [White-throated Flycatcher Warbler], Abroscopus albogularis – 2, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
 
OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS
Gray-spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta – 5, Wufeng area; 1, An Ma Shan; 1, Tsengwen Dam
Ferruginous Flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea – 2, An Ma Shan; 1, Mango Valley; 1, Tsengwen Dam
Vivid Niltava, Niltava vivida – 4, An Ma Shan; 1, Tsengwen Dam; 1, Tsongpu town area
COLLARED BUSH-ROBIN, Tarsiger johnstoniae [Erithacus johnstoniae] – 1, Hsaio Xai Shan, Trail 230
Plumbeous Redstart [Plumbeous Water Redstart], Rhyacornis fuliginosus [Phoenicurus fulginosus] – 3, Tachia Hsi, Kukwang
White-tailed Robin [White-tailed Blue Robin], Cinclidium leucurum – 1, May 8, Tsengwen Dam
 
MONARCH FLYCATCHERS
Black-naped Monarch [Black-naped Blue Monarch], Hypothymis azurea – 2, An Ma Shan, Trail 210; 1, Mango Valley; 3, Tsongpu town area
 
BABBLERS
White-throated Laughingthrush, Garrulax albogularis – 11, An Ma Shan
[Taiwan] Hwamei, Garrulax canorus taewanus – 2, Sarlien Lane, Kukwang area
WHITE-WHISKERED LAUGHINGTHRUSH [TAIWAN LAUGHING THRUSH], Garrulax morrisonianus – 7, Hsaio Xai Shan, Trail 230
STEERE’S LIOCICHLA, Liocichla steerii – 13, An Ma Shan
Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis – 2, Sarlien Lane, Kukwang area; 1, Tsengwen Dam area; 1, Tsongpu town area
Rufous-capped Babbler [Red-headed Tree Babbler], Stachyris ruficeps – 2, Wufeng area; 1, An Ma Shan; 2, Tsongpu town area
TAIWAN BARWING, Actinodura morrisoniana – 1, single observer, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
Dusky Fulvetta [Gould’s Fulvetta], Alcippe brunnea – 1, Mango Valley
Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia – 6, Wufeng area; 1, Tsengwen Dam; 1, Tsongpu town area
WHITE-EARED SIBIA [TAIWAN SIBIA], Heterophasia auricularis – 19, An Ma Shan
TAIWAN YUHINA, Yuhina brunneiceps – 40, An Ma Shan
White-bellied Yuhina, Yuhina zantholeuca – 1, Sarlien Lane, Kukwang area; 2, Tsengwen Dam area
 
PARROTBILLS
Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Paradoxornis webbianus – 2, Wufeng area; 2, Tsongpu town area
 
CHICKADEES AND TITS
Black-throated Tit [Red-headed Tit], Aegithalos concinnus – 10, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
Coal Tit, Periparus ater [Parus ater] – 1, Trail 230, Hsaio Xai Shan
Green-backed Tit, Parus monticolus – 4, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
Varied Tit, Sittiparus varius [Parus varius] – 1, Shaulai Train, Kukwang
 
NUTHATCHES
Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea – 5, An Ma Shan
 
FLOWERPECKERS
Plain Flowerpecker, Dicaeum concolor – 1, Tsengwen Dam
 
WHITE-EYES
Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus – common except highest elevation
 
OLD WORLD ORIOLES
Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis – 5, Inda Eco-Farm, Wanluan
Maroon Oriole, Oriolus trailii – 2, May 9, Tsongpu town area
 
SHRIKES
Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus – 26 in open lowland habitats.
Long-tailed Shrike [Black-headed Shrike], Lanius schach – 1, Wufeng area; 10, Hambao; 10, Aougo
 
DRONGOS
Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus – common at low elevation.
Bronzed Drongo, Dicrurus aeneus – fairly common at mid-elevation
 
CROWS, JAYS AND MAGPIES.
Eurasian Jay [Jay], Garrulus glandarius – 3, An Ma Shan  Trail 210
FORMOSAN MAGPIE [TAIWAN BLUE MAGPIE], Urocissa caerulea – 6, Wufeng area; 4, An Ma Shan, Trail 210; 2, Tsongpu town area
Gray Treepie [Himalayan Tree Pie], Dendrocitta formosae – 10, Wufeng area; 4, An Ma Shan, Trail 210; 10, Tsongpu town area
Eurasian Magpie [Magpie], Pica pica – 1, Wufeng area; 2, Dar Hsi Choi
Eurasian Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes – 4, Hsaio Xai Shan, Trail 230
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
Red-billed Starling [Silky Starling], Sternus sericeus – 1 post-winter lingerer, Dar Hsi Choi
European Starling [Common Starling], Sturnus vulgaris – 1, Kenting area
White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata – 10, Km 15 on way to An Ma Shan
Nutmeg Mannikin, Lonchura punctulata – common in grassy, scrubby habitats at low elevation
 
SISKINS, CROSSBILLS AND ALLIES
Vinaceous Rosefinch, Carpodacus vinaceus – 3, An Ma Shan
Gray-headed Bullfinch [Beavan’s Bullfinch], Pyrrhula erythia – 3, An Ma Shan, Trail 210
Eurasian Tree Sparrow [Tree Sparrow], Passer montanus – abundant in towns
 
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Total species: 162; 164 seen, including 9 of Taiwan’s 15 endemics; 1 species heard only
 
Missed:  Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Lophura swinhoii; Mikado Pheasant, Syrmaticus Mikado; FLAMECREST, Regulus goodfellowi; TAIWAN BUSH WARBLER, Bradypterus alishanensis; Yellow Tit, Macholophus holsti; TAIWAN PARTRIDGE, Arborophila crudigularis (heard only)
 
 
OTHER ANIMALS OBSERVED:
Taiwan Macaque [Formosan Rock-monkey], Macaca cyclopis – 1 on May 4; 6 on May 5; 2 on May 7
Red-bellied Squirrel, Calloscirus erythacus – 2 on May 5; 2 on May 7; 1 on May 9
Taiwan Serow, Naemorhedus swinhoei – Hsaio Xai Shan, Trail 230; 1 seen briefly on May 5
mudskipper sp. –  many on coastal mudflats. There are at least 3 species of mudskipper in Taiwan.
small bat sp. – 200 on May 6
turtle sp. – 6 on May 9
snake sp. – 1 large snake was almost hit by the bus on May 9 in A Li Shan Forest Recreation Area
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NOTES: 1 Striated and Red-rumped Swallows are very similar in appearance. Red-rumped appears in Taiwan only in migration, whereas Striated is a resident species.
 
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For more information, contact:
Simon Liao, simonliao0624@yahoo.com.tw, Taiwan, or
Jo Ann Mackenzie, j.a.mackenzie@telus.net, Canada
 
International Taiwan Birding Association: www.birdingintaiwan.com