Birds in Taiwan

Endemic Species

Collared Bush-Robin

Flamecrest

Formosan Magpie

Formosan Whistling-Thrush

Mikado Pheasant

Steere's Liocichla

Styan's Bulbul

Swinhoe's Pheasant

Taiwan Barwing

Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Partridge

Taiwan Yuhina

White-eared Sibia

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Yellow Tit

Endemic Sub-Species

Black-browed Barbet

Bronzed Drongo

Collared Finchbill

Hwamei

Oriental Skylark

Alauda gulgula wattersi

Endemic subspecies

          Oriental Skylark is a short-legged, terrestrial bird of open places.  It has a pale supercilium and distinctive crest.  The upperparts are streaked yellowish-brown, which affords excellent camouflage in its preferred open, short grassland habitat.   The outer tail feathers are white.  Its hind toe claws are very long, but difficult to see.   It never perches in trees.  It may be seen in and near urban areas with large patches of open ground, such as the Yen-Shiu area, Tainan, and certain places near Lugang, Changhua County as well as the Penghu (Pescadores) Islands.

           The bird often flies vertically up into the sky to sing; it may be heard before it is seen.  Its flight song is musical, sometimes given at great height.  In the breeding season, when seeking a mate, the male hovers in the air for some time, giving a liquid, bubbling call, jee-choe, jee-choe.

          Oriental Skylark is on the Watching List of the Threatened Birds of Taiwan.