China / Taiwan Tally Sheet

Here is a complete list of all the birds seen throughout our trip to China and Taiwan.  Where available, I have included a link to photos of each species.  There are 89 species listed.

SPECIES	LATIN BINOMIAL	LOCATION
Waterfowl – Anatidae
Eastern Spot-billed Duck	Anas zonorhyncha	Taiwan
Grouse – Phasianidae
Ring-necked Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	China, Taiwan
Grebes – Podicipedidae
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	China, Taiwan
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	Taiwan
Herons & Bitterns – Ardeidae
Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis	Taiwan
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	China, Taiwan
Great Egret	Ardea alba	China, Taiwan
Intermediate Egret	Mesophoyx intermedia	China
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	China, Taiwan
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Taiwan
Chinese Pond-heron	Ardeola bacchus	Taiwan
Black-crowned Night-heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Taiwan
Ospreys – Pandionidae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Taiwan
Hawks – Accipitridae
Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus caeruleus	Taiwan
Rails – Rallidae
White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	Taiwan
Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Taiwan
Oystercatchers – Haematopodididae
Eurasian Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	Taiwan
Plovers – Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Taiwan
Greater Sand-plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	Taiwan
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	Taiwan
Sandpipers – Scolopacidae
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Taiwan
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Taiwan
Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus	Taiwan
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Taiwan
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Taiwan
Far Eastern Curlew	Numenius madagascariensis	Taiwan
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Taiwan
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Taiwan
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata	Taiwan
Gulls & Terns – Laridae
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Taiwan
Royal Tern	Sterna dougallii	Taiwan
Doves – Columbidae
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	China, Taiwan
Oriental Turtle-dove	Streptopelia orientalis	China
Red Collared-dove	Streptopelia tranquebarica	Taiwan
Spotted Dove	Streptopelia chinensis	China, Taiwan
Cuckoos – Cuculidae
Asian Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Taiwan
Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	Taiwan
Swifts – Apodidae
Pacific Swift	Apus pacificus	Taiwan
Kingfishers – Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Taiwan
White-throated Kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Taiwan
Bee-eaters – Meropidae
Blue-tailed Bee-eater	Merops philippinus	Taiwan
Hoopoes – Upupidae
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Taiwan
Woodpeckers – Picidae
Grey-capped Woodpecker	Dendrocopos canicapillus	China
Shrikes – Laniidae
Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus	China
Long-tailed Shrike	Lanius schach	China, Taiwan
Drongos – Dicruridae
Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus	China, Taiwan
Crows & Jays – Corvidae
Azure-winged Magpie	Cyanopica cyanus	China
Red-billed Blue-magpie	Urocissa erythrorhyncha	China
Eurasian Magpie	Pica pica	China, Taiwan
Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	China
Collared Crow	Corvus torquatus	Taiwan
Swallows – Hirundinidae
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	China, Taiwan
Pacific Swallow	Hirundo tahitica	Taiwan
Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica	China
Tits – Paridae
Marsh Tit	Poecile palustris	China
Coal Tit	Periparus ater	China
Japanese Tit	Parus minor	China
Long-tailed Tits – Aegithalidae
Black-throated Tit	Aegithalos concinnus	Taiwan
Bulbuls – Pycnonotidae
Collared Finchbill	Spizixos semitorques	China
Light-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus sinensis	China, Taiwan
Black Bulbul	Hypsipetes leucocephalus	Taiwan
Chestnut Bulbul	Hemixos castanonotus	China, Taiwan
Bush-warblers – Cettidae
Brownish-flanked Bush-warbler	Horornis fortipes	China
Yellowish-bellied Bush-warbler	Horornis acanthizoides	China
Cisticolas – Cisticolidae
Common Tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius	China
Hill Prinia	Prinia superciliaris	Taiwan
Parrotbills – Paradoxornithidae
Beijing Babbler	Rhopophilus pekinensis	China
Vinous-throated Parrotbill	Sinosuthora webbiana	China
White-eyes – Zosteropidae
Japanese White-eye	Zosterops japonicus	China, Taiwan
Old World Babblers – Timaliidae
Rufous-capped Babbler	Cyanoderma ruficeps	China
Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler	Pomatorhinus ruficollis	China
Laughingthrushes – Leiotrichidae
Chinese Hwamei	Garrulax canorus	China
Père David’s Laughingthrush	Ianthocincla davidi	China
Chinese Babax	Ianthocincla lanceolata	China
Red-billed Leiothrix	Leiothrix lutea	China
Old World Flycatchers – Muscicapidae
Dark-sided Flycatcher	Muscicapa sibirica	China
Oriental Magpie-robin	Copsychus saularis	China, Taiwan
Blue-and-white Flycatcher	Cyanoptila cyanomelana	China
Blue Rock-thrush	Monticola solitaria	China
Thrushes – Turdidae
Orange-headed Thrush	Geokichla citrina	China
Starlings – Sturnidae
Crested Myna	Acridotheres cristatellus	Taiwan
Javan Myna	Acridotheres javanicus	Taiwan
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	China
Black-collared Starling	Gracupica nigricollis	Taiwan
Daurian Starling	Sturnia sturnina	China
Finches – Fringillidae
Oriental Greenfinch	Chloris sinica	China
Old World Sparrows – Passeridae
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	China, Taiwan
Estrildid-finches – Estrildidae
White-rumped Munia	Lonchura striata	China

Getting Fiver

Before I came to Korea, when I was still in the planning stages, I created a short list of the Top 5 Must-See Birds in Korea.  The birds were not ranked in any particular order, though a few were more “important” than others.  The list was:

      1.  Spoon-billed Sandpiper
      2.  Japanese Waxwing
      3.  Fairy Pitta
      4.  Eurasian Hoopoe
      5.  Japanese Paradise-flycatcher

The rationale for inclusion on this list was different for each species.  Some are incredibly rare (#1); others serve a particular purpose in my listing (#2); still others are just really interesting and/or unusual birds that I didn’t want to miss (#3-5).

The search has been exciting, but ticking off these species has been slow-going.  They weren’t chosen because they were easy to find; on the contrary, all but one of these species also make an appearance on another list, the IUCN Red List.  But it’s always been the chase that drives us…

Only two birds have so far been ticked off this list.  The first was the Fairy Pitta: a lone male bird was singing in a small mountain valley along the Wellbeing Hiking Trail on Jeop-do in June 2013.  I have since located five more separate individuals, but alas, a visual opportunity has yet eluded me.  The second bird was the Japanese Waxwing: again, a lone bird viewed at a distance on Eocheong-do this past May.  I hope to see and photograph this species in Korea or Japan this coming winter.

Still, despite nearly 2 years of searching, I’ve only had repeated encounters where the best I can get is an audio recording (no visual), or a glimpse through binoculars at nearly 100 meters.

So it was that I joined birding friends Jason Loghry and Mike Friel on an epic journey to track down that most elusive fairy pitta (Jason had never actually seen one either), and hopefully pick up a Japanese paradise-flycatcher along the way.  We had a few sites staked out for the fairy pitta, and the birds were surely there, but once again managed to elude being seen.  We were quite frustrated after encountering three individual birds, and nary a glimpse was had of any of them.

We continued on, crestfallen and sullen, to a small uninteresting roadside stream, where Mike had observed paradise-flycatchers breeding the previous summer.  We took an overgrown trail along the road, descending in a small valley with the stream at the base.  A Korean water deer, unaware of our presence, walked right towards us, then started and disappeared as we tried to angle our cameras onto this spectacular animal.  That’s when we heard it…

A throaty sound, like a dry cough.  Followed by a melodious series of whistles.  Japanese paradise-flycatcher!

A little searching located a splendid male flitting around the treetops, appearing as a large butterfly.  The dense foliage frequently obscured our views, but the bird finally stopped on a semi-open branch long enough to really observe him.  What a glorious bird!

Japanese Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata)

I was taking an audio recording of the bird, when we heard the same song coming from the opposite direction.  There were two male birds, counter-singing to each other.  The second male remained unseen, but we heard him singing intermittently throughout our time at the site.  It was one of the most memorable bird outings of the month.  Despite missing multiple chances at seeing a fairy pitta, the Japanese paradise-flycatcher more than made up for it.

Only two more species remain on the Top 5 List.  I should be able to get Spoon-billed Sandpiper during its fall migration in late August.  The Eurasian Hoopoe on the other hand, may be a lost cause (at least until my summer vacation trip to China).  The search continues…

Cambodia Tally Sheet

Here is a complete list of all the birds seen throughout our trip to Cambodia.  Where available, I have included a link to photos of each species.  There are 54 species listed.

SPECIES	LATIN BINOMIAL
Storks – Ciconiidae
Milky Stork	Mycteria cinerea
Darters – Anhingidae
Oriental Darter	Anhinga melanogaster
Herons & Bitterns – Ardeidae
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Chinese Pond-heron	Ardeola bacchus
Ibises – Threskiornithidae
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
Hawks – Accipitridae
Oriental Honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus
Changeable Hawk-eagle	Nisaetus limnaeetus
Shikra	Accipiter badius
Stilts – Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Plovers – Charadriidae
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius
Doves – Columbidae
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
Oriental Turtle-dove	Streptopelia orientalis
Red Collared-dove	Streptopelia tranquebarica
Zebra Dove	Geopelia striata
Cuckoos – Cuculidae
Himalayan Cuckoo	Cuculus saturatus
Swifts – Apodidae
Himalayan Swiftlet	Aerodramus brevirostris
House Swift	Apus nipalensis
Asian Palm-swift	Cypsiurus balasiensis
Kingfishers – Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
Rollers – Coraciidae
Indian Roller	Coracias benghalensis
Asian Barbets – Megalaimidae
Lineated Barbet	Megalaima lineata
Parrots & Parakeets – Psittacidae
Alexandrine Parakeet	Psittacula eupatria
Red-breasted Parakeet	Psittacula alexandri
Ioras – Aegithinidae
Common Iora	Aegithina tiphia
Cuckoo-shrikes – Campephagidae
Ashy Minivet	Pericrocotus divaricatus
Shrikes – Laniidae
Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus
Drongos – Dicruridae
Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus
Ashy Drongo	Dicrurus leucophaeus
Fantails – Rhipiduridae
Malaysian Pied-fantail	Rhipidura javanica
Monarch-flycatchers – Monarchidae
Black-naped Monarch	Hypothymis azurea
Swallows – Hirundinidae
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Bulbuls – Pycnonotidae
Yellow-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus goiavier
Olive-backed Bulbul	Pycnonotus plumosus
Leaf-warblers – Phylloscopidae
Chestnut-crowned Warbler	Seicercus castaniceps
Cisticolas – Cisticolidae
Common Tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius
Dark-necked Tailorbird	Orthotomus atrogularis
Yellow-bellied Prinia	Prinia flaviventris
Plain Prinia	Prinia inornata
Old World Flycatchers – Muscicapidae
Brown-streaked Flycatcher	Muscicapa williamsoni
Oriental Magpie-robin	Copsychus saularis
Hainan Blue-flycatcher	Cyornis hainanus
Blue-and-white Flycatcher	Cyanoptila cyanomelana
Little Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula westermanni
Blue Rock-thrush	Monticola solitarius
Siberian Stonechat	Saxicola maurus
Starlings – Sturnidae
Common Hill Myna	Gracula religiosa
Great Myna	Acridotheres grandis
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis
Black-collared Starling	Gracupica nigricollis
Chestnut-tailed Starling	Sturnia malabarica
Leafbirds – Chloropseidae
Golden-fronted Leafbird	Chloropsis aurifrons
Sunbirds – Nectariniidae
Olive-backed Sunbird	Chloropsis aurifrons
Old World Sparrows – Passeridae
Plain-backed Sparrow	Passer flaveolus
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus

Taiwan Tally Sheet

Here is a complete list of all the birds seen throughout our trip to Taiwan.  Where available, I have included a link to photos of each species.  There are 89 species listed.  Taiwan endemic species are listed in CYAN.

SPECIES	LATIN BINOMIAL
Waterfowl – Anatidae
Eastern Spot-billed Duck	Anas zonorhyncha
Grouse – Phasianidae
Taiwan Partridge	Arborophila crudigularis
Chinese Bamboo-partridge	Bambusicola thoracicus
Swinhoe’s Pheasant	Lophura swinhoii
Herons & Bitterns – Ardeidae
Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret	Mesophoyx intermedia
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Chinese Pond-heron	Ardeola bacchus
Black-crowned Night-heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Malayan Night-heron	Gorsachius melanolophus
Ibises – Threskiornithidae
Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hawks – Accipitridae
Crested Serpent-eagle	Spilornis cheela
Crested Goshawk	Accipiter trivirgatus
Besra	Accipiter virgatus
Rails – Rallidae
White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus
Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Stilts – Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Plovers – Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Greater Sand-plover	Charadrius leschenaultii
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius
Sandpipers – Scolopacidae
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Grey-tailed Tattler	Tringa brevipes
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Asian Dowitcher	Limnodromus semipalmatus
Doves – Columbidae
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
Oriental Turtle-dove	Streptopelia orientalis
Red Collared-dove	Streptopelia tranquebarica
Spotted Dove	Streptopelia chinensis
White-bellied Pigeon	Treron sieboldii
Cuckoos – Cuculidae
Lesser Coucal	Centropus bengalensis
Typical Owls – Strigidae
Mountain Scops-owl	Otus spilocephalus
Swifts – Apodidae
Silver-backed Needletail	Hirundapus cochinchinensis
Kingfishers – Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
Asian Barbets – Megalaimidae
Taiwan Barbet	Megalaima nuchalis
Drongos – Dicruridae
Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus
Bronzed Drongo	Dicrurus aeneus
Monarch-flycatchers – Monarchidae
Black-naped Monarch	Hypothymis azurea
Crows & Jays – Corvidae
Grey Treepie	Dendrocitta formosae
Eurasian Magpie	Pica pica
Eurasian Nutcracker	Nucifraga caryocatactes
Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos
Swallows – Hirundinidae
Grey-throated Martin	Riparia chinensis
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Pacific Swallow	Hirundo tahitica
Asian House-martin	Delichon dasypus
Tits – Paridae
Green-backed Tit	Parus monticolus
Long-tailed Tits – Aegithalidae
Black-throated Tit	Aegithalos concinnus
Bulbuls – Pycnonotidae
Collared Finchbill	Spizixos semitorques
Light-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus sinensis
Black Bulbul	Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Cupwings – Pnoepygidae
Taiwan Cupwing	Pnoepyga formosana
Cisticolas – Cisticolidae
Striated Prinia	Prinia crinigera
Plain Prinia	Prinia inornata
Parrotbills – Paradoxornithidae
Vinous-throated Parrotbill	Sinosuthora webbiana
White-eyes – Zosteropidae
Taiwan Yuhina	Yuhina brunneiceps
Japanese White-eye	Zosterops japonicus
Babblers – Timaliidae
Rufous-capped Babbler	Cyanoderma ruficeps
Taiwan Scimitar-babbler	Pomatorhinus musicus
Black-necklaced Scimitar-babbler	Megapomatorhinus erythrocnemis
Ground-babblers – Pellorneidae
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta	Alcippe morrisonia
Laughingthrushes – Leiothrichidae
White-whiskered Laughingthrush	Trochalopteron morrisonianum
White-eared Sibia	Heterophasia auricularis
Steere’s Liocichla	Liocichla steerii
Old World Flycatchers – Muscicapidae
Oriental Magpie-robin	Copsychus saularis
Vivid Niltava	Niltava vivida
Taiwan Whistling-thrush	Myophonus insularis
White-tailed Robin	Cinclidium leucurum
Collared Bush-robin	Tarsiger johnstoniae
Plumbeous Redstart	Phoenicurus fuliginosus
Starlings – Sturnidae
Asian Glossy Starling	Aplonis panayensis
Crested Myna	Acridotheres cristatellus
Javan Myna	Acridotheres javanicus
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis
Black-collared Starling	Gracupica nigricollis
Finches – Fringillidae
Brown Bullfinch	Pyrrhula nipalensis
Grey-headed Bullfinch	Pyrrhula erythaca
Vinaceous Rosefinch	Carpodacus vinaceus
Old World Sparrows – Passeridae
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus
Estrildid-finches – Estrildidae
Indian Silverbill	Euodice malabarica
White-rumped Munia	Lonchura striata
Nutmeg Mannikin	Lonchura punctulata