It’s not true that voting is just not allowed in China. I requested about 10 Chinese language birders about the perfect Chinese language provinces for birding and didn’t run into any issues in anyway. So, listed here are the outcomes.
1 – Yunnan (892 species on eBird)
Yunnan has by far the most important variety of chicken species in China as its panorama and habitat embrace East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Tibetan Plateau. Some engaging chicken households similar to hornbills, barbets, and pittas can both solely be present in Yunnan, or have a much bigger variety of species than in different Chinese language provinces.
Yunnan is a very good place to go to from December to March. Engaging areas embrace Baihualing, Hongbenghe, Lijiang, and Xishuangbanna.
Listed here are a number of private favorites among the many Yunnan species:
- Babblers such because the Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler
- White-speckled Laughingthrush
- Hearth-tailed Myzornis
- Nice Barbet
- Blue-winged Minla
- Blue-bearded Bee-eater
- Widespread Inexperienced Magpie
- Better Flameback
- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler
2 – Sichuan (669 species on eBird)
Sichuan has fairly a number of endemic and/or threatened birds, significantly pheasants and parrotbills. In all probability it’s most engaging for birders in spring (April to June). Good areas embrace Balangshan, Wolongshan, Kangding, Wawushan, Longcanggou, Tangjiahe, Yibin, and Ruoergai.
Some favored species:
- Blood Pheasant
- Blue-fronted Redstart
- Big Laughingthrush
- Chinese language Monal
- Chinese language Rubythroat
- Grandala
- Golden Pheasant
- Snow Partridge
- Ashy-throated Parrotbill
- Woman Amherst’s Pheasant
Blood Pheasant
3 – Qinghai (426 species on eBird)
Qinghai is just not a spot the place you will note a variety of birds in a single place – however nearly all of the birds you see will probably be fascinating. Particularly, it’s a good place to come across birds residing on the Tibetan plateau with out the restrictions imposed on foreigners touring to Tibet.
July appears to be the perfect time for birding in Qinghai – good areas embrace the Qinghai Lake, the world round Chaka, and Dulan nation.
Some private species highlights:
- Bearded Vulture
- Ala Shan Redstart
- Black-necked Crane
- Chinese language White-browed Rosefinch
- Daurian Partridge
- Ibisbill
- Floor Tit
- White-browed Tit-warbler
- Mongolian Floor-jay
- Przevalski’s Finch
- Pale Rosefinch
- Tibetan Bunting,
- Tibetan Rosefinch
- Bar-headed Goose
Mongolian Floor-jay
4 – Fujian (568 species on eBird)
Fujian is a coastal province considerably south of Shanghai, and a part of its attraction comes from its coastal location and comparatively delicate local weather. Personally, I most likely wouldn’t have included it in my private prime 5, however possibly I simply haven’t realized its potential but (I’ve solely been there twice, and to not Wuyishan but).
I’ve been to Sanming (for Cabot’s Tragopan and Elliot’s Pheasant) and to the Fuzhou Nationwide Forest Park (extra for basic birding than for specific species, although it’s a good place for Fork-tailed Sunbird and Orange-bellied Leafbird). Wuyishan can be really helpful continuously, as is the Minjiang Estuary for Chinese language Crested Tern and Quanzhou is a vital wintering spot for Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
Spring is supposedly the perfect season, right here which means March to Might.
Species I noticed and loved in Fujian:
- Fork-tailed Sunbird
- Orange-bellied Leafbird
- Elliot’s Pheasant
- Cabot’s Tragopan
- Silver Pheasant
- Crimson-headed Trogon
Elliot’s Pheasant
5 – Xinjiang (409 species on eBird)
I’ve not been to Xinjiang for birding but, however the province was talked about continuously by the birders I requested. It’s closest to Europe and thus has species that aren’t simply discovered elsewhere in China. It additionally has some excessive deserts and open areas, offering habitat for specialists, raptors, and vultures.
I can’t actually suggest areas but, however it appears Might to July are the perfect months to go birding in Xinjiang.
And some species I hope to see there ultimately:
- Black-throated Accentor
- Blue-capped Redstart
- Nice White Pelican
- Golden Eagle
- Montagu’s Harrier
To be a bit extra particular, 60% of the respondents voted for Qinghai, 50% for Fujian, and 40% for Xinjiang (it’s secure to imagine that just about everybody would have voted for Yunnan and Sichuan).
Which different provinces have been talked about as nicely?
- Guangxi (30%)
- Jiangxi (20%)
- Hainan (20%)
- Shanghai (20%)
- Xizang (10%)
- Jiangsu (10%)
- Shaanxi (10%)
Aside from 10 birders (thus the spherical numbers within the outcomes), I additionally requested ChatGPT. Its decisions are fairly much like the outcomes of my straw ballot – it solely replaces Xinjiang with Guangdong, a barely bizarre alternative in case you ask me.
So, for these birders coming to China for the primary time, Yunnan or Sichuan are most likely the perfect decisions. Whereas Sichuan has fewer species, the province may become extra fascinating to these birders already acquainted with among the birds of Southeast Asia, as these are additionally a significant attraction of Yunnan.
