Introduction

This trip was appended to an academic visit to the National Taiwan University and the Academia Sinica in Taipei.  Relatively few trip reports for Taiwan have been posted for this time of year, probably because the optimal time for seeing some of the endemic species (and subspecies that may yet be elevated in rank) is not the breeding season, but the winter or early spring. Moreover, the weather becomes increasingly unfavorable in May and June, as heavy rains become more frequent (and preface the typhoon season later in the summer).  These conditions not only frustrate birders on a tight schedule; they also cause landslides that can prevent or delay access to some sites. This report may be useful to birders who have the opportunity to visit Taiwan only at this time of year.

Taiwan is a very modern country, with excellent roads and hotels. Signs on the major roads are in both Chinese and English, and many people speak some English. More adventurous souls who do not speak or read Chinese could doubtless make their way around unaided, but I felt it necessary to engage a guide. A guide who an acquaintance had engaged several years ago was unavailable, but referred me to Mr. Kuendar Chiang (kuendar@gmail.com), who was also commended in a trip report by Albert Low. Kuendar was my guide for 5 days. His strengths are his genial personality, quite good English, a guiding license that gets him some modest discounts at hotels, and especially his good relations with local people who provide information or local guiding. His weakness is that he knows few bird vocalizations, and generally relies on sight rather than sound to find birds.  He does not use playback or carry any recording equipment.  Only after a couple of days did I discover that he had some CDs of bird sounds that he could play on his car system, and that I could record (with my very modest equipment) for playback to try for selected species. On two days, as noted below, I was accompanied by Mr. Shin-Fan Chan, a research assistant in bird ecology at the Academia Sinica, and Mr. Kuao-Chieh Hung, a graduate student in bird ecology. Both are accomplished birders, and Mr.Hung (helapiz@gmail.com), who has done some guiding, carried a MP3 and speaker with bird vocalizations, as well as a good spotting scope. He would certainly be a capable guide.

My highest priority was Taiwanese endemics, but because I have had relatively limited experience in Asia, I was eager also to see many of the nonendemic species. Among the most useful trip reports I found in planning my trip was “Taiwan: A birder’s paradise, May 16-30, 2008 by Albert Low (on Surfbirds.com).  Somewhat useful were reports by Simon Liao and JoAnn Mackenzie from their commercial tours (see birdingintaiwan.com), especially their report for May 7-20, 2007 (although some of the observations reported may raise skeptics’ eyebrows). To learn the birds, I used A Field Guide to the Birds of China, by John MacKinnon and Karen Phillipps (Oxford University Press, 2000, ISBN 0 19 854940), recognizing that substantial taxonomic changes have occurred since then, especially elevation of some endemic subspecies to species rank.  When I met Shi-Fan and Kuao-Chieh, I learned that a new book had been published only a month earlier, Mark Brazil’s Birds of East Asia (Princeton University Press, 2009; ISBN 978-0-691-13926-5), which I bought while there.  Taiwanese birders are most familiar with an older book in Chinese, rendered in English as A Field Guide to the Birds of Taiwan, by Sen-Hsiong Wu et al., published by the Taiwan Wild Information Centre and Wild Bird Society of Japan in 1991.  Although this book is taxonomically well out of date, the illustrations of a few species are more accurate, even if somewhat cruder, that those in Brazil’s book.

Itinerary, sites, and highlights

I did some incidental birding on and near the campus of the Academia Sinica in the eastern reaches of Taipei, on the campus of National Taiwan University in central Taipei, and (in late afternoon, briefly) near the visitors’ center of Yangminshan National Park, on the northeastern outskirts of Taipei, passing through while returning from a visit to a sculpture museum near the north coast. Highlights at Academia Sinica included Taiwan Whistling-Thrush  (common at low elevations), Taiwan Barbet, White-rumped Munia (the only ones I saw), and a Malayan Night Heron, this one followed by 3 on the campus of National Taiwan University. In Yangminshan National Park, 3 Taiwan Blue Magpies.

I had 7 days of dedicated birding, as follows:

Day 1, June 6: With Shih-Fan, a morning at the village of Wulei, an hour’s drive south from central Taipei. We walked upstream along a river on a road and then a walking track, for about 3 km.  We then went, via bus and subway (MFT) to Guandu Nature Park, on the northern edge of Taipei near the renowned Guandu temple. A biking-cum-walking track divides mangrove from reed (Phragmites) marsh. We returned via some rice fields where Painted Snipe is sometimes seen (but not by us). Highlights at Wulei: Brown Dipper, Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler, White-bellied Erpornis, and Taiwan Blue Magpie; at Guandu: Vinous-breasted Parrotbill.

Day 2, June 7.  With Shih-Fan and Kuao-Chieh, drove to Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area (which includes Anmashan, mentioned in some trip reports), off Highway 3 well south of Taipei. We stopped in cultivated areas in the foothills, and then climbed through several vegetation zones to conifer/deciduous forest. In late afternoon, we waited (with photographers) at Km 47, a well known site for Mikado Pheasant, but the bird did not show, perhaps because of busy traffic on Sunday afternoon. I stayed overnight in the lodge at the visitors’ center. Highlights:  Black Eagle, Grey-headed Woodpecker (very scarce here), Little Forktail, Taiwan Hwamei, Taiwan Barwing, Island Robin (white-headed race, scarce in breeding season), Vinaceous Rosefinch. Some endemics would prove to be common and widespread, including Taiwan Bush Warbler, White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Steere’s Liocichla, Taiwan (White-eared) Sibia, Taiwan Yuhina.

Day 3, June 8.  From dawn until 10:30, I walked uphill along the road in Dasyueshan, seeing Ashy Wood Pigeon, Spotted Nutcracker, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler, Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush, and Vinaceous Rosefinch. Kuendar arrived, and we began a long drive on the east-west highway (14) toward the east coast. The road reaches its highest point (the highest in Taiwan, at 3275 m) at Wuling on Hehuanshan (Hehuan Mountain), where much of the landscape is covered by a very dense, short bamboo, relieved by copses of conifers. At and near Wuling, we found Alpine Accentor and Flamecrest. We drove through thick fog and some light rain down the eastern slope, stopping for the night in the resort village of Tienhsiang.

Day 4, June 9. From Tienhsiang, Highway 14 leads through the justly renowned, spectacular Taroko Gorge (with colonies of Fork-tailed [Pacific] Swift) to Highway 9, which runs along the east coast.  We drove south on Hwy 9 for 7 km, stopped for our target species, Taiwan (Styan’s) Bulbul, and then returned the way we had come, stopping at a few mid-elevation sites on the eastern slope (Fire-breasted Flowerpecker) and again near Wuling, where I walked the road for some distance in search of bullfinches, which reputedly had been seen in this area.  On the western slope, we left the highway and progressed via a steep, narrow road to Beidongyan, where an experimental farm is managed by a university. We walked several kilometers along a vehicle track through forest to the buildings, and returned down the entrance road in the very late afternoon before taking a very bad road back to the highway.  The highlights were a flock of Rufous-crowned Laughingthrushes and a subadult male Swinhoe’s Pheasant. Overnight at the Chingjing Farm Veterans’ Guest House, a modern hotel on Highway 14.

Day 5, June 10. Drove back up the highway to Meifong, where the lower end of the Blue Gate Trail is marked by a rather inconspicuous sign for the “Rueyan Major Wildlife Habitat” in Chinese and English.  The upper access is reached via a road that runs downhill from the police station in Rueyan; the trail crosses this road, and actually has a blue gate on the right, the entrance to the upper part of the trail. The lower trail rises gently for about 2.5 km; the upper part is only about one km long, because it has been interrupted by a huge landslide. The trail is actually a vehicle track for servicing the many water pipes that run its length. Leaks or overflow from the pipes flood the trail in many places, so either use rubber boots or expect very wet shoes. This is good mid-elevation deciduous forest. Highlights were Taiwan Wren-Babbler, Brown Bullfinch, and the often difficult and much-sought Yellow Tit. From here, we returned yet again to the Hehuanshan area to seek Beavan’s Bullfinch and Golden Parrotbill (having a very uncertain notion of what habitat this bird favors).  Finding neither, we drove to the lowland village of Huben, in Linnei township near the city of Douliou.  We worked second growth in the vicinity of the temple, went into Douliou (about 15 minutes away) to book rooms (at the Grand Hotel on the central roundabout), and returned to Huben to meet Mr. Chang, a former hunter who is an expert bird finder and works closely with several research groups on the ecology of Fairy Pitta and some other species. Mr. Chang brought us to a calling Mountain Scops Owl, which he soon located.  Because Mr. Chang and Kuendar depend partly on income from guiding visitors to certain bird sites, I will not provide details on the sites of this and several other species.

Day 6, June 11.  We left the hotel in Douliou at 4:45, which was actually about 15 minutes too late, because we heard 2 Savannah Nightjars above the main street, and succeeded in getting a completely inadequate glimpse of one before they fell silent. In Huben, we met Mr. Chang, who took us to several sites where we saw a Fairy Pitta, Dusky Fulvettas, and a pair of Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babblers (split from Streak-breasted), but we were unsuccessful in finding Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Taiwan Hill Partridge, or Chinese Bamboo Partridge (we heard the latter).  These species are more dependable before they pair and have young, Mr. Chang explained.

We left Huben and stopped in a lowland village to see a roosting pair of Collared Scops Owls,  then made our way to Highway 21 and drove south and up to Yushan National Park, encountering increasing fog and light rain. At the highest elevation, at the Tataka Visitors’ Center, Highway 21 changes to 18. Conifers are the dominant trees, over understory of diverse shrubs, small deciduous trees, and small bamboo. Side roads from Highway 18, about 1 km south of Tataka, lead to a Youth Hostel (on the right) and to the Paiyou Visitor’s Center (on the left). This road continues about 1.5 km up to a branch point at the “Big Hemlock” (indicated by a sign 0.4 km below). The entire region is steeply mountainous and highly picturesque. Walking the Tataka area, we saw a pair of  Beavan’s Bullfinches fly over the road, and had unsatisfying views of several Golden Parrotbills. We drove the road slowly, looking for Mikado Pheasants, down Hwy 18 to Alishan, where we booked rooms in a hostel, the Alishan Youth Activities Center (very pleasant, quiet, and almost deserted). We then resumed searching and were rewarded by 2 male Mikado Pheasants in the vicinity of km 98-99 on Hwy 18. After dark, we drove the road in search of (Chinese) Tawny Owls, which are said to sit along the road in the vicinity of Tataka, but we knew the search was doomed because of the increasingly heavy and finally torrential rain.

Day 7, June 12.  The sky was cloudless at dawn. We drove back up to Tataka, seeing one of the previous Mikado Pheasants (a subadult with short tail). Worked the highway near Tataka, the Youth Hostel road, and the road to the Big Hemlock, seeing Ashy Wood Pigeon, Flamecrest, Taiwan Bush Warbler, Taiwan Fulvetta, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Golden Parrotbill, and Beavan’s Bullfinch (see species accounts for details). By 10:30 the sky was overcast and by 11:15 it was raining. We drove Hwy 18 some more, and saw 2 adult male Mikado Pheasants, one of which was about one km from the previous evening’s adult, and could possibly have been the same bird.  Increasingly heavy rain drove us into the visitor center’s coffee shop for lunch, and then down Hwy 21 as we headed for the Taipei airport. We stopped briefly at a small rest stop in mid-elevation, where I walked the road for about a kilometer, and flushed a Chinese Bamboo Partridge. Then to the airport and back toward New York.

Species list

In most cases, I use names as in Brazil (2009), placing older names from MacKinnon and Phillips in brackets. The sequence of species follows Brazil. Taxa listed as endemic species by Brazil are marked E.

Taiwan Hill Partridge, Arborophila crudigularis (E): heard at  Beidongyan and Blue Gate Trail.

Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Bambusicola thoracicus sonorivox a (possibly an endemic species): Heard at Wulei and Huben; one flushed along roadside, Hwy 14 near 1450 rest stop. A rather common species that is evidently difficult to see during breeding season, when they call infrequently and are unresponsive to playback.

Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Lophura swinhoei (E): 1 subadult male, Beidongyan. Sought in vain at Dasyueshan lodge area.

Mikado Pheasant, Syrmaticus mikado (E): 1 subadult male and 2 or 3 adult males along Hwy 18, within 10 km of Tataka.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck [Spot-billed], Anas zonorhyncha [poecilorhyncha]: 1 pair, rice fields near Guandu Nature Park, Taipei.

Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (introduced): ca. 7, Guandu Nature Park.

Yellow Bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis: 2, Guandu.

Malayan Night Heron, Gorsachius melanolophus: 1 Academia Sinica, 3 National Taiwan University, 1 foothills of Dasyueshan, 7 Huben.  Although very scarce 10 years ago, this species has apparently increased dramatically in Taiwan.  Feeds mostly on earthworms and is not tied to water.

Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax: >50, Guandu.

Eastern Cattle Egret [Cattle Egret], Bubulcus coromandus [ibis]:  >50, Guandu,  a few scattered elsewhere.

Great White Egret [Great], Casmerodius albus: 1 rice fields near Guandu.

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta: Guandu, Academia Sinica, Huben, etc.

Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis orientalis [ptilorhynchus]: 1, Dasyueshan.

Black-eared Kite, Milvus lineatus: (split in Brazil's book from Black Kite, M. migrans) 1 along shore, north coast near Jinshan.

Crested Serpent Eagle, Spilornis cheela: 2 Wulai, 2 near foothills of Dasyueshan.

Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus: 2, Wulai, 1 foothills of Dasyueshan.

Besra, Accipiter virgata:1, Huben.

Indian Black Eagle [Black Eagle], Ictinaetus malayensis: 1 low overhead at Dasyueshan.

White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus: Heard, Guandu.

Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus: Several, rice fields near Guandu.

Rock Dove, Columba livia: In cities.

Ashy Woodpigeon [Ashy Wood Pigeon], Columba pulchricollis: 1 Dasyueshan, 1 Tataka, both in early morning.

Oriental Turtle Dove, Streptopelia orientalis: Academia Sinica, Guandu.

Red Turtle Dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica: Human-altered habitats: roadsides, gardens, etc.

Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis:  Roadsides, gardens.

White-bellied Green Pigeon, Treron sieboldii: 5 Academia Sinica, pair glimpsed Beidongyan.

Oriental Cuckoo, Cuculus optatus: Heard at most wooded sites over wide altitudinal range.

Mountain Scops Owl, Otus spilocephalus: 1, Huben.

Collared Scops Owl, Otus lettia [backkamoena]: pair in lowland site ca. 1 hour from Huben.  The systematics of this and related forms is evidently in flux.

Savannah Nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis: 2 heard at dawn, Douliou, one of which was glimpsed.

Pacific Swift [Fork-tailed], Apus pacificus: large numbers in Taroko Gorge, especially at lower end of Sionfou Tunnel.

Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis: 1 Wulei.

Taiwan Barbet [Black-browed}, Megalaima nuchalis [oorti] (E):Heard in most sites; seen Academia Sinica.

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Yungipicus [Dendrocopus] canicapillus: single individuals at Bedongyan and Huben.

White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopus leucotos: 1, Dayueshan, high in a large moss-festooned tree, mid-elevation.

Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus: 1, Dasyueshan, fairly high elevation. My companions said this bird is rarely seen.

Fairy Pitta, Pitta nympha:1, Huben, carrying food to nest, ca. 10 meters above ground. Mr. Chang said the mate had recently been taken by a Crested Goshawk.

Grey-chinned Minivet, Pericrocotus solaris: seen at Wulei (including a flyover flock of 15), Hwy 14 on east slope, Hwy 21 mid-elevation.

Maroon Oriole, Oriolus traillii: Heard in Huben.

Black Drongo, Dicrurus micrococcus:  Common in human-altered habitats, nests on streetlight wires. 

Bronzed Drongo, Dicrurus aeneus: In more natural, wooded habitats.  Several in Wulei, Huben, midelevation on Hwy 14.

Black-naped Monarch, Hypothymis azurea: 1, Huben.

Eurasian Jay, Garrulus glandarius: Differs from European and other Asian forms. 2, Dasyueshan lodge, at dawn taking moths at cabins’ outdoor lights.

Taiwan Blue Magpie, Urocissa caerulea (E):  About 4 in Yangmingshan National Park, most near visitors’ center, also near the village a short distance downhill; 3 along river near Wulei.

Grey Treepie, Dendrocitta formosae: Several at Academia Sinica, also National Taiwan University, Wulei (6),and Huben.

Spotted Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes: Pair at Dasyueshan, along road above lodge;  1 near Youth Hostel, Yushan National Park.

Large-billed Crow, Corvus macrorhynchus: Widespread, at most elevations.

Green-backed Tit, Parus monticolus: Abundant, often in mixed flocks; seen at Dasyueshan, Hwy 14, Beidongyan.

Yellow Tit, Parus holsti (E): 1 male, low, extended view, along lower Blue Gate Trail, ca. ½ km from the road dividing Blue Gate #1 from #2.

Coal Tit, Periparus [Parus] ater:  Conspicuous crest and plumage difference suggest strong differentiation from European populations. 1 in Big Hemlock, above the Paiyou visitors’ center, Yushan N. P.

Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica: Common and widespread; abundant in towns.

Pacific Swallow, Hirundo tahitica: Occasional in low and mi-elevation areas; nests below bridges and culverts.

Asian House Martin, Delichon dasypus: Dasyueshan, Taroko Gorge and scattered other sites.

Striated Swallow, Cecropis [Hirundo] striolata:  Fairly common in lowland areas, e.g. near foothills of Dasyueshan; Huben.

Black-throated Tit, Aegithalos concinnus: Fairly abundant, often in mixed flocks, mid- to fairly high elevation; Dasyueshan, Hwy 14, Beidongyan, Blue Gate Trail.

Striated Prinia, Prinia crinigera: 1, foothills of Dasyueshan.

Yellow-bellied Prinia, Prinia flaviventris:  Abundant in Guandu Nature Park; also seen at Taiwan Bulbul site.

Plain Prinia, Prinia inornata: Several at Guandu and nearby rice fields.

Collared Finchbill, Spizixos semitorques:  In second growth; ca. 4 in foothills of Dasyueshan, 2 in Huben near temple.

Chinese [Light-vented] Bulbul, Pycnonotus sinensis: Abundant in human-altered environments at low and mid-elevation.

Taiwan [Styan’s] Bulbul, Pycnonotus taivanus (E): Researchers informed me that this form and Chinese Bulbul interbreed in a narrow hybrid zone near the junction of Hwy 14 and Hwy 9 on the east coast, but that birds a few kilometers south show no morphological or molecular evidence of hybrid ancestry.  We went 7 km south of  the junction and then a short distance off Hwy 9, and saw at least 15 bulbuls that appeared to be canonical Styan’s, which appears to be ecologically indistinguishable from  P. sinensis. I would not be surprised if genetic introgression were to spread in the future, rendering the species status of these taxa questionable.

Himalayan Black Bulbul [Black Bulbul], Hypsipetes leucocephalus: Abundant in human-altered environments at low to mid-elevation. It is black-headed in Taiwan.

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler [Brownish-flanked], Cettia fortipes: 1 in grassy second growth along road, foothills of Dasyueshan. Difficult to see well. Song is loud and distinctive.

Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler [Yellowish-bellied], Cettia acanthizoides: Abundant in low, open second growth at high elevations (Dasyueshan, Hehuanshan, Yushan).  The song is rightly described as “amazing” by Brazil, and is completely distinctive. Rather easy to see, even foraging fairly high in conifers.

Taiwan Bush Warbler, Bradypterus alishanensis (E) (formerly within B. seebohmi):  Fairly abundant at high elevations (same areas as preceding species), although extending lower in elevation.  I saw 1 in Dasyueshan and 1 near entrance to the Yushan visitors’ center, but in general difficult to see. Song, well described by Brazil, is distinctive.

Rufous-faced Warbler, Abroscopus albogularis: Mid-elevation, sometimes in mixed flocks. Small numbers in Dasyueshan foothills, Beidongyan, Blue Gate Trail.

Black-necklaced [Spot-breasted] Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis (E): 1 pair, Huben, thanks to Mr. Chang.

Taiwan [Streak-breasted] Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus [ruficollis] musicus (E): 2 pairs, Wulei; ca. 5, Huben.

Taiwan Wren-Babbler, Pnoepyga formosana [split from Pygmy Wren-Babbler, P. pusilla] (E): 2 well seen and ca. 6 heard Blue Gate Trail; 1 heard Dasyueshan; several heard, Yushan.  Close birds fairly easily seen, not shy.

Rufous-capped Babbler, Stachyris ruficeps: Fairly common in mid-elevation, sometimes in mixed flocks. Dasyueshan, Beidongyan, Blue Gate Trail.

Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush, Garrulax ruficeps, [split from White-throated, G. albogularis] (E): 4 at Dasyueshan lodge, dawn, feeding on moths at lights; flock of ca. 8-10 in Beidongyan.

Taiwan Hwamei, Garrulax taewanus [split from Chinese Hwamei, G. canorus]:(E) pair in second growth, base of Dasyueshan foothills; came out to playback.

White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Garrulax morrisonianus (E): Common at high altitude, including foraging around parking areas; Dasyueshan, Hehuanshan, Yushan.

Steere’s Liocichla, Liocichla steerii (E): Quite common at mid and high elevation; Dasyueshan, Beidongyan, Blue Gate, Yushan.

Taiwan Barwing, Actinodura morrisoniana (E): 1, Dasyueshan, fairly high elevation; 1 in “Big Hemlock” I Yushan; both working large mossy branches rather like nuthatches.

Taiwan Fulvetta, Alcippe formosana (E): Yushan National Park: 1 near youth hostel, 1 along road above Paiyun Visitor Center.

Dusky Fulvetta, Alcippe brunnea: Low elevations: 2 in Huben area.

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia: Mid-elevational; several, Wulei; 2 Beidongyan; Hwy 21.

Taiwan Sibia, Heterophasia auricularis (E):  Common in all mid-elevation forests.

Taiwan Yuhina, Yuhina brunneiceps (E): Very abundant, in flocks, often with other species, in mid- to high-elevation forests.

White-bellied Erpornis [Yuhina],  Erpornis zantholeuca [Yuhina zantholeuca]:  2 Wulei, 1 Huben, in second growth.

Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Paradoxornis webbianus:  Flock of ca. 10, Guandu Nature Park, in stand of reeds beyond pedestrian track, on mangrove side of bicycle track; 1 in roadside scrub, Dasyueshan foothills.

Golden Parrotbill, Paradoxornis verrauxi: Yushan: several near Youth Hostel; glimpsed along road above Paiyun Visitor Center; very visible flock of ca. 10 actively moving and feeding in low bamboo near Big Hemlock.

Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus: Fairly common at Academia Sinica, Wulei; common at Guandu  Nature Park.

Flamecrest, Regulus goodfellowi (E): 3 at Hehuanshan in copses below (east of) Wuling carpark; 2 at Yushan, at Youth Hostel and in “Big Hemlock.”

Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes:  2 in conifers below Wuling.

Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea:  Dasyueshan, group of 8; 2, mid-elevation Hwy 14, east slope.

Javan Myna, Acridotheres javanicus: Common in urban and suburban habitats, low elevation.

Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Myophonus insularis (E): Fairly common at low elevations, especially in moist, shaded vegetation;  Acadmia Sinica, Wulei, Taroko Gorge, etc.

Taiwan Shortwing, Brachypteryx goodfellowi [split from White-browed, B. montana]  (E): Several heard at Blue Gate Trail and Yushan (near Youth Hostel, above Paiyun visitor center); would not reveal in response to playback.

White-browed Robin, Luscinia indica (ssp. formosana, may be specifically distinct): 1 Dasyueshan, along road, high;  2  Yushan, above Paiyun Visitor center and near Big Hemlock.

Johnstone’s Robin [Collared Bush Robin], Luscinia johnstonei (E):  Abundant at high elevation Dasyueshan, Hehuanshan, Yushan.

Oriental Magpie Robin, Copsychus saularis: 1, National Taiwan University campus; introduced.

Plumbeous Redstart [Plumbeous Water Redstart], Rhyacornis fuliginosa: Near streams; 2 Wulei, 5 Taroko Gorge and above

White-tailed Robin, Myiomela leucura: Mid-elevation; several Dasyueshan, Beiyongyan, Blue Gate Trail.

Little Forktail, Enicurus scouleri: 1, Dasyueshan, in steep rivulet, below lodge.

Ferruginous Flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea: Several at Dasyueshan, Beidongyan, Yushan above Paiyun Center.

Vivid Niltava, Niltava vivida: 3 Dasyueshan, 1 Hwy 14 east slope, 1 Beidongyan; singing from tree tops.

Brown Dipper, Cinclus pallasii: 4, Wulei.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectum: Pair in small fruiting tree, Hwy 14, mid-elevation.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus: Abundant near human habitation, occupying House Sparrow niche.

White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata: Ca.  15 at edge of Academia Sinica, Taipei.

Black-headed Munia, Lonchura malacca: 1 at Taiwan Bulbul site.

Alpine Accentor, Prunella collaris: 6, Hehuanshan, within 2-3 km east of Wuling parking area; several were very close to road and seemingly confiding.

White Wagtail, Motacilla alba: 1 Taroko Gorge, on roadway.

Vinaceous Rosefinch, Carpodacus vinaceus: At fairly high elevation; 3 Dasyueshan, several Hehuanshan, several Yushan, near visitors' center.

Brown Bullfinch, Pyrrhura nipalensis: 1 pair, Blue Gate Trail, low in trees above path.

Beavan's Bullfinch [Grey-headed Bullfinch], Pyrrhura erythaca: Yushan,  Pair flew across road in the rain near visitor center; probably the same pair was feeding on the ground the next morning in the same area.