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ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST, Taiwan, November 7 – 16, 2005,
Taxonomy, names and sequence follow Birds of the World, a Checklist, 5th edition, 2000, by James F. Clements, updated to July, 2005. 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.
“Shan”, pronounced ”sahn”, = “mountain;” “tan” = “lake.”
For itinerary, see TRIP REPORT: BIRDING IN TAIWAN, November 7–16, 2005.
Grebes
      Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis [Podiceps ruficollis] – many
          in wetland habitats – Aougo; Hambao, Tsengwen River estuary;
          Kwangtien jacana reserve.
Cormorants
      Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo – many in
          appropriate habitat.
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns
      Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea – many in freshwater
          habitat.
        Great Egret, Ardea alba [Egretta alba] – common
          in freshwater habitat.
        Intermediate Egret, Egretta intermedia – fairly
          common in freshwater habitat.
      Little Egret, Egretta garzetta – Abundant in both
        freshwater and saltwater habitats.
      Chinese Pond Heron – Ardeola bacchus – 2, Huatan,
        Changhua County.
      Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis – several in lowland
        habitat.
      Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax – associated
        with freshwater habitats; abundant at Puzih River.
      Malayan Night-Heron [Tiger Bittern], Gorsachius melanolophus – 1,
        Wufeng area; 1, Chung Pu; 5, Taipei Botanical Gardens.
      Yellow Bittern [Chinese Little Bittern], Ixobrychus sinensis – 1,
        Yenshui River area; 2, Aougo Wetland.
      Cinnamon Bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus – 1, Hambao;
        1, Aougu Wetland; 1, Tsengwen River estuary.
Ibises and Spoonbills
      Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor – 9, Aougo
          wetland; 393 (official count on that day, Nov. 13), Tsengwen River
          estuary.  Globally threatened.
Ducks, Geese and Swans
      Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penelope – many in wetland
          habitats.
        Gadwall, Anas strepera – 2, Aougo Wetland.
          Eurasian Teal [Green-winged Teal], Anas crecca – many
      in wetland habitat.
      Spot-billed Duck, Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha – 20,
      Aougo Wetland.
      Northern Pintail [Pintail], Anas acuta – 50, Aougo
      Wetland; Tsengwen River estuary.
      Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata – Many in wetland
        habitat.
      Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula – 25, Aougo Wetland.
Osprey
      Osprey, Pandion haliaetus – 2, Aougo Wetland.
Hawks, Eagles and Kites
      Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus – 1, Hambao
      Oriental Honey-Buzzard [Honey Buzzard], Pernis ptilorhynchus
          [Pernis apivorus] – 1, Huisun Forest Station; 1 enroute to
          Aowanda.
        Crested Serpent-Eagle, Spilornis cheela – 1, Wufeng
        area; 1, Aougo wetland..
        Eastern Marsh Harrier [Marsh Harrier], Circus spilonotus [Circus
      aeruginosus] – 1, Aougo Wetland.
      Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus – 1, Huisun
      Forest Station; 1, on way to Aowanda; 1 A Li Shan.
      Japanese Sparrowhawk [Japanese Lesser Sparrow Hawk], Accipiter
      gularis – 1, Wufeng area; 1, Huisun  Forest Station; 1,
      (Blue Gate Trail #1.
      Black Eagle [Indian Black Eagle], Ictinaetus malayensis – 2,
      A Li Shan National Scenic Area.
Falcons and Caracaras
      Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus – Seen on 5
          out of 9 days; total 7 birds.
Pheasants and Partridges
      TAIWAN PARTRIDGE [TAIWAN HILL PARTRIDGE], Arborophila crudigularis – 1
          seen by 1 Leader, Aowanda Forest Recreation Area; 1 heard only, Ruiyan
          River Trail (Blue Gate Trail #2), Meifeng        area.
        Chinese Bamboo-Partridge [Bamboo Partridge], Bambusicola thoracica – Heard
        only, Huisun and Meifeng.
        SWINHOE’S PHEASANT, Lophura swinhoii – 1 Huisun
      Forest Station, Nov. 8; a male was heard calling at   Huisun early
      on the morning of Nov. 9; 4, Beidongyan Shan; 3, Blue Gate Trail #1.
Rails, Gallinues and Coots
      White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus – 2,
          Tsengwen River estuary.
        Ruddy-breasted Crake, Porzana fusca – 1, Tsenweng
        River Estuary.
      Common Moorhen [Moorhen], Gallinula chloropus – common
        in marsh habitat.
      Eurasian Coot [Coot], Fulica atra – small numbers
        in suitable habitat.
Jacanas
      Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus – 6,
          Pheasant-tailed Jacana Restoration Area, Kwangtien, Tainan County.  Very
          rare resident.
Painted-Snipes
      Greater Painted-Snipe, Rostratula benghalensis – 15,
          Huatan fields.
Stilts and Avocets
      Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus – many
          at Aougo Wetland and Tsengwen River.
Plovers and Lapwings
      Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus – 2, Hambao
          Wetland.
        Pacific Golden-Plover [American Golden Plover], Pluvialis
          fulva [Pluvialis dominica] – Many in mudflats of   Aougo
          and Tsengwen River estuary.
          Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola – 2,
          Yenshui River. 
      Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius – Many in appropriate
      mudflat habitat.
      Snowy Plover [Kentish Plover], Charadrius alexandrinus – many
        at Hambao and Aougo Wetland.
        Lesser Sandplover [Mongolian Plover], Charadrius mongolus – 3,
      Tsengwen River estuary.
Sandpipers and Allies
      Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago – 15, Aougo Wetland;
          20, Tsengwen River estuary.
        Asian Dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus – 2,
          Yenshui River.  Rare.
      Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa – 60, Yenshui
        River.
      Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica – 27, Tsengwen
        River.
      Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata – 5, Tsengwen River.
      Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus –  1, Yenshui
        River.
      Common Redshank, Tringa totanus – 2, Aougo Wetland;
        many, Tsengwen River.
      Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis – 1, Hambao;
        4, Aougo Wetland; 50 Tsengwen River.
        Common Greenshank [Greenshank], Tringa nebularia – 1,
      Hambao; 6, Aougo Wetland; many, Tsengwen River.
      Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus – 1, Kwangtien jacana
      reserve.
      Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola – many in appropriate
      habitat.
      Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos [Tringa hypoleucos] – 1,
      Hambao; 5, Auogo Wetland; 10, Tsengwen River; 2, Chukuo village, Chaiyi
      County.
      Great Knot, Calidris tenuirostris – 1, Yenshui River.
      Red-necked Stint [Rufous-necked Stint], Calidris rufficollis – 6,
        Tsengwen River.
        Long-toed Stint, Calidris subminuta – 200, Hambao.
        Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminate – 80,
        Hambao; 2, Aougo; 3, Tsengwen River.
      Dunlin, Calidris alpina – hundreds, Aougo Wetland,
        Tsengwen River.
Gulls
      Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus – 1,  Auogo
          Wetland; 2 Tsengwen River.
        Saunders’ Gull, Larus saundersi – 1, Tsengwen
        River.
Terns
      Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia – 40, Tsengwen River
          estuary.
Pigeons and Doves
      Rock Pigeon [Rock Dove], Columba livia – many in
          varied habitats.
        Ashy Wood-Pigeon, Columba pulchricollis – Small
          numbers in mountain habitat.
          Oriental Turtle-Dove [Rufous Turtle-Dove], Streptopelia orientalis – 1,
      on the way to A Li Shan.
      Red Collared-Dove [Red Turtle Dove], Streptopelia tranquebarica – seen
      almost every day, in various habitats.
      Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis – common in lowlands.
      Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica – 1, by single observer,
      Huisun Forest Station.
      White-bellied Pigeon [Japanese Green Pigeon], Treron sieboldii
        [Sphenurus sieboldi] – 1, Huisun Forest Station; 22 on 2 days,
        Blue Gate Trails, Meifeng.
Cuckoos
      Lesser Coucal, Centropus bengalensis – 2, Aougo
          Wetland.
Typical Owls
      Mountain Scops-Owl [Scops Owl], Otus spilocephalus – 1,
          Huisun Forest Station, after dark; heard only.
          Collared Owlet [Collared Pygmy Owlet], Claucidium brodiei – 1,
          Huisun Forest Station, after dark; heard only.
          Northern Boobook [Brown Hawk-Owl], Ninox japonica [Ninox
      scutulata] – 1, Huisun Forest Station, at     dawn; heard
      only.
Swifts
      House Swift, Apus nipalensis [Alpus affinis] – large
          numbers in open areas.
Kingfishers
      Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis – Several in wetland
          habitats.
ROLLERS
      Dollarbird [Broad-billed Roller], Eurystomus orientalis – 1,
          Yufeng area; 1, on the way to Huisun Forest   Station.
Barbets
      Black-browed Barbet [Muller’s Barbet], Megalaima
          oorti – Daily, Huisun Forest Station to Meifeng; 4, A LI   Shan.
Woodpeckers
      Gray-capped Woodpecker [Gray-headed Pygmy Woodpecker], Dendrocopos
          canicapillus – 1, Huisun Forest Station; 3, Blue Gate Trails,
          Meifeng; 4 A Li Shan.  
          White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos – 2,
      Huisun Forest Station.
Larks
      Oriental Skylark, Alauda gulgula – 1, Kwantien;
          5, Anping Harbor area, Tainan; 1 at highway rest area on   the
          way from A Li Shan to Taipei, Nov. 15. 
Swallows
      Plain Martin [Brown-throated Sand Martin], Riparia paludicola – several
          at low elevation.
      Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica – common in lowlands.
          Pacific Swallow, Hirundo tahitica – very common
          in lowlands.
      Striated Swallow, Hirundo striolata – common in lowlands.  (See
      footnote 1.)
Wagtails and Pipits
      White Wagtail, Motacilla alba – 1, on the way to
          Huisun Forest Station
        Black-backed Wagtail, Motacilla lugens – 2, Tonglin
        village area, Yufeng; 2, Chung Pu area; 1, Chukuo area.
      Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava – Abundant at Hambao
        and Huatan. (N.B:  It is possible that some may have been Eastern
        Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensi, but gray-and-white first
        winter birds are not identifiable as to species.)
        Gray Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea – 1, Huisun Forest
      Station; others in appropriate lower elevation habitat.
      Richard’s Pipit, Anthus richardi [Anthus novaeseelandiae] – 4,
        Hambao..
      Red-throated Pipit, Anthus rubescens – 3, Hambao;
        1, Aougo Wetland.
      American Pipit [Water Pipit], Anathus rubescens [Anthus spinoletta] – 3,
        Hambao; 1, Aougo Wetland.
CUCKOO-SHRIKES
      Gray-chinned Minivet [Yellow-throated Minivet], Pericrocotus
          solaris – fairly common in appropriate habitat; mostly mid-elevation.
BULBULS
      Collared Finchbill, Spizixos semitorques – 5, Chukuo
          village, Chiayi County.
          Light-vented Bulbul [Chinese Bulbul], Pycnonotus sinensis – abundant
      almost everywhere.
      Black Bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus [H. madagascariensis] – common
      in wooded habitats.
KINGLETS
      FLAMECREST [TAIWAN FIRECREST], Regulus goodfellowi – 4,
          A Li Shan (1, Tataka Recreation area; 3    Chaoping Park).
ACCENTORS
      Alpine Accentor, Prunella collaris – 8, Hehuan
          Shan, Taroko National Park; 3, Tataka Recreation Area,Yushan National
          Park.
THRUSHES
      Blue Rock-Thrush, Monticola solitarius – 1, Chingjing.
          FORMOSAN WHISTLING-THRUSH [Taiwan Whistling-thrush], Myophonus
      insularis – 1, Aowanda.
      Scaly Thrush [White’s Ground Thrush], Zoothera dauma [Turdus
      dauma] – 1, Beidongyan Shan.
      White-browed Shortwing [Blue Shortwing], Brachypteryx montana – 1,
      Blue Gate Trail #2, Meifeng. Heard by all, but seen by 1 person.
CISTICOLAS AND ALLIES
      Zitting Cisticola [Fan-tailed Warbler], Cisticola
          juncidis – 6, Huatan; 1, Chukuo, Chaiyi County.
          Yellow-bellied Prinia, Prinia flaviventris –  fairly
      common in low wetland habitat.
      Plain Prinia [Tawny-flanked Prinia], Prinia inornata [Prinia
      subflava] – fairly common in low wetland  habitat.
OLD WORLD WARBLERS
      Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler [Verreaux’s Bush Warbler], Cettia
          acanthizoides – 6, Blue Gate Trails, Meifeng; 3, A Li Shan.
        TAIWAN BUSH-WARBLER, Bradypterus alishanensis – 1,
        Tataka Recreation Area, Yushan National Park, heard only, by 1 leader.
        Dusky Warbler, Phylloscoopus fuscatus – 1, Yufeng area.
        Oriental Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis – 1,
      Yenshui River.
      Rufous-faced Warbler [White-throated Flycatcher Warbler], Abroscopus
        albogularis – 8, Blue Gate      Trails,
        Meifeng.
OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS
      Snowy-browed Flycatcher [Thicket Flycatcher], Ficedula hyperythra – 4,
          single observer, Blue Gate Trail   #1, Meifeng, Nov. 11.
          Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana – 1,
      single observer, Huisun Forest Station.
      White-browed Bush-Robin, Tarsiger indicus [Erithacus indicus] – 1,
      Hehuan Shan, Nov. 10.
      COLLARED BUSH-ROBIN, Tarsiger johnstoniae [Erithacus johnstoniae] – 5,
      Blue Gate Trails, Meifeng; 9, A Li Shan.
      Daurian Redstart, Phoenicurus auroreus – 3, Huisun
        Forest Station; 2, Aowanda; 4, Chingching; 1, Hambao; 3, A Li Shan.
      Plumbeous Redstart [Plumbeous Water Redstart], Rhyacornis fuliginosus
        [Phoenicurus fulginosus] – 4, Auwanda National Forest Recreation
        Area. 
MONARCH FLYCATCHERS
      Black-naped Monarch [Black-naped Blue Monarch], Hypothymis
          azurea – 10, Yufeng area; 1, Chung Pu area. 
BABBLERS
      WHITE-WHISKERED LAUGHINGTHRUSH [TAIWAN LAUGHING THRUSH], Garrulax
          morrisonianus – 1,    Hehuan Shan; 8, A Li Shan.
          STEERE’S LIOCICHLA, Liocichla steerii – 29,
          Meifeng area (some in scrubby growth beside our hotel, (Chingjing Resort);
          17, A Li Shan.
      Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler [Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler], Pomatorhinus
        erythrocnemis  [Pomatorhinus erythrogenys] – 1
        seen when surprised and flushed at Huisun; several others heard  only,
        in mountain habitat.
        Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis – 7,
      Yufeng area; 1 heard, Huisun.
      Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla – 1, heard only
        at the “Couple Trees”, Yushan Highway, A Li Shan.
      Rufous-capped Babbler [Red-headed Tree Babbler], Stachyris
        ruficeps – 1 seen, Yufeng; 2 seen, A Li Shan; 3 others, heard
        only.
        TAIWAN BARWING, Actinodura morrisoniana – 9, Blue
        Gate Trails, Meifeng.
      Streak-throated Fulvetta, Alcippe cinereiceps – 9,
      A Li Shan.
      Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia – Fairly
      common, mid- to high elevation.
      WHITE-EARED SIBIA [TAIWAN SIBIA], Heterophasia auricularis – many,
        Meifeng area.
      TAIWAN YUHINA, Yuhina brunneiceps – many, Blue Gate
        Trails and A Li Shan.
      White-bellied Yuhina, Yuhina zantholeuca – 1, Yufeng
        area; 10 Huisun Forest Station.
PARROTBILLS
      Golden Parrotbill [Blythe’s Parrotbill], Paradoxornis
          verreauxi [Paradoxornis nipalensis] – a rapidly moving feeding
          flock of at least 60, Tataka Recreation Area, Yushan National Park. 
CHICKADEES AND TITS
      Black-throated Tit, Aegithalos concinnus – 40,
          Blue Gate Trails, Meifeng; 10, A Li Shan.
        Coal Tit, Periparus ater [Parus ater] – 5,
        A Li Shan, at Tataka Recreation Area and Chaoping Park.
      Green-backed Tit, Parus monticolus – 21, Blue Gate
        Trails, Meifeng; 1, A Li Shan.
      YELLOW TIT [TAIWAN TIT], Macholophys holsti [Parus holsti] – 4,
        Blue Gate Trails, Meifeng. 
      Varied Tit, Sittiparus varius [Parus varius] – 2,
        Huisun Forest Station; 3, A Li Shan.
NUTHATCHES
      Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea – 12, Blue Gate
          Trails, Meifeng.
FLOWERPECKERS
      Plain Flowerpecker, Dicaeum concolor – 2, Aowanda.
        Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus – Several,
          Huisun, Auwanda, and Blue Gate Trails. 
WHITE-EYES
      Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus – very
          common everywhere except highest elevation.
OLD WORLD ORIOLES
      Maroon Oriole, Oriolus trailii – 1, Huisun Forest
          Station, Leader only.
SHRIKES
      Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus – 1, Yufeng area;
          3, Huatan; 2, Chiku area.
        Long-tailed Shrike [Black-headed Shrike], Lanius schach – 11,
        lowland habitast.
DRONGOS
      Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus – common at
          low elevation.
CROWS, JAYS AND MAGPIES.
      Eurasian Jay [Jay], Garrulus glandarius – 2, Aowanda;
          9, Blue Gate Trails, Meifeng.
          FORMOSAN MAGPIE [TAIWAN BLUE MAGPIE], Urocissa caerulea – 1,
      Yufeng area; 11, Huisun Forest    Station.
      Gray Treepie [Himalayan Tree Pie], Dendrocitta formosae – 4,
      Yufeng area; 18, Huisun Forest Station; 2,  A Li Shan.
      Eurasian Magpie [Magpie], Pica pica – 10, Yufeng area;
      2, Aougo Wetlands; 5, Chiku area.
      Eurasian Nutcracker [Nutcracker}, Nucifraga caryocatactes – 5,
      Auwanda; 1 Blue Gate Trail #1, Meifeng.
      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.
      White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata – 10, Huatan.
      Nutmeg Mannikin, Lonchura punctulata – common in grassy,
      scrubby habitats at low elevation.
      Yellow Bunting [Japanese Yellow Bunting], Emberiza sulphurata – 2,
      Huatan. 
      Black-faced Bunting,  Emberiza spodocephala – 20,
      Huatan.  
SISKINS, CROSSBILLS AND ALLIES
      Vinaceous Rosefinch, Carpodacus vinaceus – 1,
        Hehuan Shan; 3, A LI Shan
        Oriental Greenfinch, Carduelis sinica – 5, Huatan. 
        Brown Bullfinch, Pyrrhula nipalensis – 15, single Observer,
      Blue Gate Trail, Meifeng.
      Eurasian Tree Sparrow [Tree Sparrow], Passer montanus – abundant
      in towns.
Total species: 161 (including 2 escaped Common Myna); 148 seen by two or more participants, 6 heard only, 5 seen by only one participant, 2 seen only by a Leader .
Endemic species: 11 (of 15) seen, plus 1 seen by a Leader only, 1 heard by a Leader only.
Missed: Mikado Pheasant, Styan’s Bulbul
OTHER ANIMALS OBSERVED:
| Taiwan Macaque | Macacca cyclopis | Nov. 8 - one, Nov. 15 - ten | 
| Formosan Striped Squirrel | Tamions maritimus formosanus | Nov. 14 - one | 
| Rice Field Frog | Rano limnocharis | Nov. 12 – one, Nov. 13 - one | 
| Black-spectacled Toad | Bufo melanostictus | Nov. 13 - one | 
| Cross-striped Human-faced Spider | Nephila clavata | Nov. 8 – 100, Nov. 9 – fifty | 
| Mudskipper sp. | Unidentified | Nov. 11 - one | 
| Chipmunk | Unidentified | Nov. 10 - one | 
| Red-bellied Squirrel | Callosciurus erythacus | Nov. 10 - one | 
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
For more information, contact Simon Liao, in Taiwan, at: birdsimon0624@yahoo.com.tw, or Jo Ann MacKenzie, in Canada, at: j.a.mackenzie@telus.net
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