Common Birds of Taiwan

Taiwan's national bird and arguably the most beautiful pheasant in the world — the male's purple-blue iridescence and white-banded tail are best seen on rocky trails at dawn.

The winner of a popular Taiwanese vote for national bird — the long cobalt-blue tail tipped with black-and-white spots trails behind family groups moving through mixed forest.

A Taiwan endemic with a dazzling combination of white, blue, red, and chestnut plumage — male birds display on forest roads at dawn in nature reserves.

Taiwan's endemic barbet — a vivid combination of blue, yellow, green, and red on the head, its monotonous "kow-kow" call is one of the most ubiquitous sounds in Taiwan's forests.

Taiwan's only endemic kinglet — a tiny bird with a vivid flame-orange crown and white wing bars, found in Taiwan's highest coniferous forests.

An endemic finch restricted to alpine scrub and meadows above the treeline — rosy-red males feed on grass seeds on windswept ridges, often approachable to very close range.

A Taiwan endemic laughingthrush with striking white spectacles — its loud, complex bubbling song is one of the most musical of Taiwan's endemic species.

The most striking of Taiwan's endemic laughingthrushes — white facial plumes contrast with a black cap and rich brown body; bold and curious, it approaches observers on mountain trails.