Daurian Redstart, 11/1/2012

Daurian Redstart is belong to uncommon wintering bird in Taiwan. They can be seen every year in YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City. They are used to the presence of people, which makes themselves easy targets for the birding fans to aim their cameras at. They can also be found, once or twice every year, in Taipei Botanical Garden or Da-an Forest Park, Taipei City. According to our observations, Daurian Redstart would chase Red-flanked Bluetail and Red-breasted Flycatcher away when competing for foods. Their food sources include insects, seeds and fruits.



female taken at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 11/1/2012



male taken at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/19/2012



male taken at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/18/2012



male taken at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/18/2012



female taken at Four Beast Mountain, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/26/2012



female taken at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 11/24/2011



male video recorded at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/19/2012



male video recorded at Taipei Botanical Garden, Taipei City, on 1/21/2012



female video recorded at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 11/24/2011

Chinese name:	黃尾鴝
English name:	Daurian Redstart
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Phoenicurus auroreus
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects
Habitat:	Woodlands, brushwoods, forest parks
Altitude:	Low to mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear alone or in flock in woodlands or brushwoods
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 15 cm long. For males, the color is silver gray from head top to back neck. Forehead, face, throat and back are black. Breast and belly are reddish orange. Undertail coverts are yellowish orange. There is a clear white mark on the wings. For females, the bird is mainly brown. The white mark on the wings is smaller. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Breeding mainly in southeastern Russia, China(from northeast to southwest), northeastern Mongolia, Korean Peninsula.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southern China, southeastern China, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao, Viet Nam, Taiwan, Japan, etc.
Time photographed:	11/24/2011, 10/18/2012, 10/19/2012, 10/26/2012, 11/1/2012
Location found:	Taipei Botanical Garden of Taipei City, YehLiu GeoPark of New Taipei City, Four Beast Mountain of Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

White Wagtail(leucopsis), 10/26/2012

The pictures below are all black-backed White Wagtails, with the Scientific Name Motacilla alba leucopsis, belonging to the leucopsis subspecies under the main White Wagtail species with the Scientific Name Motacilla alba in general. This subspecies is mainly mixed black and white, quite unique in Taiwan. They like to hang around in the stinky gutters in search of foods. The food sources there must be very attractive to them. In fact, they also search foods in farm fields or grasslands. In Taiwan, most of them are wintering birds, but some are local birds which stay all year round.

There are many subspecies of White Wagtail in the world, all looking very much alike. In Taiwan, three subspecies have been spotted, i.e., the leucopsis, ocularis and lugens subspecies. Within these three subspecies, only the leucopsis subspecies bears no eyelines. The other two subspecies all bear eyelines.



taken at Four Beast Mountain, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/26/2012



taken at Four Beast Mountain, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/26/2012



taken at Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 5/11/2011



taken at An-Keng Branch of NTU Farm in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 3/15/2012



male video recorded at Four Beast Mountain, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/26/2012



male video recorded at Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 5/21/2011



male and female video recorded at Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 5/21/2011



video recorded at Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 5/21/2011

Chinese name:	白面白鶺鴒
English name:	White Wagtail(black backed)
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Motacilla alba, leucopsis subspecies
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Motacillidae
Species status:	subspecies
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Most of them are winter migratory birds, and some are local birds in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, seeds
Habitat:	Wetlands, wet farm fields, streams, gutters, grasslands
Altitude:	Low to mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear alone or in flock in streams, wet farm fields and gutters.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 19 cm long. The bird is mainly mixed black and white, with some gray. It has no eyeline. Forehead, face, throat, side neck, belly and undertail coverts are white. Breast is black. The front part of the head top is white, and the rear part is black. Rear neck, back, wing and tail are black. There is a large white mark on each side wing. They often flap their tail constantly. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	China, Korean Peninsula
Migration destinations:	Indo-China Peninsula, Taiwan, Philippines
Time photographed:	5/11/2011, 5/21/2011, 3/15/2012, 10/26/2012
Location found:	Wenshan District of Taipei City, An-Keng Branch of NTU Farm in New Taipei City, Four Beast Mountain in Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Little Ringed Plover, 10/24/2012

Most of the Little Ringed Plovers are categorized as common wintering birds in Taiwan. Some stay all year round and become local birds. They can often be seen at wetlands, intertidal zones or farm fields. Similar to Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Wood Sandpiper and Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plovers are among early wintering birds in Taiwan. They arrive in Taiwan as early as August each year. Their eye frames turn golden during breeding season. That's why they are called "golden frame" in Chinese.



adult taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/24/2012



adult taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/24/2012



adult taken at Wugu Wetland, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 3/17/2012



adult taken at Wugu Wetland, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 3/17/2012



sub-adult video recorded at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/24/2012



video recorded at Wugu Wetland, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 12/24/2011

Chinese name:	小環頸鴴
English name:	Little Ringed Plover
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Charadrius dubius
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Charadriidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Mostly winter migratory birds in Taiwan, some are local birds
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Mollusks, insects
Habitat:	Wetlands, intertidal zones, coastal areas, estuaries, farm fields
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone in wetlands, intertidal zones or farm fields.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 15 cm long. For males, there is a complete horizontal black ring around the neck, a wide horizontal black band above the forehead and another wide horizontal white band immediately above it. There is still an extra wide horizontal black band running from the upper bill base to the eye and then to the side neck. Females look like males, except that the black neck ring is mixed with brown stains. They can be distinguished from Kentish Plover by the horizontal white band on the head and the golden eye frame during breeding season. Summer plumage: During breeding seasons, eye frame turns into golden, and front forehead is white. Winter plumage: During non-breeding season, eye frame is no longer golden, and front forehead is no longer white. Similar species:
Breeding places:	Most breed in Europe and northern Asia. Some breed in parts of southern Asia such as Middle East and parts of China.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in central Africa, Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific Islands, Taiwan, etc.
Time photographed:	11/12/2011, 12/4/2011, 3/17/2012, 10/24/2012
Location found:	Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park of Taipei City, and Wugu Wetland of New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Yellow Wagtail, 10/24/2012

Yellow Wagtail is categorized as common wintering bird in Taiwan. They often appear in great numbers, but spreading out eating alone, on grasslands near wetlands. You can see and hear them crying in many wetlands and riverside parks in Taipei area, including Wugu Wetland and Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park. They migrate to Taiwan from north in Autumn, return to north in Spring, and disappear totally in Summer. There are mainly two sub-species in Taiwan. One is taivana sub-species which bears a yellow eyebrow, and the other one is simillima sub-species which bears a white eyebrow. Other sub-species rarely appear in Taiwan, and are all categorized as disoriented or vagrant birds.



taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, on 10/24/2012



taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, on 10/24/2012



taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, on 10/24/2012



taken at Wugu Wetland, on 3/17/2012



taken at Wugu Wetland, on 12/18/2011



taken at Wugu Wetland, on 12/18/2011



the taivana sub-species video recorded on 3/17/2012



the simillima sub-species video recorded on 12/18/2011



the taivana sub-species video recorded on 12/18/2011

Chinese name:	黃鶺鴒
English name:	Yellow Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Motacilla flava
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Motacillidae
Species status:	According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ There are mainly two sub-species in Taiwan. One is taivana sub-species which bears a yellow eyebrow, and the other one is simillima sub-species which bears a white eyebrow. Other sub-species could appear in Taiwan also, but all are categorized as disoriented or vagrant birds. ] -- web site http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=10902
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, seeds
Habitat:	Wetlands
Altitude:	Low to high altitude
Behavior:	Often appear in great numbers, but spreading out eating alone, on grasslands near wetlands. They would constantly flap their tail up and down. They fly in an up-and-down way, not straight forward.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ About 17 cm long. Bill and feet are black.] -- web site http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=10902 Summer plumage for taivana sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ Head, neck, face and back are yellowish green. Eyebrow stripe is wide and clear. Wing is grayish black with white edges....Yellow runs from throat down to belly. Tail is black with both side tails white. ] Winter plumage for taivana sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ All the yellow parts are replaced by light and grayish yellow. All the green parts are replaced by brown. ] Sub-adult plumage for taivana sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ The sub-adult is mostly like the winter plumage of adults....The lower part of the belly is grayish white. ] Summer plumage for simillima sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ It's mostly like the taivana sub-species, but head and cheek are dark gray. Eyebrow is white and is narrower. ] Winter plumage for simillima sub-species: According to Encyclopedia in Taiwan: [ It's mostly like the taivana sub-species, but the whole body bears no yellow at all. Throat is whiter....Eyebrow is white. ] Sub-adult plumage for simillima sub-species: Similar species:
Breeding places:	There are many sub-species in the world, mostly breeding in Europe, high altitude areas in northern Asia and coastal areas of Alaska.
Migration destinations:	For European sub-species, they winter in central and southern Africa, part of northern Africa, and lower altitude areas in western Asia. For Asian and Alaskan sub-species, they winter in Indian Sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific Islands or the coastal areas of northern Australia.
Time photographed:	12/18/2011, 3/17/2012, 10/24/2012
Location found:	Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park of Taipei City, and Wugu Wetland of New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Common Teal, 10/24/2012

Common Teal, also called Green-winged Teal or Eurasian Teal, is one of the most common wintering birds in the Anatidae family in Taiwan. The others include Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Little Ringed Plovers, Gray Herons, etc. Common Teal starts coming in to Taiwan on September each year, and starts leaving Taiwan on March next year. In Taipei area, they usually winter at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park and Guandu Wetland, Taipei City. They arrive in winter plumage, and then turn gradually into coloful breeding plumage as time passed.



Male, taken at Zhongxing Bridge, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 2/5/2012



Female, taken at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/24/2012












Compare its size with Wood Sandpiper



video recorded at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/16/2012



video recorded at Zhongxing Bridge, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 2/5/2012

Chinese name:	小水鴨
English name:	Common Teal, Green-winged Teal, Eurasian Teal, Teal
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Anas crecca
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Aquatics
Habitat:	Wetlands, estuaries, swamps, intertidal zones
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear in flock in intertidal zones, wetlands or swamps.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 38 cm long. Bill and feet are black. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: For males, there is a wide chestnut crown stripe, with thin white border lines, on head top. Green color circles around the eye and extends to the rear side neck, looking like a big green comma, with thin white border lines too. The rest of the head, face and neck are chestnut. A wide white bar along the side body appears when it close its wings. The side body and the back are covered with thin and short grayish blue lines. Belly is white. Breast is white, covered with black dots. Undertail coverts are black, with a big triangular milky yellow mark on both side of the tail. For females, the whole body is mainly brown. The edges of the wings are near white. There is no big green comma. There is no wide white bar along the side body either. Eyeline is black. Similar species:
Breeding places:	Breeding in northern North America, northern Europe, northern Asia.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in central America, central Africa, Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Pacific costal provinces of China, Taiwan.
Time photographed:	2/5/2012, 10/16/2012, 10/21/2012, 10/24/2012
Location found:	Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Japanese Grosbeak, 10/19/2012

This October a Japanese Grosbeak appeared in Jinshan Youth Activity Center, New Taipei City. The news immediately excited the birding society. And again, wave after wave of birding fans rushed to photograph this magnificent bird. The Chinese name of the bird is odd, and so is its look, especially its head. Its bill is in cone shape. I never saw that kind of head before. According to information from internet, Japanese Grosbeaks are rare wintering birds in Taiwan. I guess this one had just arrived in Taiwan not long before, so it ate like hell the seeds of a tree which I don't know the name. You might know the tree by viewing the pictures below.

After that day, people said there came another Japanese Grosbeak. Maybe they were a couple, one male and one female. I don't know.












video recorded at Jinshan Youth Activity Center, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/19/2012

Chinese name:	桑鳲
English name:	Japanese Grosbeak
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Eophona personata
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	Seeds, fruits, tender shoots
Habitat:	Deciduous forests, mixed forests, forest parks
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear in flock or in pair on top level of trees.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 21 cm long. The bird is mainly milky gray. Bill is yellow, in cone shape. The front half of the whole head, which includes head top, face and throat, is black. The front half of both the wing and the tail are grayish blue, while the back half are black. There is a white mark on the side of the primaries. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Breeding in southeastern Russia, northeastern China, North Korea, Japan.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southern China, Taiwan, etc.
Time photographed:	10/19/2012
Location found:	Jinshan Youth Activity Center, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Grey-backed Thrush, 10/19/2012

Grey-backed Thrushes are either rare passage migrants during Autumn and Spring or Wintering birds here in Taiwan. This time they appeared in YehLiu GeoPark again and became the main attraction. But the site was so dark that my compact digital camera was not able to get the still pictures clear. So I recorded some of its actions.












video recorded at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/19/2012

Chinese name:	灰背鶇
English name:	Grey-backed Thrush
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Turdus hortulorum
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Turdidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Passage migrants in Autumn and Spring, or Wintering individuals in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, seeds, fruits
Habitat:	Broad-leaved forests, bushes, brushwoods
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone in bushes or brushwoods.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 22 cm long. The upperpart is gray with light copper. Bill is grayish black. Throat is grayish white with grayish vertical black stains. Breast is light gray with grayish black stains. Belly is light gray. Side belly is orange. Feet are yellowish orange. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Most of them breed in southeastern Russia and northeastern China. Rare individuals breed in Korean Peninsula.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southeastern China, Hong Kong, Macao, Viet Nam, Taiwan, etc.
Time photographed:	10/19/2012
Location found:	YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Lanceolated Warbler, 10/19/2012

This Lanceolated Warbler was zigzagging quickly through the weeds on the slope at YehLiu GeoPark in search of foods. Because the weeds are dense and the bird's move was fast, it's kind of hard to take the pictures. For two days, I had only taken one picture that is somehow focused. Some people call the bird "Rat bird" in Chinese. I guess it's because the bird moves like rats. They are categorized as rare passage migrants in Taiwan.



taken at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/18/2012



video recorded at YehLiu GeoPark, on 10/19/2012

Chinese name:	矛斑蝗鶯
English name:	Lanceolated Warbler
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Locustella lanceolata
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Sylviidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Passage migrants in Autumn and Spring in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects
Habitat:	Brushwoods, farm fields, swamps
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone in brushwoods or swamps.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 12 cm long. The bird is mixed with gray, light gray, black and white together. The lowerpart is slightly yellow. Eyebrow stripe is white. Eyeline is black. Throat and belly are white. Breast is white with thin vertical black lines. Head is gray with thin black lines. Back is gray with wide black lines. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Breeding in Russia, northeastern China, northwestern Mongolia, Korean Peninsula, Japan, etc.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in northeastern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, etc.
Time photographed:	10/18/2012, 10/19/2012
Location found:	YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Tristram's Bunting, 10/18/2012

I heard from a birding friend that the birding condition at YehLiu GeoPark was good. So I went there next day. As I arrived, I saw two Daurian Redstarts at play at the bottom of the hill which is the main birding site. So I knew it's going to be good. After I climbed up the hill, immediately I saw lots of birding fans already there photographing a Tristram's Bunting eating the seeds of some kind of weed grown by the trail. The bunting was so hungry that it didn't care about the surrounding crowd at all, as we all took a great deal of good pictures. Tristram's Bunting is rare passage migrant in Taiwan, but they pass by YehLiu GeoPark every year.

















video recorded at YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/18/2012

Chinese name:	白眉鵐
English name:	Tristram's Bunting
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Emberiza tristrami
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Emberizidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Passage migrants in Autumn and Spring in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	Seeds, insects
Habitat:	Grasslands, bushes
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone in grasslands or bushes eating seeeds.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 15 cm long. The bird is mainly brown, like sparrow. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: For females, head, face and neck are blackish brown. There are milky yellow vertical thin lines on throat and neck. Crown stripe, eyebrow stripe and cheek line are milky yellow. Breast is light brown with vertical brown stripes. Belly is white. Rump and tail are chestnut. For males, the plumage is like females, but its head, face and neck are black, and its crown stripe, eyebrown stripe and cheek line are white. Male is larger than female. Similar species:
Breeding places:	Breeding in a small portion of southeastern Russia, a small portion of northeastern China.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southern China, Myanmar, Lao, Thailand, Viet Nam.
Time photographed:	10/18/2012
Location found:	YehLiu GeoPark, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Dark-throated Thrush, 10/13/2012

Like other disoriented birds in Taiwan, the appearance of this Dark-throated Thrush greatly excited the birding society. The birding fans instantly went crazy when the news spread out! Huge crowds gathered at the scene at a quiet corner in Dayuan Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan, and the sounds of the camera shutters clicked like hell again! You can't blame them. After all, you won't see this bird appearing in Taiwan under normal circumstance. It only appears in Taiwan when it gets lost during its migration.















video recorded in Dayuan Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan, on 10/13/2012

Chinese name:	赤頸鶇
English name:	Dark-throated Thrush, Red-throated Thrush, Black-throated Thrush
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Turdus ruficollis
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Turdidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Disoriented bird
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, earthworms
Habitat:	Coniferous forest, shrubbery, arbor forest, farm field
Altitude:	Low altitudes
Behavior:
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 25 cm long. For adults, the upperpart is gray. Neck, upper chest, eyebrow stripe and side neck is full of reddish brown stains. That's why they are called "Red-throated Thrush". Belly and buttock are white. Tail is blackish brown. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Eastern Azerbaijan, fareastern Kazakhstan, northeastern Kyrgyzstan, Central part of Russia, northwestern Xinjiang(province of China), northwestern Mongolia.
Migration destinations:	Most nations in Middle East, southwestern Uzbekistan, western Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, etc.
Time photographed:	10/13/2012
Location found:	Dayuan, Taoyuan County
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Dusky Fulvetta, 10/11/2012

People said a flock of Dusky Fulvetta stably appear in Qidu District, Keelung City, Taiwan. So, there I went. Thanks to the people who found the birds. Dusky Fulvetta is called "Jungle Hermit" in Chinese, which explains why it's so difficult to spot them in the wild. It's also not easy to take a good picture of them, since they frequently move fast like lightning. What I used was a compact digital camera. It took me twice to get the pictures clear with better focus.

Dusky Fulvetta is common local bird in Taiwan, and they are one of Taiwan endemic subspecies.



Adult, taken at Qidu District, Keelung City, Taiwan, on 10/11/2012









video, recorded at Qidu District, Keelung City, Taiwan, on 10/11/2012



video, recorded at Qidu District, Keelung City, Taiwan, on 9/26/2012

Chinese name:	頭烏線
English name:	Dusky Fulvetta
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Alcippe brunnea
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Timaliidae
Species status:	Taiwan endemic subspecies
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Fruits, seeds, insects
Habitat:	Woods, brushwoods
Altitude:	Low to mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear in flock in grasswoods near ground level, not easy to spot them.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 12 cm long. Unable to fly long distance. There is a wide black line on both sides of the head, extending from forehead to nape. That's why they are called "Black head line" in Chinese. The bird is mainly grayish brown. Bill is black and is short. They move by fast jumping forward. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Taiwan, China
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	9/26/2012, 10/11/2012
Location found:	Qidu District, Keelung City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Long-tailed Shrike, 10/5/2012

Some birding friends found a Long-tailed Shrike, when I was photographing the Chestnut Tailed Starlings at the riverside park near Dazhi, Taipei City, Taiwan. I used to meet another one earlier at CKS Memorial Hall, but this time the bird was closer. I like the posture when it raises its tail high up in the air. That's beautiful! Long-tailed Shrike is common local bird in Taiwan, and it's one of the Taiwan endemic subspecies.

Adult, taken at the riverside park near Dazhi, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/5/2012



Adult, taken at the riverside park near Dazhi, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/5/2012



Adult, taken at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City, on 7/6/2011



Adult, taken at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City, on 7/6/2011



video recorded at the riverside park near Dazhi, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 10/5/2011



video recorded at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City, Taiwan, on 7/6/2011

Chinese name:	棕背伯勞
English name:	Long-tailed Shrike
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Lanius schach
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Laniidae
Species status:	Taiwan endemic subspecies
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, reptiles
Habitat:	Grasslands, farm fields, parks
Altitude:	Low altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear alone in grasslands and rest on an outstanding tree branch.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 25 cm long. For the adult, the color is gray from head top to neck. The forehead is black. The black eyeline is very wide. The upper back is gray. The color is brown from lower back to upper tail covert. The wing and the tail are black. There is a white spot on both sides of the wing. Throat, breast and belly are white. Bill is black. Tail is long. Feet and toe are black. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Taiwan
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	7/6/2011, 10/5/2012
Location found:	CKS Memorial Hall and the riverside park near Dazhi, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes: