It isn’t true that voting shouldn’t be allowed in China. I requested about 10 Chinese language birders about the very best Chinese language provinces for birding and didn’t run into any issues in any way. So, listed below are the outcomes.
1 – Yunnan (892 species on eBird)
Yunnan has by far the most important variety of chook species in China as its panorama and habitat embody East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Tibetan Plateau. Some engaging chook households akin to hornbills, barbets, and pittas can both solely be present in Yunnan, or have an even 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 embody Baihualing, Hongbenghe, Lijiang, and Xishuangbanna.
Listed here are just a few private favorites among the many Yunnan species:
- Babblers such because the Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler
- White-speckled Laughingthrush
- Fireplace-tailed Myzornis
- Nice Barbet
- Blue-winged Minla
- Blue-bearded Bee-eater
- Frequent Inexperienced Magpie
- Higher Flameback
- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler
2 – Sichuan (669 species on eBird)
Sichuan has fairly just a few endemic and/or threatened birds, significantly pheasants and parrotbills. Most likely it’s most tasty for birders in spring (April to June). Good areas embody 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
- Girl Amherst’s Pheasant
Blood Pheasant
3 – Qinghai (426 species on eBird)
Qinghai shouldn’t be a spot the place you will notice loads of birds in a single place – however virtually all of the birds you see will likely be fascinating. Specifically, 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 very best time for birding in Qinghai – good areas embody 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 in all probability wouldn’t have included it in my private prime 5, however perhaps 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 explicit species, although it’s a good place for Fork-tailed Sunbird and Orange-bellied Leafbird). Wuyishan can be really useful steadily, as is the Minjiang Estuary for Chinese language Crested Tern and Quanzhou is a crucial wintering spot for Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
Spring is supposedly the very best 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 steadily 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 not actually suggest areas but, nevertheless it appears Might to July are the very best months to go birding in Xinjiang.
And some species I hope to see there finally:
- 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 had 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 selections are fairly just like the outcomes of my straw ballot – it solely replaces Xinjiang with Guangdong, a barely bizarre alternative if you happen to ask me.
So, for these birders coming to China for the primary time, Yunnan or Sichuan are in all probability the very best selections. Whereas Sichuan has fewer species, the province would possibly change into extra fascinating to these birders already accustomed to a few of the birds of Southeast Asia, as these are additionally a serious attraction of Yunnan.