Taiwan’s mix of mountains, coasts and subtropical forests makes it a top spot for birdwatching — from busy lowland parks to quiet highland trails. Whether you’re passing through city green spaces or hiking ridge lines, the island’s habitats support a wide variety of species and seasonal migrants.
There are 42 Birds of Taiwan, ranging from Ashy Drongo to White-bellied Sea Eagle. For each, the list shows Scientific name,Status,Size (length cm) & key ID so you can compare field marks and status at a glance — you’ll find below.
How can I use this list to help identify birds in the field?
Use the Size (length cm) & key ID column first to narrow possible matches by overall shape, size and distinctive marks, then check the Scientific name to confirm species and the Status column for how common it is locally; carry a pocket guide or app with photos to compare plumage and calls while you watch.
Are any of the species on the list rare or legally protected in Taiwan?
Yes — the Status column flags uncommon or protected species; if a bird is listed as rare or protected, observe from a distance, avoid disturbance and consult local regulations or birding groups for updates on protections and recent sightings.
Birds of Taiwan
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Size (length cm) & key ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formosan Blue Magpie | Urocissa caerulea | Endemic resident | 60 cm, long tail bright blue, black-and-white head |
| Taiwan Barbet | Psilopogon nuchalis | Endemic resident | 24 cm, chunky green, red forehead |
| Mikado Pheasant | Syrmaticus mikado | Endemic resident | 80 cm, crested male, glossy black-blue plumage |
| Swinhoe’s Pheasant | Lophura swinhoii | Endemic breeding | 75 cm, metallic male plumage, white crest |
| Taiwan Partridge | Arborophila crudigularis | Endemic resident | 28 cm, brown, chest pattern, forest floor |
| Taiwan Bamboo Partridge | Bambusicola sonorivox | Endemic resident | 30 cm, streaked brown, bamboo scrub |
| Taiwan Whistling Thrush | Myophonus insularis | Endemic resident | 28 cm, dark blue, loud whistling song |
| Flamecrest | Regulus goodfellowi | Endemic breeder | 10 cm, tiny, orange crest, high-elevation forest |
| Black-faced Spoonbill | Platalea minor | Winter visitor | 65 cm, large spoon bill, white plumage, estuaries |
| Chinese Egret | Egretta eulophotes | Scarce winter visitor | 60 cm, elegant white egret, yellow bill base |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | Resident/visitor | 100 cm, large white heron, long S-shaped neck |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Resident | 60 cm, slender white heron, black bill, yellow feet |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Resident/migrant | 95 cm, grey back, long neck, fish habitats |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Coastal migrant | 55 cm, white underparts, dark eye stripe |
| Crested Goshawk | Accipiter trivirgatus | Resident breeder | 40 cm, barred underparts, woodland hawk |
| Chinese Sparrowhawk | Accipiter soloensis | Passage migrant | 35 cm, slim raptor, orange male streaking |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans | Common resident | 55 cm, forked tail, scavenging raptor over cities |
| White-bellied Sea Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | Coastal resident | 85 cm, bulky sea eagle, pale belly |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Migratory visitor | 40 cm, powerful falcon, dark helmet, cliff nester |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | Resident | 17 cm, bright blue back, orange underparts, river edges |
| Collared Kingfisher | Todiramphus chloris | Coastal resident | 25 cm, blue and white, mangroves and coasts |
| Stork-billed Kingfisher | Pelargopsis capensis | Southern resident | 35 cm, huge bill, large kingfisher, rivers/coast |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | Wader migrant | 40 cm, long pink legs, black-and-white plumage |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Coastal migrant | 16 cm, small plover, pale underparts, beaches |
| Red-necked Stint | Calidris ruficollis | Small wader migrant | 15 cm, tiny, short bill, mudflats in migration |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Shorebird migrant | 18 cm, pale winter plumage, runs on surf line |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Common winter visitor | 23 cm, bold orange legs, patterned back |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Passage migrant | 31 cm, long legs, slightly upcurved bill |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica | Long-distance migrant | 40 cm, curved bill, visits mudflats in migration |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | Migratory wader | 38 cm, long downcurved bill, streaked crown |
| Brown Shrike | Lanius cristatus | Common migrant | 20 cm, masked face, perched roadside hunter |
| Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius schach | Resident/partial migrant | 28 cm, long tail, black mask, varied plumage |
| Black-naped Oriole | Oriolus chinensis | Resident | 28 cm, yellow plumage, black eye stripe |
| Greater Coucal | Centropus sinensis | Resident | 48 cm, large brown-black cuckoo, deep booming call |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis | Introduced urban resident | 24 cm, dark brown, yellow eye patch, cities |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | Common resident | 14 cm, chestnut crown, black cheek spot |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Urban resident | 16 cm, stout, grey-brown, city squares |
| Japanese White-eye | Zosterops japonicus | Abundant resident | 11 cm, small green, white eye-ring, gardens |
| Varied Tit | Sittiparus varius | Resident | 13 cm, black head, orange underparts, woodland |
| Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus | Winter visitor | 28 cm, glossy black/ashy, forked tail, perches openly |
| Blue-and-white Flycatcher | Cyanoptila cyanomelana | Spring migrant | 16 cm, male blue upperparts, forest edges |
| Narcissus Flycatcher | Ficedula narcissina | Spring migrant | 14 cm, bright orange throat male, forest stopover |
Images and Descriptions
Formosan Blue Magpie
Striking endemic of lowland forests and farms. Bold, loud and social; easiest to see in central and northern Taiwan. Omnivorous, often on ground; conservation improved but still restricted by habitat loss and persecution.
Taiwan Barbet
Colorful forest barbet confined to broadleaf woodlands and parks. Bright green body with red face patch and heavy bill. Common in lowland and foothill forests; cavity nester playing a key role as a seed disperser.
Mikado Pheasant
High-mountain endemic of montane conifer and mixed forests. Secretive ground-dweller; males show long tails and metallic blue-black plumage. Best seen at higher elevations in central Taiwan; considered a conservation icon with limited distribution.
Swinhoe’s Pheasant
Endemic forest pheasant of mid-elevation broadleaf woodlands. Males are showy with metallic colors; shy and ground-oriented. Localized but stable in protected areas; breeding displays occur in spring.
Taiwan Partridge
A small, terrestrial gamebird of dense montane forest undergrowth. Rufous-brown with distinctive chest pattern. Shy and often heard rather than seen; best found in protected submontane reserves.
Taiwan Bamboo Partridge
Common in bamboo and shrubby lowland habitats. Ground-dwelling and often flushed noisily; distinctive chattering calls. Frequently seen near trails and agricultural margins in rural Taiwan.
Taiwan Whistling Thrush
Forest stream specialist of montane and submontane areas. Glossy indigo-blue plumage and loud fluty whistles at dawn and dusk. Prefers rocky creeks; locally common where intact streamside forest remains.
Flamecrest
Tiny, high-elevation songbird found in Taiwan’s coniferous cloud forests. Active flocks forage mossy branches. Look for bright crest and rapid movements; often seen with tits and yuhinas above 2,000 m.
Black-faced Spoonbill
Globally threatened winter visitor that gathers in estuaries and coastal wetlands. Large white bird with distinctive spoon-shaped bill. Best seen at protected tidal flats in winter; conservation dependent on habitat protection.
Chinese Egret
A scarce but regular winter visitor to tidal flats and sandy islets. Slender white egret with delicate breeding plumes; best sought in coastal bays during low tide and migratory months.
Great Egret
Widespread in wetlands, rice paddies and coasts. Tall, graceful white heron with yellow bill and black legs. Resident and seasonal visitor; commonly seen feeding in shallow water and agricultural areas.
Little Egret
Common in coastal and inland wetlands year-round. Slender white heron with fine plumes in breeding season. Active hunter of shallow water; often seen in flocks along mudflats and rivers.
Grey Heron
Large, widespread heron of rivers, lakes and coasts. Grey upperparts, white neck and black head streak. Resident and passage populations frequent tidal flats and inland wetlands across Taiwan.
Osprey
Coastal fisher that migrates along Taiwan’s shores. Distinctive hovering and plunge-diving behaviour; nests on tall poles and rocks. Sightings peak during migration and winter close to sea and large reservoirs.
Crested Goshawk
Secretive forest raptor found in lowland and foothill woodlands. Short-winged, long-tailed accipiter that preys on birds and small mammals. More often heard or glimpsed in canopy than plainly seen.
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Common migrant in spring and autumn that also winters in small numbers. Often seen hawking insects and hunting in open woodland; males show orange-toned underparts in breeding plumage.
Black Kite
Familiar urban and coastal scavenger. Brownish raptor with slightly forked tail and buoyant flight. Common over cities, landfills and fishing ports; often seen soaring and mobbing other raptors.
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Large coastal raptor inhabiting offshore islands, estuaries and rocky shores. Powerful build and loud calls; breeds on cliffs and tall trees. Regularly seen patrolling Taiwanese coasts and harbors.
Peregrine Falcon
High-speed hunter seen along coasts, cliffs and urban skyscrapers. Migratory influxes occur in spring and autumn; look for stoops and aerial hunting above coastal headlands and river valleys.
Common Kingfisher
Small, jewel-like river and coastal kingfisher. Rapid flight and loud rattling call; perches low over streams and ponds. Resident in suitable freshwater habitats and mangrove edges.
Collared Kingfisher
Bold shorebird of mangroves, coastal scrub and offshore islets. Striking blue upperparts and white collar; hunts crabs, fish and large insects from open perches along the shoreline.
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Large, heavy-billed kingfisher that favors lowland rivers, mangroves and coastal streams, mainly in southern Taiwan. Loud cackling calls and conspicuous large bill make it unmistakable where present.
Black-winged Stilt
Elegant long-legged wader of shallow wetlands, salt pans and tidal flats. Long pink legs and thin bill; seen during migration and winter in large flocks feeding in mud.
Kentish Plover
Small sandy-plover frequenting beaches, mudflats and saline lagoons. Subtle plumage but distinctive run-and-pause foraging. Best looked for on sandy shores and tidal flats during migration and winter.
Red-necked Stint
Tiny migrant wader that arrives in large numbers on mudflats and shallow coastal wetlands. Brownish in non-breeding plumage; often forms mixed flocks with other Calidris sandpipers.
Sanderling
Active shorebird of open sandy beaches, running with receding waves. Pale winter plumage and quick feeding style make it easy to spot along exposed coasts in migration and winter.
Ruddy Turnstone
Robust, busy shorebird that flips stones and seaweed for prey. Striking breeding plumage and patterned upperparts; common on rocky shores and beaches in winter months.
Common Greenshank
Leggy shorebird of tidal mudflats and flooded fields. Bold, slightly upturned bill and loud three-note calls; frequents estuaries and shallow flooded paddies during migration.
Bar-tailed Godwit
Powerful long-distance migrant that frequents Taiwan’s mudflats during migration and winter. Long slightly upturned bill and barred tail; numbers peak on major staging sites along the west coast.
Whimbrel
Recognizable by its long curved bill and striped crown. Uses coastal bays and mudflats during passage; probes deeply for worms and crustaceans during migration periods.
Brown Shrike
Familiar migratory shrike in bushes and roadside trees. Brown upperparts with distinctive black mask and hooked bill; often perches openly to sally for large insects.
Long-tailed Shrike
Widespread in open habitats, farmland and scrub. Long-tailed and conspicuous with black facial mask; often hunts from utility wires or exposed perches and adapts to human-modified landscapes.
Black-naped Oriole
Loud, melodic oriole common in parks, woodlands and gardens. Bright yellow body with black nape and eye stripe. Feeds on fruit and large insects; conspicuous by sight and song.
Greater Coucal
Large non-parasitic cuckoo of reedbeds, forest edges and gardens. Heavy body, long tail and deep “coop-coop” call. Secretive but often detected by voice in lowland habitats.
Common Myna
Adaptable, often abundant in towns and agricultural areas. Loud and conspicuous; omnivorous and opportunistic, nesting in cavities. Considered invasive in some island habitats.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Familiar small sparrow of villages, orchards and towns. Chestnut crown and black cheek patch distinguish it from house sparrows; common around human habitation and farmland.
House Sparrow
Widespread in urban areas and human settlements. Males have grey crown and distinctive bib while females are plain brown streaked. Often associated with buildings and food waste in towns.
Japanese White-eye
Tiny, sociable bird found in parks, gardens and forests. Greenish plumage with conspicuous white eye-ring; forms noisy flocks and is an important nectar and insect pollinator in urban plantings.
Varied Tit
Active small tit of woodlands, parks and gardens. Distinctive black head and warm rufous underparts; often bold and inquisitive at feeders, forming mixed-species flocks in cooler months.
Ashy Drongo
Winter visitor and passage migrant that hawks insects from high perches. Glossy dark plumage with a distinctive forked tail; common in lowland forests and wooded urban areas during cooler months.
Blue-and-white Flycatcher
Eye-catching spring migrant in forested valleys and wooded parks. Males show brilliant blue upperparts and white belly; often stops over during spring migration on route to breeding grounds further north.
Narcissus Flycatcher
Vividly colored spring migrant that frequents wooded stopover sites. Males have bright orange throat and contrasting plumage; best found in forest clearings and riparian corridors during migration.
