-by Chris Devonshire Ellis

Being based in, and conducting business in some of China's largest cities is an exciting, yet stressful occupation, and one that needs balancing out. How people achieve this is up to them, but for me, like many others - I like nothing better than to don a pair of binoculars, get out into the open air of China's huge countryside, and spend happy hours being truly observant and seeing what birds I can identify. I'm not really a twitcher (one who relentlessly pursues sightings of as many different species as possible) - I'm just as happy seeing a pair of house sparrows flirting in the bushes and making a tweeting racket as I am a new or rare species.

This issue of China Expat then is devoted to this simple pleasure, and if it can identify for you that bird you've seen but never known what it is, encourage you to get outdoors a bit more or even travel to see some of China's magnificent countryside then it will have achieved it's aims. This is not a definitive list - more a personal introduction to some of the birds that you can commonly see around China and some that are exotic and rare as well. All of the birds shown I have seen here in the wild, and I hope you will enjoy seeing them as well.

Common Chinese Birds

These are birds you should be able to spot fairly easily when traveling in China:

Tree Sparrow

This is one of China's most common birds, and I'm always delighted to see them. Hopping about just inches from my feet hoping for a few crumbs over a sandwich at KABB in Xintiandi, or divebombing into the bushes in springtime amidst a flurry of tweets for a bit of sparrow rampant sex, they always seem so alive and full of joy. Years ago, there used to be a night market opposite the Peace Hotel in Shanghai, for 1 kwai you could buy them, roasted whole on a stick.

Hua Mei

The name means ‘painted eye' - it's quite distinctive. Sometimes after a hectic day in the heart of Shanghai CBD I will wander over to the Yu Yuan Gardens at dusk - it's not so crowded then - and there is a little oasis amongst the skyscrapers of tang dynasty houses and halls. There are 3 or 4 pairs of Hua Mei living there as they have for centuries and I love to listen to their singing as the sun goes down. Not a bad tip for romancing girls either, actually....

Chinese Thrush

A beautiful singing bird, lovely to hear in the gardens. Also a culinary delight, I've seen these again roasted whole on a stick or even it's eggs, hard-boiled and served with salt. I prefer the song.

Magpie Robin

Often seen in gardens, and again, quite distinctive, the male so bold in his black and white plumage. A striking bird.

Red-Vented Bulbul

These are endemic in South China, often perched on the tops of tree branches, that punk rockerish mohican crest a dead giveaway.

Pied Starling

This bird is a complete hooligan, a real neighbourhood bully. Mugs other birds for their food and has a dreadful squawk. They'd be tattooed triads if they were human.

Greater Coucal

Sometimes also known as a Magpie-Pheasant, this large bird skulks around in smaller leafy trees. Often heard as it's ever-ascending cry continues up in pitch until it appears the thing may explode before repeating the cycle all over again.

Black Kite

Very rare in Europe, but in Asia they have adapted well to a life of scavenging. A large bird of prey, often to be seen wheeling around the skyscrapers of Hong Kong or fishing for junk in Victoria Harbour.

Great Cormorant

Usually a sea bird, but in China is often seen inland. In Guilin and other inland provinces with large rivers they are trained by fishermen to catch and retrieve river fish, a large throat chain preventing them from swallowing the fish. It brings the fish back and gets a tid-bit as a reward.

Cattle Egret

Often seen on the backs of water buffalo hitching a ride, or lazily flying over waters, I've even seen these, caged in markets for a soup. No, I don't know what it tastes like.

Black Capped Kingfisher

Unmistakable with a huge red chilli for a bill. Often seen perching on branches overhanging rivers or ponds then bam !It explodes into the water and flies back up hurriedly gulping down some unfortunate small fish. Quite deadly and amazingly accurate.

Lesser Racket Tailed Drongo

I love this bird just for the name, let alone it's quite remarkable tail. Common in the hilly confines of Southern China woods, especially some of the islands in Hong Kong.

]Azure Winged Magpie

A common Northern China bird, especially in Beijing. Quite beautiful plumage and eats the fruits on the top of trees. Makes a dreadful noise when they decide to get together and have a tree party though.

White Wagtail

A dainty little bird, always wags its rather long tail furiously up and down when it lands. Runs after small insects and is always entertaining and pretty to watch.

Mandarin Duck

One of the most exotic looking birds in the world, and a prized ornamental duck internationally, this is very much a Chinese bird. The male has all the glitter though, while the female is somewhat drab in comparison.

More Exotic Birds

Not necessarily rare, (although some are), it's just that you'll need to get out and about a bit more to see these.

Lady Amhersts Pheasant

An almost improbably beautiful bird - that long silver tail however making it an ungainly flyer it literally crashes from tree to tree. The hills and mountains of Yunnan are home to this unforgettable bird.

Goldeneye

A wild duck inhabiting remote streams and rivers.

Hoopoe

Again, quite distinctive. I'm always happy to see these as it tells me I am a long way from any office buildings - although I did once see one perched on a telephone wire in central Beijing.

Peregrine Falcon

One of the fastest birds alive, a smallish blue streak that can reach over 70mph diving after smaller birds on the wing. Quite common at parts of the Great Wall where you can often see them hunting.

Black Faced Spoonbill

One of the rarest birds in the world, and probably and sadly will become extinct very soon. They winter in South China, and are down to just 300 pairs. Five years ago it was 1,200 and it was endangered then. Pollution, hunting and development of it's wetland habitat are to blame. Mai Po reserve in Hong Kong during the winter is the best place to go and see them.

Yellow Billed Cough

Pronounced ‘chuff' not as cough - an elegant member of the crow family. These you will see wheeling high above monasteries in Northern Yunnan and Tibet.

Mrs Goulds Sunbird

The new world equivalent of hummingbirds, China has several varieties. This is one of the more common, and flits, like a tiny crimson and golden fairy, between flowers to drink nectar, it's wings beating so fast you can hardly see them.

Black Necked Crane

These birds are lucky omens and part of Chinese folklore. You can see carvings in marriage beds and so on - these cranes mate for life. They winter in Northern Yunnan after breeding in Siberia and are as big as a man.

Wallcreeper

I quite unexpectedly saw one of these at Tiger Leaping Gorge, near Lijiang in Yunnan. It's an exquisite bird, dusky pink and grey and flew just ten feet away from where I was standing. I'd always wanted to see one, and the beauty of birdwatching is something just one day just turns up out of the blue like that after years of wanting to spot it. Those are moments worth treasuring for sure and why the hobby has so much appeal.

Black Necked Cranes in Yunnan

Black Necked Cranes are highly territorial and will attack to keep even humans away from their nesting sites or chicks. This man has unwisely ventured too close - these birds can cause serious damage if they peck you in the face. Best to leave them alone and at peace from a safe distance.

Cormorant Fishing in Guilin

These birds are tethered with a neck ring and thin chain, and are sent out to catch fish in the rivers. Fish are attracted by lights, so often this is performed during dusk or early evening. The neck ring prevents the bird swallowing the fish, it is trained to return to the boat, gives up the fish (sometimes this requires some cursing and a minor struggle) but is rewarded with a small tidbit for it's troubles.