Iconic bird of Yunnan China

Common Birds of Yunnan China

Yunnan's position at the junction of three major biogeographic zones โ€” Himalayan, Southeast Asian, and Chinese โ€” makes it China's most species-rich province with 900+ birds.

900+
Total species
15+
Endemics
40+
Threatened
Marโ€“May
Best months
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1. Lady Amherst's PheasantLeast Concern
Chrysolophus amherstiae

One of the world's most spectacular pheasants โ€” the male's white and black scaled cape, red and blue plumage, and 1 m tail are displayed in bamboo forest walks at dawn near Tengchong.

๐Ÿ“ Gaoligong Mountains, Tengchong area๐Ÿ—“ Aprโ€“May
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2. Blyth's TragopanVulnerable
Tragopan blythii

A Yunnan specialty at the western extremity of its range โ€” the grey belly (unlike the spotted belly of Temminck's Tragopan) identifies this shy forest pheasant of the Gaoligong range.

๐Ÿ“ Gaoligong Mountains above 2,000m๐Ÿ—“ Aprโ€“May
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3. Black-necked CraneVulnerable
Grus nigricollis

Winters in spectacular numbers at Napahai wetland near Shangri-La โ€” the high plateau marshes hold over 1,000 birds that perform elaborate dancing displays throughout the cold months.

๐Ÿ“ Napahai, Bitahai Nature Reserves๐Ÿ—“ Octโ€“Mar
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4. Yunnan NuthatchNear Threatened
Sitta yunnanensis

A China endemic nuthatch restricted primarily to Yunnan's pine forests โ€” the pale underparts and black crown distinguish it from the similar Chestnut-vented Nuthatch.

๐Ÿ“ Pine forest 2,000-3,500m throughout Yunnan๐Ÿ—“ Marโ€“May
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5. Beautiful SibiaLeast Concern
Heterophasia pulchella

Leads mixed species flocks through Yunnan's cloud forest โ€” the long, graduated blue-grey tail and rich chestnut wings make it one of Yunnan's most sought-after Himalayan specialties.

๐Ÿ“ Cloud forest, mixed broadleaf above 1,500m๐Ÿ—“ Marโ€“May
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6. Green CochoaLeast Concern
Cochoa viridis

A stunning but elusive thrush-like bird with vivid green and blue plumage โ€” requires patient dawn searching in dense subtropical montane forest in western Yunnan.

๐Ÿ“ Gaoligong above 1,500m, dense forest interior๐Ÿ—“ Aprโ€“May
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7. Crested BuntingLeast Concern
Melophus lathami

A handsome bunting with a striking black and chestnut male pattern and a pronounced crest โ€” perches openly on rocks and bushes in Yunnan's hill country.

๐Ÿ“ Rocky hillside scrub throughout Yunnan๐Ÿ—“ Marโ€“May
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8. Spot-winged GrosbeakLeast Concern
Mycerobas melanozanthos

A massive grosbeak with a bill built like bolt-cutters โ€” cracks open the hardest seeds in Yunnan's forest; the bold black-and-yellow male produces a rich, fluting song from treetops.

๐Ÿ“ High-elevation forest, northwest Yunnan๐Ÿ—“ Aprโ€“May

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Common Birds of Yunnan, China | AvianScope