List of birds of Taiwan

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Taiwan. The avifauna of Taiwan include a total of 705 species, of which 30 are endemic, and 17 have been introduced by humans. Of these, 43 species are globally threatened.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Taiwan.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Taiwan
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Taiwan
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Taiwan as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• Taiwan partridge, Arborophila crudigularis (E)
• Mikado pheasant, Syrmaticus mikado (E)
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
• Swinhoe's pheasant, Lophura swinhoii (E)
• Taiwan bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola sonorivox (E)
• Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
• Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

• Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (I)

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

• Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A)
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in Taiwan.

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

• Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka
• Savanna nightjar, Caprimulgus affinis

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus
• Silver-backed needletail, Hirundapus cochinchinensis
• Purple needletail, Hirundapus celebensis (A)
• Germain's swiftlet, Aerodramus germani (A)
• Pacific swift, Apus pacificus
• House swift, Apus nipalensis

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

• Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A)
• Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus (A)
• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A)
• White-naped crane, Antigone vipio (A)
• Common crane, Grus grus
• Hooded crane, Grus monacha
• Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
• Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus (A)
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
• Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
• Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
• White-faced plover, Charadrius dealbatus
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
• Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
• Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

• Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

• Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvatica
• Yellow-legged buttonquail, Turnix tanki (A)
• Barred buttonquail, Turnix suscitator

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• South Polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

• Common murre, Uria aalge (A)
• Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (A)
• Japanese murrelet, Synthliboramphus wumizusume (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (A)
• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (A)
• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (A)

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (A)
• Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (A)
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

• Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis (A)
• Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
• Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)
• Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Hydrobates monorhis
• Tristram's storm-petrel, Hydrobates tristrami (A)

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (A)
• Kermadec petrel, Pterodroma neglecta (A)
• Providence petrel, Pterodroma solandri (A)
• Bonin petrel, Pterodroma hypoleuca
• Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A)
• Tahiti petrel, Pseudobulweria rostrata (A)
• Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas
• Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes
• Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus
• Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

• Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel (A)
• Christmas Island frigatebird, Fregata andrewsi (A)
• Great frigatebird, Fregata minor (A)

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

• Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus (A)
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• Japanese cormorant, Phalacrocorax capillatus

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus (A)

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (A)
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (I)
• Black-headed ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
• Crested ibis, Nipponia nippon (A)
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia (A)
• Black-faced spoonbill, Platalea minor

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Australasian grass-owl, Tyto longimembris

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Mountain scops-owl, Otus spilocephalus
• Collared scops-owl, Otus lettia
• Ryukyu scops-owl, Otus elegans
• Oriental scops-owl, Otus sunia
• Tawny fish-owl, Ketupa flavipes
• Collared owlet, Taenioptynx brodiei
• Little owl, Athene noctua (A)
• Brown wood-owl, Strix leptogrammica
• Himalayan owl, Strix nivicolum
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Northern boobook, Ninox japonica

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
• Black-backed dwarf-kingfisher, Ceyx erithaca (A)
• Rufous-backed dwarf-kingfisher, Ceyx rufidorsa (A)
• Ruddy kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda
• White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
• Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata (A)
• Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris (A)
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterized by richly colored plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (A)
• Blue-tailed bee-eater, Merops philippinus
• Rainbow bee-eater, Merops ornatus (A)

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis

Order: Piciformes   Family: Megalaimidae

The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

• Taiwan barbet, Psilopogon nuchalis (E)

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla (A)
• Gray-capped pygmy woodpecker, Yungipicus canicapillus
• White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos
• Gray-headed woodpecker, Picus canus

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.

• Blue-winged pitta, Pitta moluccensis (A)
• Fairy pitta, Pitta nympha
• Hooded pitta, Pitta sordida (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

• Gray-chinned minivet, Pericrocotus solaris
• Long-tailed minivet, Pericrocotus ethologus (A)
• Scarlet minivet, Pericrocotus speciosus (A)
• Ryukyu minivet, Pericrocotus tegimae (A)
• Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
• Brown-rumped minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis (A)
• Rosy minivet, Pericrocotus roseus (A)
• Large cuckooshrike, Coracina macei
• Pied triller, Lalage nigra (A)
• Black-winged cuckooshrike, Lalage melaschistos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Most of the members of this family are found in the New World. However, the shrike-babblers and erpornis, which only slightly resemble the "true" vireos and greenlets, are found in South East Asia.

• White-bellied erpornis, Erpornis zantholeuca

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis
• Maroon oriole, Oriolus traillii

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The family Vangidae is highly variable, though most members of it resemble true shrikes to some degree.

• Large woodshrike, Tephrodornis virgatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

• Philippine pied-fantail, Rhipidura nigritorquis (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

• Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
• Ashy drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
• Crow-billed drongo, Dicrurus annectens
• Bronzed drongo, Dicrurus aeneus
• Hair-crested drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

• Black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea
• Japanese paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone atrocaudata
• Amur paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone incei (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Tiger shrike, Lanius tigrinus (A)
• Bull-headed shrike, Lanius bucephalus
• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A)
• Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
• Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus
• Burmese shrike, Lanius collurioides (A)
• Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
• Gray-backed shrike, Lanius tephronotus (A)
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor (A)
• Chinese gray shrike, Lanius sphenocercus (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
• Azure-winged magpie, Cyanopica cyanus (I)
• Taiwan blue-magpie, Urocissa caerulea (E)
• Gray treepie, Dendrocitta formosae
• Oriental magpie, Pica serica
• Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
• Daurian jackdaw, Corvus dauuricus (A)
• House crow, Corvus splendens (A)
• Rook, Corvus frugilegus
• Carrion crow, Corvus corone (A)
• Large-billed crow, Corvus macrorhynchos
• Collared crow, Corvus torquatus (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

• Gray-headed canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• Coal tit, Periparus ater
• Yellow-bellied tit, Periparus venustulus (A)
• Chestnut-bellied tit, Sittiparus castaneoventris (E)
• Varied tit, Sittiparus varius (A)
• Green-backed tit, Parus monticolus
• Japanese tit, Parus minor
• Taiwan yellow tit, Machlolophus holsti (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

• Chinese penduline-tit, Remiz consobrinus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Mongolian short-toed lark, Calandrella dukhunensis (A)
• Asian short-toed lark, Alaudala cheleensis (A)
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (A)
• Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

• Himalayan prinia, Prinia crinigera
• Striped prinia, Prinia striata
• Yellow-bellied prinia, Prinia flaviventris
• Plain prinia, Prinia inornata
• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
• Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon (A)
• Booted warbler, Iduna caligata (A)
• Black-browed reed warbler, Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
• Streaked reed warbler, Acrocephalus sorghophilus (A)
• Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola (A)
• Manchurian reed warbler, Acrocephalus tangorum (A)
• Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (A)
• Oriental reed warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• Gray's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes fasciolatus (A)
• Sakhalin grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes amnicola
• Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola
• Middendorff's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes ochotensis (A)
• Pleske's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes pleskei (A)
• Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata
• Taiwan bush warbler, Locustella alishanensis (E)
• Russet bush warbler, Locustella mandelli (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pnoepygidae

The members of this small family are found in mountainous parts of South and South East Asia.

• Taiwan cupwing, Pnoepyga formosana (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Gray-throated martin, Riparia chinensis
• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Pale sand martin, Riparia diluta (A)
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
• Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
• Striated swallow, Cecropis striolata
• Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum (A)
• Asian house-martin, Delichon dasypus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

• Collared finchbill, Spizixos semitorques
• Styan's bulbul, Pycnonotus taivanus (E)
• Light-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus sinensis
• Sooty-headed bulbul, Pycnonotus aurigaster (A)
• Black bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus
• Brown-eared bulbul, Hypsipetes amaurotis
• Chestnut bulbul, Hemixos castanonotus (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.^[1]

• Asian stubtail, Urosphena squameiceps
• Rufous-faced warbler, Abroscopus albogularis
• Japanese bush warbler, Horornis diphone
• Manchurian bush warbler, Horornis borealis
• Brownish-flanked bush warbler, Horornis fortipes
• Yellowish-bellied bush warbler, Horornis acanthizoides

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

• Black-throated tit, Aegithalos concinnus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca (A)
• Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana (A)
• Taiwan fulvetta, Fulvetta formosana (E)
• Golden parrotbill, Suthora verreauxi
• Vinous-throated parrotbill, Sinosuthura webbiana

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

• Indochinese yuhina, Staphida torqueola (A)
• Taiwan yuhina, Yuhina brunneiceps (E)
• Chestnut-flanked white-eye, Zosterops erythropleurus (A)
• Swinhoe's white-eye, Zosterops simplex
• Warbling white-eye, Zosterops japonicus
• Lowland white-eye, Zosterops meyeni

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Timaliidae

The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.

• Rufous-capped babbler, Cyanoderma ruficeps
• Taiwan scimitar-babbler, Pomatorhinus musicus (E)
• Black-necklaced scimitar-babbler, Erythrogenys erythrocnemis (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

• Dusky fulvetta, Schoeniparus brunneus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

• Morrison's fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia (E)
• White-whiskered laughingthrush, Trochalopteron morrisonianum (E)
• White-eared sibia, Heterophasia auricularis (E)
• Taiwan barwing, Actinodura morrisoniana (E)
• Steere's liocichla, Liocichla steerii (E)
• Chinese hwamei, Garrulax canorus (I)
• Taiwan hwamei, Garrulax taewanus (E)
• Black-throated laughingthrush, Pterorhinus chinensis (I)
• Masked laughingthrush, Garrulax perspicillatus (A)
• Rufous-crowned laughingthrush, Pterorhinus ruficeps (E)
• Rusty laughingthrush, Pterorhinus poecilorhynchus (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

• Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
• Flamecrest, Regulus goodfellowi (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

• Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.

• Brown dipper, Cinclus pallasii

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis (I)
• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
• Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (A)
• Daurian starling, Agropsar sturninus
• Chestnut-cheeked starling, Agropsar philippensis
• Black-collared starling, Gracupica nigricolis
• White-shouldered starling, Sturnia sinensis
• Chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabarica (I)
• Red-billed starling, Spodiopsar sericeus
• White-cheeked starling, Spodiopsar cineraceus
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)
• Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus (I)
• Javan myna, Acridotheres javanicus (I)
• Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
• Japanese waxwing, Bombycilla japonica (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.

• Plain flowerpecker, Dicaeum minullum
• Fire-breasted flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

• Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis (A)
• Mrs. Gould's sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae (A)
• Fork-tailed sunbird, Aethopyga christinae

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Chloropseidae

The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.

• Orange-bellied leafbird, Chloropsis hardwickii (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

• Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica (I)
• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
• White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
• Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla (I)
• Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda (I)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

• Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
• Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (A)
• Russet sparrow, Passer cinnamomeus
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (A)
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

• Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis (A)

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Taiwan". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: A Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.