China
Checklist of Endemic Bird Species
This list of bird species found exclusively in China is based on the taxonomy used in HBW/BirdLife v. 9 (2024). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
HBW/BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist (Version 9.0).The lists are based on the October 2024 update available here.
* = Mainland plus Taiwan ** = Taiwan only
77 endemic birds are indicated (by triangles) in the 2016 checklist at (ResearchGate)
Additional species considered valid by other major checklists are listed at the bottom of the page.
Arborophila crudigularis (Galliformes Phasianidae) Taiwan Partridge **
Arborophila rufipectus
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Sichuan Partridge
Arborophila gingica
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Collared Partridge
Arborophila ardens
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Hainan Partridge
Polyplectron katsumatae
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Hainan
Peacock-Pheasant
Alectoris magna
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Przevalski's
Partridge
Bambusicola sonorivox
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Taiwan
Bamboo-partridge **
Bambusicola thoracicus
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Chinese
Bamboo-partridge
Tetraophasis obscurus
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Chestnut-throated
Partridge
Lophophorus lhuysii
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Chinese Monal
Tragopan caboti
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Cabot's Tragopan
Syrmaticus ellioti (Galliformes Phasianidae) Elliot's Pheasant
Syrmaticus mikado
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Mikado Pheasant
**
Syrmaticus reevesii
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Reeves's Pheasant
Chrysolophus pictus (Galliformes Phasianidae) Golden Pheasant
Lophura swinhoii
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Swinhoe's Pheasant **
Crossoptilon crossoptilon
(Galliformes Phasianidae) White Eared-pheasant
Crossoptilon harmani
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Tibetan
Eared-pheasant
Crossoptilon mantchuricum
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Brown Eared-pheasant
Crossoptilon auritum
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Blue Eared-pheasant
Tetrastes sewerzowi
(Galliformes Phasianidae) Chinese Grouse
Saundersilarus saundersi
(Charadriiformes Laridae) Saunders's Gull (Breeding)
Psilopogon nuchalis (Piciformes Megalaimidae) Taiwan Barbet **
Psilopogon faber
(Piciformes Megalaimidae) Chinese Barbet
Picoides funebris
(Piciformes Picidae) Dark-bodied Woodpecker
Oriolus mellianus
(Passeriformes Oriolidae) Silver Oriole (Breeding)
Pericrocotus cantonensis
(Passeriformes Campephagidae) Brown-rumped
Minivet (Breeding)
Lanius giganteus
(Passeriformes Laniidae) Giant Grey Shrike
Urocissa caerulea (Passeriformes Corvidae) Taiwan Blue Magpie **
Urocissa whiteheadi
(Passeriformes Corvidae) Hainan Magpie
Perisoreus internigrans
(Passeriformes Corvidae) Sichuan Jay
Podoces biddulphi
(Passeriformes Corvidae) Xinjiang Ground-jay
Pardaliparus venustulus
(Passeriformes Paridae) Yellow-bellied Tit
Sittiparus castaneoventris (Passeriformes Paridae) Chestnut-bellied Tit **
Poecile superciliosus
(Passeriformes Paridae) White-browed Tit
Poecile davidi
(Passeriformes Paridae) Rusty-breasted Tit
Poecile weigoldicus
(Passeriformes Paridae) Sichuan Tit
Machlolophus holsti (Passeriformes Paridae) Yellow Tit **
Pnoepyga formosana
(Passeriformes Pnoepygidae) Taiwan Cupwing **
Locustella alishanensis
(Passeriformes Locustellidae) Taiwan Grasshopper-warbler **
Locustella chengi (Passeriformes Locustellidae) Sichuan Grasshopper-warbler
Pycnonotus taivanus
(Passeriformes Pycnonotidae) Styan's Bulbul **
Phylloscopus yunnanensis
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Chinese
Leaf-warbler (Breeding)
Phylloscopus forresti
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Sichuan
Leaf-warbler (Breeding)
Phylloscopus kansuensis
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Gansu
Leaf-warbler (Breeding)
Phylloscopus omeiensis
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Martens's Warbler
(Breeding)
Phylloscopus soror
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Alström's Warbler
(Breeding)
Phylloscopus emeiensis
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Emei Leaf-warbler
(Breeding)
Phylloscopus ricketti
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Sulphur-breasted
Warbler (Breeding)
Phylloscopus claudiae
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Claudia's
Leaf-warbler (Breeding)
Phylloscopus goodsoni
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Hartert's
Leaf-warbler (Breeding)
Phylloscopus hainanus
(Passeriformes Phylloscopidae) Hainan
Leaf-warbler
Horornis acanthizoides
(Passeriformes Scotocercidae) Yellowish-bellied
Bush-warbler *
Leptopoecile elegans
(Passeriformes Aegithalidae) Crested Tit-warbler
Aegithalos fuliginosus
(Passeriformes Aegithalidae) Sooty Tit
Aegithalos glaucogularis
(Passeriformes Aegithalidae) Silver-throated Tit
Moupinia poecilotis
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Rufous-tailed
Babbler
Rhopophilus
albosuperciliaris (Passeriformes
Paradoxornithidae) Tarim Hill-warbler
Fulvetta cinereiceps
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Grey-hooded
Fulvetta
Fulvetta formosana
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Taiwan
Fulvetta **
Fulvetta striaticollis
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Chinese
Fulvetta
Fulvetta ruficapilla
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Spectacled
Fulvetta
Paradoxornis paradoxus
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Three-toed
Parrotbill
Suthora conspicillata
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Spectacled
Parrotbill
Suthora ricketti
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Eye-ringed
Parrotbill
Suthora zappeyi
(Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Grey-hooded
Parrotbill
Suthora przewalskii (Passeriformes Paradoxornithidae) Rusty-throated Parrotbill
Yuhina brunneiceps
(Passeriformes Zosteropidae) Taiwan Yuhina **
Pomatorhinus musicus
(Passeriformes Timaliidae) Taiwan
Scimitar-babbler **
Erythrogenys swinhoei
(Passeriformes Timaliidae) Grey-sided
Scimitar-babbler
Erythrogenys erythrocnemis (Passeriformes Timaliidae) Black-necklaced Scimitar-babbler **
Schoeniparus brunneus
(Passeriformes Pellorneidae) Dusky Fulvetta *
Schoeniparus
variegaticeps (Passeriformes
Pellorneidae) Golden-fronted Fulvetta
Garrulax taewanus (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Taiwan Hwamei **
Ianthocincla lunulata
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Barred
Laughingthrush
Ianthocincla bieti
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) White-speckled
Laughingthrush
Ianthocincla maxima
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Giant
Laughingthrush
Ianthocincla sukatschewi
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Snowy-cheeked
Laughingthrush
Pterorhinus davidi
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Plain
Laughingthrush
Pterorhinus waddelli
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Giant Babax
Pterorhinus koslowi (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Tibetan Babax
Pterorhinus ruficeps
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Rufous-crowned
Laughingthrush **
Pterorhinus berthemyi (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Buffy Laughingthrush
Pterorhinus
poecilorhynchus (Passeriformes
Leiotrichidae) Rusty Laughingthrush **
Pterorhinus courtoisi
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Blue-crowned
Laughingthrush
Trochalopteron elliotii (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Elliot's Laughingthrush
Trochalopteron
morrisonianum (Passeriformes
Leiotrichidae) White-whiskered Laughingthrush **
Trochalopteron henrici (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Brown-cheeked Laughingthrush
Heterophasia auricularis
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) White-eared Sibia **
Liocichla omeiensis (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Emei Shan Liocichla
Liocichla steerii
(Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Taiwan Liocichla **
Certhia tianquanensis
(Passeriformes Certhiidae) Sichuan Treecreeper
Sitta przewalskii
(Passeriformes Sittidae) Przevalski's Nuthatch
Spodiopsar sericeus
(Passeriformes Sturnidae) Red-billed Starling
(Breeding)
Zoothera griseiceps
(Passeriformes Turdidae) Sichuan Forest Thrush
(Breeding)
Otocichla mupinensis
(Passeriformes Turdidae) Chinese Thrush
Turdus mandarinus (Passeriformes Turdidae) Chinese Blackbird (Breeding)
Turdus niveiceps
(Passeriformes Turdidae) Taiwan Thrush **
Turdus feae
(Passeriformes Turdidae) Grey-sided Thrush
(Breeding)
Turdus kessleri
(Passeriformes Turdidae) White-backed Thrush
(Breeding)
Niltava vivida (Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Small Vivid Niltava **
Cyanoptila cumatilis
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Zappey's Flycatcher
(Breeding)
Cyornis brunneatus
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Brown-chested
Jungle-flycatcher (Breeding)
Cyornis glaucicomans
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Chinese Blue
Flycatcher (Breeding)
Brachypteryx sinensis
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Chinese Shortwing
Brachypteryx goodfellowi (Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Taiwan Shortwing **
Larvivora ruficeps
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Rufous-headed Robin
(Breeding)
Calliope pectardens
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Firethroat (Breeding)
Calliope obscura (Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Blackthroat (Breeding)
Tarsiger johnstoniae
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Collared Bush-robin **
Myophonus insularis
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Taiwan
Whistling-thrush **
Ficedula elisae
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Green-backed
Flycatcher (Breeding)
Phoenicurus alaschanicus
(Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Ala Shan Redstart
Regulus goodfellowi (Passeriformes Regulidae) Flamecrest **
Aethopyga christinae
(Passeriformes Nectariniidae) Hainan Sunbird
Urocynchramus pylzowi
(Passeriformes Urocynchramidae) Przevalski's
Rosefinch
Montifringilla henrici
(Passeriformes Passeridae) Tibetan Snowfinch
Carpodacus waltoni
(Passeriformes Fringillidae) Pink-rumped
Rosefinch
Carpodacus formosanus (Passeriformes Fringillidae) Taiwan Rosefinch **
Carpodacus roborowskii
(Passeriformes Fringillidae) Tibetan Rosefinch
Carpodacus sillemi
(Passeriformes Fringillidae) Sillem's Rosefinch
Carpodacus lepidus
(Passeriformes Fringillidae) Chinese Long-tailed
Rosefinch
Carpodacus trifasciatus
(Passeriformes Fringillidae) Three-banded
Rosefinch
Carpodacus dubius
(Passeriformes Fringillidae) Chinese
White-browed Rosefinch
Emberiza koslowi
(Passeriformes Emberizidae) Tibetan Bunting
Emberiza siemsseni
(Passeriformes Emberizidae) Slaty Bunting
The following additional endemic species are not recognized as distinct by HBW-BirdLife but are considered valid by one or more of the following checklists: eBird/Clements v2019 (Cornell) = 1, IOC 10.1 (IOC) = 2, and Howard & Moore 4.1 (TAS) = 3. (# indicates a species that is considered endemic due to a different concept of species boundaries as a result of splits than is used for the animal with the same scientific name in the HBW-BirdLife checklist)
Caprimulgus centralasicus (Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgidae) Vaurie's Nightjar (Breeding) 3
Strix davidi (Strigiformes
Strigidae) Sichuan Owl 12
Prinia striata (Passeriformes
Cisticolidae) Swinhoe's
Prinia * 2
Carpodacus davidianus (Passeriformes
Fringillidae) Chinese
Beautiful Rosefinch 123
Alcippe hueti (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae) Huet's Fulvetta 12
Alcippe morrisonia # (Passeriformes
Leiotrichidae) Gray-cheeked
Fulvetta 12
Phylloscopus occisinensis (Passeriformes
Phylloscopidae) Alpine
Leaf-warbler 123
The following additional endemic
species were recognized as distinct by the IOC since the IOC 10.1 checklist (IOC) and were also not recognized in any of the other checklists listed above.
Pyrrhula owstoni (Passeriformes
Fringillidae) Taiwan
Bullfinch **
Tarsiger albocoeruleus (Passeriformes Muscicapidae) Qilian Bluetail (Breeding)