China Birding Tours
While China only has approximately 70 truly endemic birds, it is most constructive to add that there are an additional 70 specialties which are best seen in the country and may as well be endemic for the purposes of global birding!
Our three flagship bird tours (these being Sichuan, the Tibetan Plateau, and Winter Specialties) between them cover about 110 out of these 140 birds. The trio of itineraries are carefully-timed based on peak migration and breeding seasons, and our small-group tours ensure an exciting birdwatching experience supported by local guides. We also sometimes set up expeditions and custom-modified itineraries for those tricky remaining 30 birds! Join us for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Asian birding.
China: Eastern
Focused on the widely separated but spectacular specialties from Guangzhou to Beijing! Silver Oriole, Fairy Pitta, Cabot's Tragopan, Blue-crowned Laughingthrush, Reeves's Pheasant, Brown Eared Pheasant, Zappey's Flycatcher and Reed Parrotbill are all in the script.
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China: Sichuan
Taking in the best birding sites of Sichuan. Expect some superb species like Chinese Monal, Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Golden Pheasant, Sichuan Jay, Firethroat, Three-toed Parrotbill, Crested Tit-warbler, Przevalski’s Finch, and much more!
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China: Tibetan Plateau
Stunning wide-open landscapes with the world's most exciting high-altitude birding! From Tibetan Eared Pheasant and Lord Derby's Parakeet to Przevalski's Finch and Tibetan Bunting, with the mega Sillem's Rosefinch now included.
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China: Winter Specialties
See Siberian Crane and the wintering waterbird spectacle of Poyang Lake, along with Baer's Pochard, Scaly-sided Merganser, Nonggang Babbler, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the endemics of Hainan, plus wintering passerines like Japanese Waxwing, Siberian Accentor, and Pallas's Rosefinch.
The Ornis Birding Strategy in China
Those keeping count will note that there is an outstanding set of 30 specialties not included on any of our three flagship itineraries discussed above. Some can be seen on the Eastern tour, but many of the others require short extensions to completely different areas. We are always happy to arrange for participants on our tours to spend longer in the country, so please get in touch if you want to add extra days for some far-flung birds onto a particular departure! Options include the far north-east province of Inner Mongolia, the far north-west province of Xinjiang, or rare and thinly-distributed endemics spread between Sichuan and Yunnan. Our bird quests will take us on tour to the country's most exciting habitats in search of fascinating species, including a few places that even local birders rarely venture!