Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Field marks: (85 cm.) Large, pointed tail, brown, red and green head, white neck ring
环颈雉 – huán-jǐng zhì- ‘ring-necked pheasant’
雉鸡 – zhì-jī – ‘pheasant fowl’ (M&P, Atlas, Alternative in Cheng)

The Common Pheasant is the most familiar “game bird”, one of several chicken-like birds which are often hunted by humans for sport, in Europe and North America. In North America, it is usually called, the “Ring-necked Pheasant”. In Europe and North America, it is probably the commonest game bird as well. All the members of this species presently found in Europe and North America were imported from China. In China today, the Common Pheasant, despite its name, is becoming increasingly uncommon due to local persecution.

There are many subspecies of this bird in China, and there are some differences in the appearance of these subspecies. The males of all subspecies, however, are easily identifiable as Common Pheasants. All have the signature mottled brown body, greenish-black head and red orbital skin on the face. The males of most subspecies have a white neck ring. The females of all subspecies are dull-looking brown birds which are easily confused with females of other pheasant species.

The Common Pheasant is found throughout the Eastern half of China where it is a non-migratory, resident species. As this bird tends to stay close to the ground among thick vegetation, it is more often heard than seen. Its call is a two part, loud coughing followed by an audible whir of the bird’s wings.

The Common Pheasant prefers grasslands near water, but it is extremely adaptable and can live in woodlands, marshlands and cultivated areas, also. The males of all pheasant species are polygamous and have harems of females with which they breed. The Common Pheasant nests on the ground and the female lays a large clutch of usually around ten eggs.

This species is omnivorous and will seeds, fruits, insects, and even vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, and even small mammals and other birds.

Photo by Lukasz Lukasik

Great Tit (Parus major)

Field marks: head and throat black, white cheek, black band through breast
(14 cm.)
大山雀 – dà shān-què – ‘large mountain finch’

The Great Tit is another widely distributed species that is found throughout Europe and Asia. It is also a very common species throughout its range and familiar to many people. The Great Tit was once considered a single species with several subspecies throughout its range, but recent scientific studies have suggested that the bird we see in Asia should be referred to as the “Japanese Tit” and that the birds found in Europe should be referred to as the “Cinerous Tit”. Ornithologists are still arguing about this new division of the species, so the name “Great Tit” will suffice for our purposes.

The scientific name of this species, “Parus major” means large tit, and indeed this species is the largest member of its group. All tits, however, are small songbirds. They are all active omnivores that feed primarily on insects during the spring and summer months and seeds during the winter. In Europe and North America tits are frequent visitors to feeding stations maintained by bird-lovers and are very popular with people due to their friendly natures. They often eat from the hands of people patient enough to earn their trust. Their engaging personalities and comfort with people have made them one of the best-studied group of birds in the world.

The Great Tit inhabits a large variety of habitats including deciduous and coniferous forests as well as “mixed woodland”. It will also be found in city parks and university campuses throughout much of China.

It is a non-migratory bird that can remain in the same place during summer and winter by switching its diet from insects in summer to seeds in winter. Only in the event of food shortages in winter will the Great Tit undertake large food-searching movements. Often, the Great Tit will join “mixed flocks” of other bird species such as finches and nuthatches harsh winter to forage for food in the harsh winter months.

Great Tits are early spring breeders that use tree cavities as nests. They will also readily use man-made boxes for nesting purposes making them good subjects for study. The female lays a large clutch of eggs, often up to 18. The female alone will incubate the eggs and she will be fed by the male during her incubation duties. Young tit chicks are fed by both parents.

Great Tit (European race) by Luc Viatour

Crested Mynah (Acridotheres cristatellus)

(26 cm.) All black; prominent crest; white patches in wings easily seen in flight

The Crested Mynah is a large member of the starling family, “Sturnidae”. It is the only mynah species which can be found in the temperate portion of China. Other mynah species are birds of the tropics, requiring the hot temperatures that these latitudes provide. The small flocks of Crested Mynahs this writer sees in Qingdao’s parks may be the northernmost colony of this species in the country.

This species gets its name from its prominent crest, a feature which other Asian mynah species lack. Its uniform black coloration and conspicuous white wing patches are also signature markings.

Many birds of this species are trapped and sold on the caged bird market in this country. They are popular cage birds due to their unique vocal abilities including a talent for mimicry. Caged birds can be taught to speak human words without little difficulty. Of course, the birds cannot understand the meanings of the words they speak, but their human owners enjoy listening to them, anyway. In nature, mynahs will imitate the calls of other bird species.

The Crested Mynah is a bird of open country such as farmland, field, and pasture. Its love of this habitat makes it an ideal urban dweller. City parks and gardens offer this bird just this kind of habitat.

This bird, like all members of the starling family, is an omnivore which will subsist on primarily fruits, insects and other small invertebrates. This species will usually be found strutting on the ground in search of food in parks and gardens in urban areas.

Photo by Brian Westland

Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)

(29 cm.) Entirely black plumage; yellow bill and eye ring

The Eurasian Blackbird, often referred to as the Common Blackbird is a very common member of the thrush family, “turdidae”. Like other many other birds in this family, the Eurasian Blackbird is a talented singer that serenades females and threatens other males with its melodious singing during the spring and summer.

Despite bearing the name, “blackbird,” it should be noted that this bird is a true thrush and is not related to members of the American blackbird family, “icteridae.” As one of the few completely black species of songbirds in Europe and Asia, the bird’s English name is most reasonable. The male has uniformly black plumage with a striking yellow eye-ring and yellow bill. The female is a less attractive mix of black and brown, but still possesses the yellow bill, which is this species diagnostic feature.

The Eurasian Blackbird is found throughout south and central China as far north as Shandong province. It is not a migratory species and can be found year-round in most part of its range. In the northern part of its range, some birds may wander south during winter to seek out better conditions. It is generally a hardy species, however.

This bird is a common sight in city parks and gardens or any place that offers it its preferred foods, earthworms, insects, and other small invertebrates. It is a versatile omnivore that also enjoys berries and fruits.

During the summer breeding season the male Eurasian Blackbird will attract a mate with a strange courtship display of running and head-bobbing. After mating, the couple will build a cup-shaped nest made of mud, grass and other vegetation. The female lays 3-5 eggs and incubates them herself for about two weeks. Due to the accessible position of Eurasian Blackbird nests, predators often take eggs and chicks. Despite this, this species continues to maintain a large population, and this bird continues to be regular attraction in city parks in all major Chinese cities from Qingdao in the north all the way down the East Coast of China.

Photo by Brian Westland

Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus)

(10 cm.) Small; green-olive upperparts; white eye-ring; yellow throat and vent

The Japanese White-eye is the most common of three white-eye species that occur in China. All white-eyes are named, not surprisingly, for the conspicuous white eye rings that each member of the family possesses. China is home to several other small songbirds, however, that also possess white eye rings such as several species of flycatcher, so one should not automatically assume that any bird with an eye ring is a member of this family.

The Japanese White-eye, like other members of its family, “Zosteropidae,” the white-eyes, is an omnivore with a varied diet. The birds will take insects and fruits and will even visit flowers to take nectar.

This species is extremely active, and like many warblers, it is often difficult to observe due to the hyperactive pace it sets. Fortunately, its broad eye ring and yellow body are easily noted, and it is very quickly identifiable.

Of the three white-eye species which occur in China, only two inhabit the eastern part of the country, the Japanese White-eye and its close cousin, the Chestnut-flanked White-eye. The species look alike, however, the Chestnut-flanked White-eye has very obvious brown stripes on its sides, so distinguishing the two species is not difficult. Sometimes, these two species will flock together.

The Japanese White-eye builds a cup-shaped nest made of a variety of building materials such as hair, spider webs, moss and lichen. It will even steal materials from the nests of other birds.

This bird is admirable for its beauty as well as its role in helping to control insect populations. In 1929, it was introduced to Hawaii in an attempt by authorities there to control insect populations on that ecologically-challenged group of islands.

Japanese White-eye (Photo by Dick Daniels)

Japanese White-eye (Photo by Dick Daniels)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

(24 cm.) Large: black and white, white cheek, red head spot.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a member of the family, “Picidae,” the woodpeckers. Like all woodpeckers, it is usually found climbing around the trunks of large trees in a concentrated search for insects and their larvae. This species is the most widespread woodpecker in China, and it is found throughout the East.

Both male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers are “pied” birds that are primarily colored black and white. Both sexes sport a pinkish-red vent, the area found on the birds’ under parts near the base of their tails. The male displays a red spot on the back of its head that is missing in the female.

All woodpeckers have physical adaptations that allow them to lead their rather unconventional way of life. To allow them to grip tree bark, nature has provided woodpeckers with two pairs of toes which point in opposite directions and ensure firm gripping of tree bark. Their unusually stiff tail feathers provide added support as the birds grip tree bark. Woodpeckers also possess heavily-reinforced skulls which can absorb the impact of the birds’ drilling into tree trunks with their sharp bills. The tongue of a woodpecker in extremely long and can extend several centimeters beyond its bill, allowing the woodpecker to probe the holes it drills in search of food.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a non-migratory resident throughout most of its Chinese range. It will sometimes venture south in winter from the coldest parts of its range. It is still a common winter bird in Beijing during winter, however.

This species is omnivorous; and although it is fond of insects, it will also consume the eggs and chicks of other bird species, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It has even been known to eat small rodents.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker nests in a tree cavity usually in a soft-wooded tree that is in some state of decay. The female lays 5-7 eggs and after hatching, the chicks will gather at the hole entrance to clamber for food while the parent birds are absent on their food-finding missions.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Photo by Maartin Visser)

Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)

(50 cm.) Glossy black; long heavy bill; square tail.

The Large-billed Crow, often referred to as the “Jungle Crow,” is another member of the family, “Corvidae,” which includes jays and magpies. It is a typical family member in many ways. Like magpies, jays and other crows, it is an omnivore which can consume just about anything. This bird is also highly intelligent, so much so, that it has even been credited with tool-using intelligence. It is an aggressive bird that will readily resort to predation as a food gathering technique. As this bird is an omnivore, one could argue that its predation is unnecessary behavior.

In China, the crow is considered a sign of bad luck. Its close cousin, the Black-billed Magpie, is considered as a sign of good luck and is often called, the “lucky bird.” However, the bad luck tag could easily be attached to both these species as they share some nasty personality traits.

The Large-billed Crow has been tagged as the bird species most likely to attack and kill live domestic chickens. It will also kill other bird species and other small vertebrates such as small mammals.

In addition to the prey items that constitute a large part of its diet, the Large-billed Crow consumes a wide variety of animal and plant matter, both living and dead. This tremendous versatility in diet has allowed this species to be very adaptable and settle in places where they can quickly become a nuisance to local people and wildlife.

As could be expected for such an adaptable bird, the Large-billed Crow is a very widespread species, and is found from eastern China to as far west as Iran. Its range in the south extends as far as the Philippines. Due to its great versatility in diet, the bird has no need to migrate.

During the breeding season, this species builds a platform nest of sticks which is set high in a tree. It seems to prefer fir or pine trees as a nesting site. The female lays 4-5 eggs.

Large-billed Crows often gather in large groups at nighttime roosting sites. At times, especially during the non-breeding season, thousands of these birds can be found at a single roosting site.

Large-billed Crow (Photo by JM Garg)

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

(16 cm.) Small; black bill; tiny body; very long tail with white edges; different races vary in color pattern

The Long-tailed Tit, due to its elongated tail and conical bill is placed in a separate family, “Aegithalidae,” from other tit species such as the Great Tit. The other members of the Long-tailed Tit’s family are all birds which possess long tails.

The Long-tailed Tit is a common bird in Europe and Asia and several races exist that vary in appearance. Individuals from all races are easily recognizable as members of this species, however. In China, this bird is a non-migratory resident species that lives only in the eastern half of the country from Heilongjiang province in the North to around Shanghai in the South.

All tits species, regardless of which family they are placed in, are very active and acrobatic birds which can usually be found amid the boughs of trees foraging for insects and seeds. Tits are generally non-migratory birds due to their omnivorous diets and their ability to switch to vegetarian mode in winter, if needed. As a result, tits, and their North American cousins, the chickadees, are birds which are often found at far northern latitudes in wintertime. Birders are grateful that these cheerful and usually quite tame little creatures are present during the cold winter months.

Unlike most tits, the Long-tailed Tit is primarily an insect eater throughout the year and will only resort to taking other foods should insects be unavailable.

This Long-tailed Tit favors deciduous or mixed woodlands as its habitat. In winter, it prefers deciduous forests that can still yield insects.

Due to the small size of its body, this bird is susceptible to extreme cold in wintertime. During extremely cold spells, the majority of the Long-tailed Tit population in a particular location may perish. However, the remaining birds are able to breed prodigiously in the following months to replace the loss.

Long-tailed Tit (Photo by Nigel Wedge)

Great Tit (Parus major)

(14 cm.) head and throat black, white cheek, black band through breast.


The Great Tit is another widely-distributed bird species that is found throughout Europe and Asia. It is also a very common species throughout its range and is familiar to many people. The Great Tit was once considered a single species with several subspecies throughout its range, but recent scientific studies have suggested that the bird we see in Asia should be referred to as the “Japanese Tit” and that the birds found in Europe should be referred to as the “Cinerous Tit”. Ornithologists are still arguing about this new division of the species, so the name “Great Tit” will suffice for our purposes.

The scientific name of this species, “Parus major,” means “large tit,” and certainly this species is the largest member of its family. All tits, however, are small songbirds. They are all active omnivores that feed primarily on insects during the spring and summer months and seeds during the winter.

In Europe and North America tits are frequent visitors to feeding stations maintained by bird-lovers and are well-loved by all people for their tameness and willingness to trust humans. They often eat from the hands of people patient enough to earn their trust. Their high level of comfort with people has made them one of the best-studied group of birds in the world.

The Great Tit inhabits a large variety of habitats including deciduous and coniferous forests as well as “mixed woodland.” The bird can also be found in city parks and university campuses throughout much of China.

The Great Tit is a non-migratory bird that can remain in the same place during summer and winter by switching its diet from insects in summer to seeds in winter. Only in the event of food shortages in winter will the Great Tit undertake large food-searching migrations. Often, the Great Tit will join “mixed flocks” of other bird species such as finches and nuthatches to forage for food during harsh winter months.

Great Tits are early spring breeders that use tree cavities as nests. They will also readily use man-made boxes for nesting purposes making them good subjects for study. The female produces a large clutch of eggs, often up to 18 in number. The female alone will incubate the eggs and she will be fed by the male during her incubation duties. Young tit chicks are fed by both parents.

Great Tit (Photo by Luc Viatour-www.Lucnix.be)