Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

(55 cm.) Large; Upperparts dark reddish-brown; brown “mustache’”; underparts whitish; In flight: wide, rounded wings; white patch near the base of primary feathers; usually has a black bar near tip of tail

The Common Buzzard is a large “bird of prey”. It is one of several species of hunting birds with certain adaptations for the killing of other birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Birds of prey are all armed with sharp, powerful claws on their feet called, “talons”. It is the talons of these birds that usually perform the killing task.  All birds of prey also have sharply hooked bills designed by nature for tearing flesh. Eagles, buzzards, falcons, ospreys, and owls are all considered birds of prey. At times, these birds are also called, “Raptors”

The Common Buzzard and other Raptors which share the genus, “Buteo”, are referred to individually as “hawks” in North America, or “Buteos” as a group. These birds are usually called “buzzards” in Europe and Asia.

All buzzards are fairly large Raptors with broad bodies, wings, and tails. They are usually seen soaring in the skies overhead floating in the air without much movement of their wings. All buzzards are masters of this energy-conserving mode of flight. In summer, the heated air rising from the ground can allow these birds to soar for several hours without any movement of their wings.

Although many colloquial names are given to raptors in different parts of the world, their scientific names are standardized world-wide. The Common Buzzard, along with other buzzards, eagles and vultures are all part of the family, “Accipitrinae”.

The Common Buzzard, as its name suggests, is a common member of its family, and indeed it is a common sight in the skies along the East Coast of China during its spring and fall migrations. It is large buzzard that can be identified from below by its very broad and rounded wings. Other eastern buzzards have thinner wings and more square-shaped wings. This bird is a master of soaring and it is often seen to hover in one spot.

This species breeds in coniferous forests in the northeast provinces of the country and winters in the south central part of China from around Shanghai in the north down to Hainan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.



Photo by Dick Daniels



Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Yu’e

(55 cm.) Dark brown neck; back, wings and tail; white throat, crown and under parts; dark mask.

The Osprey is a truly cosmopolitan species of raptor which can be found on every continent on earth except Antarctica. It is also called Fish Hawk or Fish Eagle due to its heavy reliance on fish as a component of its diet. It is the sole member of its subfamily, “Pandioninae.” The fact that the Osprey is the lone member of its family living world-wide makes it a bird of particular interest.

The Osprey, which looks like a small eagle, is the sole member of its family due several physical differences between it and other diurnal birds of prey. Unlike eagles and hawks, the Osprey has a reversible toe which enables it to place two talons pointing backwards on its foot. Also, its toes are of equal length, and its talons are rounded as opposed to grooved. Furthermore, the Osprey’s feet are equipped with sharp barbs that make grasping fish an easier task. These oddities in the feet are specific adaptations to its fish-hunting way of life.

In China, the Osprey is found over much of the eastern and western parts of the country, but it is absent from much of the central region. In Eastern China, it is a resident species in the Northeast and the South Coast from around Xiamen to Hong Kong. It is also a resident species of Taiwan.

The Osprey is an unmistakable bird due to its distinctive dark brown mask, wings, body and tail, and otherwise white plumage. Males and females look alike, although males can be identified by their slimmer bodies and narrower wings.

The Osprey has been dubbed, “Fish Eagle,” as fish constitute around 99% of its diet. The other one percent is made up of the occasional rodent, rabbit, reptile, or other bird species. Ospreys catch fish by hovering over the water’s surface until a fish is sighted and then diving feet first into the water. At other times, the Osprey can avoid diving by swooping over the water’s surface and snatching fish from just below the surface. Closeable nostrils prevent water from entering the bird during those occasions when the bird’s head may become submerged during its fishing attempts.

Osprey nests are platforms of sticks which can be found in trees, on utility poles, or even on large rocks. The female lays 2-4 eggs, and incubates them for around 5 weeks. Young Ospreys take several months to gain full independence from their parents. Ospreys generally mate for life.

Osprey (Photo by Mike Baird)

Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis webbianis)

(12 cm.) Small; long tail; small parrot-like bill; uniformly brown with light streaks on throat.

The Vinous-throated Parrotbill is an interesting and rather unconventional species of songbird of the former parrotbill family, “Paradoxornithidae”. The Latin name of the family translates to English as “paradox bird.” meaning a bird that cannot be understood. For many years ornithologists had struggled to find the correct classification for the parrotbills. Originally, they had been placed in the family, “Paridae,” the family of tits with which they do share some habits. However, after strict observations of DNA, they were moved to the Paradoxornithidae, and finally, “Sylviidae,” the family of warblers.

The species gets its name from its hooked bill which resembles that of a very small parrot. Several species of parrotbills can be found in China, but most are tropical species only found in the extreme southern parts of the country, This species is found almost throughout the eastern half of the country only missing in western parts of Jilin and Heilongjiang. No other parrotbill can be found at these latitudes.

This species is one of the smallest of the family, and it has a proportionally much longer tail than other parrotbills. Its plumage is uniformly brown, and it derives its name from the faint brown streaks found on its throat. Males and females look alike.

The Vinous-throated Parrotbill is an extremely gregarious species that is usually found in large loose flocks of birds which are at their biggest during the winter. In winter, flocks can exceed 100 individuals. In summer, when breeding is occupying the mated pairs of birds, these flocks are much smaller.

The Vinous-throated Parrotbill is extremely adaptable and hardy. It can survive in a wide range of habitats, including various types of forest, swampland and cultivated places such as farms, orchards and city parks. It is this adaptability that enables the Vinous-throated Parrotbill to live at northern latitudes too harsh for other parrotbills.

The Vinous-throated Parrotbill is always a cooperative species to observe as it allows human visitors to approach rather closely as it gleans the branches of trees and bushes in search of its favorite food, seeds.

Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Photo by Alder Chang)

White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)

(24 cm.) White cheek on black head; white rump; grey back; orange bill and legs.

Often animal species fulfill specific ecological needs within their given range. They perform a task that is required to sustain the delicate balance of nature between food producers/consumers and predators/prey. Birds such as starlings are active insect consumers which help to control the populations of the insects they consume. In western China, a species of starling, the Common Starling, performs the task of controlling the insect population in open habitats such as fields and farmland. In Eastern China, this task is taken over by another member of the family, the White-cheeked Starling.

The White-cheeked Starling is named for the white spot on the side of its face, or “cheek”. Males and females are similar in appearance, while the female of the species possesses duller plumage.

The breeding range of this species includes Northeast China, Korea and Japan and parts of Siberia. In wild areas, it is an adaptable bird which can live in woodland and open country. Its adaptable nature makes it an ideal city-dweller where it can find parks and gardens. It is often seen in city parks along the East Coast of China in the company of Yellow-billed Grosbeaks with which it forms loose feeding flocks in winter.

This species is an omnivore, like other starlings. It eats a wide variety of plant and animal matter, but it is especially fond of fruit and crickets.

Like other starling species, this bird is a hole nester which builds a nest in a cavity in a tree. Often it can use holes that once served as nesting places for woodpeckers that have since been abandoned.

A noisy and gregarious bird, the White-cheeked Starling’s conspicuous behavior has garnered it attention from birders and non-birders alike. The pop culture sensation, “Pokemon,” features a character called, “Starly” which is based entirely on this species.

White-cheeked Starling (Photo by Brian Westland)

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) Zong shanweiying

(10 cm.) Small; heavily streaked back; white tip on tail; reddish-brown rump.

The Zitting Cisticola is a small bird which used to be included in the family of warblers. This species, along with other cisticolas and prinias, now constitute the family, “Cisticolidae.” Its former name is Streaked Fantail Warbler.

The Zitting Cisticola looks like a small brown warbler with its slender body and long, thin bill. Its bill is an adaptation for capturing the insects which form the largest part of its diet. As its former name suggests, this species is heavily-streaked with black on its brown back. Its white-tipped tail is often spread widely open like a fan. The underparts of this bird are white.

This species is found in grasslands near water where large numbers of insects are likely to be found. Cisticolas are generally non-migratory birds that live in warm climates that can offer an insect population all year long The Zitting Cisticola is a resident bird throughout its Chinese range as it is only found in the southeast region of the country from just south of Shanghai in the North down to the South Coast including Hainan and Taiwan.

The nesting season of the Zitting Cisticola is generally in accordance with the rainy season during its breeding season. The male of the species builds the foundation of a nest, and he displays the quality of his craftsmanship to prospective mates as part of his courtship effort. If a female accepts his invitation to mate, the pair of birds will complete the nest together. The male bird will also hover above a prospective female while calling to her during courtship.

The female lays 3-6 eggs in the completed nest which is a cup-shaped structure with a canopy for protection. The Zitting Cisticola is a polygamous species which will change mates and raise more than one brood per breeding season.

Zitting Cisticola (Photo by JM Garg)