Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) putong qiushaya

(68 cm.) Male: Large; long, thin hooked bill; greenish-black head and back; white underparts. Female/immature male: dark grey upperparts; pale grey underparts; brown head; white chin

The Common Merganser, also known as the “Goosander” is a member of the family of ducks, geese, and swans and is also a member of the subfamily, “Merginae”, the mergansers. All mergansers are also known as “fish ducks”, as they are fish-hunting ducks which have serrated bills which allow them to grip their slippery prey. Their unique bills also provide them with the nickname, “sawbills”.

The Common Merganser bears a superficial resemblance to a Mallard with its greenish-black head, but its red, serrated bill, larger size and black and white body distinguish it easily. As with many other bird species, the male of this species is decidedly more beautiful than the female. The female of this species has a brown head, grey body and duller red bill.

The Common Merganser is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In China, it breeds in the northeast and the northwest and winters in the southeast. In the breeding season it can be found in lakes and rivers in wooded areas.

As it is a cavity nester, the Common Merganser needs mature stands of trees from which to find a nest hole, probably an abandoned woodpecker nest. In areas with no trees, this species will find holes in cliffs and high riverbanks. The female lays a large clutch of eggs, usually 10-12 in number. Immediately after hatching, the chicks are taken in their mother’s bill to a lake or river where they can begin feeding.

In addition to fish, Common Mergansers feed on other aquatic animals such as crustaceans, insect larvae, mollusks, and even amphibians. All mergansers are diving ducks that plunge to often great depths in the pursuit of prey.

The Common Merganser is partially-migratory and will only leave the parts of its breeding range where all open water will freeze. In China, this means the birds will be absent in winter in all locations north of around Shandong province.

Photo by Dick Daniels



Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Song ya

(35 cm.) Pinkish color; white throat; black “mustache”; blue and black pattered wings; white rump

The Eurasian Jay, like other jays found in the world, is part of the “Corvidae” family which includes crows and magpies. The Eurasian Jay shares many characteristics of these birds including a harsh voice,  exceptional intelligence and a somewhat dark reputation for aggressive and predatory behavior.

This species shares the Black-billed Magpie’s love of eggs, and it will actively seek out the nests of other bird species to steal eggs and even chicks. Its aggressive nature is most often directed at birds larger than itself, however. The Eurasian Jay is known as a fierce rival of several birds of prey. It will harass owls and hawks during the day in an attempt to protect its own kind. During its attacks on the Tawny Owl, the Eurasian Jay will mimic the call of the owl. This bird has a great gift of mimicry, and its imitations of the sounds of other birds are difficult to distinguish from the real calls of the species it imitates.

In addition to eggs, the Eurasian Jay eats seeds, berries and other fruits. It is especially fond of acorns, and it seeks out oak forests as habitat to give it a steady supply of this food. Various animals such as small animals, insects, and other birds constitute a significant part of its diet.

This is a widespread species which is found throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In China, this species is found in most of the eastern half of the country. Like most members of the Corvidae family, it is a non-migratory resident species within its range. Its varied diet allows it to consume foods in any season within its range.

Perhaps due to the destruction of the mixed oak forests which it favors, this species is moving into the cities where urban parkland can offer it the conditions it needs to survive.

The Eurasian Jay nests in a large shrub or a tree, and the female lays 4-6 eggs in an untidy stick nest. Both parents will feed the chicks after the eggs have hatched.

Despite its aggressive personality, or perhaps due to it, this species can end up being a prey item at night for the species of raptors which it bullies during the day

Photo by Pawel Kuzniar

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)

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

(13 cm.) Large head; short tail; grey upperparts; whitish-brown underparts; black eye line

The Eurasian Nuthatch belongs to a family of small, interesting and rather odd birds, “Sittidae”, the family of nuthatches. The name, “nuthatch” is derived from their habit of drilling acorns and nuts into the trunks of trees where they can be opened by “hacking” them with their bills. All nuthatches have very large heads, short tails, and powerful feet and claws for gripping trees.

Nuthatches are usually seen climbing along the branches and trunks of trees like a woodpecker; however, they often climb down a tree headfirst which is something a woodpecker would never attempt.

The Eurasian Nuthatch is the most common and widespread of the nuthatch family. It is sometimes simply referred to as “the nuthatch” due to its familiarity with bird-lovers. This species is found is found throughout Europe and Asia, except Ireland. In China, it is a common bird in many parts of its range which is limited to the eastern half of the country.

This species is found in deciduous forests where it can find the acorns and nuts which it so loves. It also consumes insects which it finds during its foraging missions along the trunks and branches of deciduous trees. At times, this bird will feed on the ground. During winter, the Eurasian Nuthatch will visit feeding stations that offer seeds, often bullying other birds they may encounter there.

Due to its varied diet that is not solely dependant on insects, this species is non-migratory, and like other non-migratory bird species, its fall and winter wanderings will only be motivated by winter food shortages in its summer range.

The Eurasian Nuthatch nests in a hole or crevice that is lined with grass or tree bark. The female will deposit 5-8 eggs in the nest.

This species is quite noisy, and can often be heard to repeat its trademark call, the loud and sharp, “twet, twet, twet” At other times it can be heard to whistle a rather melodious song. It is, after all, despite its rather strange appearance, a songbird.

Photo by Luc Viatour



Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Bai pilu

(84 cm.) Large; white; long, grey spatulate bill; naked skin on head; black face line

The Eurasian Spoonbill is named quite apparently so, for its flat spoon-shaped bill which it sweeps through the water in its aquatic habitats to scoop up is food. Although it appears very similar to herons and egrets, it is not closely related to them, and is included in a completely separate family. It is a member of the family, “Threskiornithidae”. This family is divided into two groups, the ibises and the spoonbills.

This species is found in southern Eurasia from Spain to Japan. It is also found in North Africa. It is the most widespread of spoonbill species. The Eurasian Spoonbill is not a common bird in China, so the sight of this oddly beautiful bird is always a thrill. It breeds in the extreme northeast of the country, generally limited to the provinces that constitute “dongbei”. It is found during migrations along the East Coast of the country, and in winter in the south. Flocks of over 1000 Eurasian Spoonbill spend winter in Jiangsu on Poyang Lake.

All spoonbills feed by wading in shallow water. They sweep their bills from side to side through the water, snapping them shut when an aquatic animal such as an insect, fish or crustacean makes contact with the bill. Spoonbills spend many hours every day in their food gathering activities. These birds will feed in both freshwater and saltwater environments.

Spoonbills are monogamous during the breeding season, but they may choose new mates from year to year. They nest in colonies with other long-legged wading birds such as herons and ibises. Their nests are platforms of sticks situated in trees or reed beds which are generally built by the males.

The female Eurasian Spoonbill generally lays 3 eggs, and the newly-hatched chicks emerge with straight bills lacking the familiar spoon shape. Both parents will feed the chicks by regurgitation.

Photo by Andreas Trepte, www.photo-natur.de