Birds of China

John MacKinnon, Nigel Hicks

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Natural History
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781472932136
• eBook ISBN: 9781472932129
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

An authoritative, portable photographic guide to the birds of China. A compact, easy-to-use bird identification guide for any nature watcher on a visit to China, one of the world's top destinations for watching birds. A total of 252 species is described here in detail, from the majestic Black-crowned Night Heron to the striking Large Niltava. All of these birds are clearly illustrated in a collection of specially commissioned colour photographs. With almost 300 full-colour photographs, easy-to-use thumbnail family silhouettes, a regional distribution map and handy tips on the best birding localities. Illustrated with clear colour photography and brief but authoritative descriptions the Pocket Photo Guides highlight the species of birds and animals from each region that the traveller is most likely to see, as well as those that are genuinely endemic (only to be seen in that country or region) or special rarities. The genuine pocket size allow the books to be carried around on trips and excursions and will take up minimal rucksack and suitcase space.

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis 25cm

Small buoyant grebe of reedy lakes and estuaries. Breeding adults have black forehead and crown with chestnut sides of head and front of neck. Eye is dark and base of bill has fleshy yellow gape spot. Winter and juvenile plumage is paler and more uniform, with gape spot less conspicuous. Breeding birds utter shrill trill and make skittish runs over water. Lacks any white on wing, but trailing edge pale. Dives for prolonged periods under surface. The nest is made on floating heap of vegetation; eggs are covered with debris when parents are absent. Widespread and common over much of China.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus 50cm

Larger, elegant grebe with slender neck and pronounced dark crest. Underparts whitish; upperparts uniform greyish-brown. In breeding season, adults have chestnut nape and mane-like ‘ear’ tufts. Distinguished from Red-necked Grebe by white on side of face extending over eye and by longer bill. In breeding season pairs perform elaborate courtship dance, facing each other, rising tall and nodding heads together, sometimes carrying vegetation in bill. Adults have deep resonant call. Young beg with piping ping–ping. Locally common and widespread on larger lakes. Partly migratory.

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo 85cm

Large blackish cormorant with buffy-white patch around throat. Plumage mostly glossy greenish-black; wing feathers edged black. In breeding season there is a small white patch on flanks and the sides of the head are decorated with whitish plumes. There is a ridge of stiff black feathers down back of nape. Bill and bare gular skin yellowish. Juveniles have whitish underparts. Cormorants breed on islets off the east coast and migrate south in winter. These birds are used by Chinese fishermen to catch fish. Formerly common but now greatly reduced in numbers. A large wintering flock has developed in Hong Kong.

GREAT WHITE PELICAN Pelecanus onocrotalus 165cm

Huge pinkish-white rare pelican with bluish bill with pink edges and pink feet. Distinguished from Spot-billed Pelican by larger size and whiter plumage, and from both Spot-billed and Dalmatian Pelicans by a tuft of long narrow feathers springing from the back of the head and feathers of forehead extending in a point over the culmen. Eyes are red. The wing in flight has more black than Dalmatian Pelican’s. Lives in small flocks, summering and probably breeding on lakes in north-west Xinjiang and the upper Yellow River but wintering to south-east China on large rivers, estuaries and along the coast.

DALMATIAN PELICAN Pelecanus crispus 175cm

Huge pelican with greyish-white plumage, pale yellow eyes, orange or yellow gular pouch. Underwing is white, with only tips of flight feathers black (Eastern White Pelican has more black in wing). Nape has curly crest. Feathers across forehead do not protrude forward as on Eastern White Pelican, but form crescentic line. Bill is grey, edged pink. Skin around eye is pinkish. Feet greyish-black. Gregarious and fishes in groups. Rare and local in northern China, mi...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• How to use this book
• Parts of a bird
• Glossary
• China’s avifauna
• Key to coloured tabs
• Bird habitats of China
• Administrative units of China
• How to watch birds
• Where to find birds in China
• Acknowledgements
• Species descriptions
• Further reading
• eCopyright