There are lots of resources available on the natural history of Taiwan. Field guides to all sorts of critters have been published, including birds, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, beetles, fireflies, crabs, amphibians, fish, plants, just to name a few! Unfortunately, most of these resources are of limited use to a visiting foreigner because nearly all of them are in Chinese; some of them don't even include scientific names! Here I have gathered some of the most important resources which should be at least of some use to foreigners who access them. Many of the English titles are available internationally (click on the links to purchase from Amazon.com). Most of the field guides and recordings are available at wild bird societies and nature shops around the island. These places also have postcards, pins, sculptures, stickers, and all sorts of fun things that you can buy as souvenirs.

PUBLICATIONS
Below are some field guides and helpful books for identifying birds in Taiwan. Those marked with an asterisk (*) only have a Chinese version.

Illustrated Guides

• MacKinnon, John, Karen Phillipps, & Fen-Qi He. A Field Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press, 2000.

This excellent book is a must-have for birders in both Taiwan and China. It includes the newest taxonomical information, good plates, and detailed descriptions in English. This book contains far too many species to be used as a field guide in Taiwan, but it is a handy reference when compiling records or comparing bird lists. However, as with all guides that cover a wide region, its descriptions of a bird's abundance or habitat preference may not be true in all parts of its range (e.g. a bird common in parts of China may be rare in Taiwan and vice versa). Also, there are some errors that will hopefully be fixed in future editions.
• Wu, Sen-Hsiong, et al. ¥xÆW³¥³¾¹ÏŲ (A Field Guide to the Birds of Taiwan). Taiwan Wild Bird Information Centre and Wild Bird Society of Japan. Taiwan: ¨ÈªÙ¹Ï®Ñ¦³­­¤½¥q, 1991. *

Although the somewhat outdated, this is still most highly-recommended field guide. It is the most comprehensive and best illustrated field guide currently available to birds of Taiwan. The English and scientific names are given, but the descriptions, status, and everything else are in Chinese. The plates were illustrated by the same artist who illustrated A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan. There are also range maps for each species. The biggest problem with this book is its antediluvian taxonomy, inconsistent with modern lists and with frequent typos.
• Lee, K. K. ed. Birds of Taiwan. Taiwan, ROC: China Steel Corporation, 1998.

This book consists of all the plates of A Field Guide to the Birds of Taiwan (above) with Chinese and Latin names but no descriptions or range maps. Not available commercially.
• Chang, James Wan-Fu ±i¸UºÖ. ¥xÆW³¾Ãþ±m¦â¹ÏŲ. ¸V¼v¹Ï®Ñ¦³­­¤½¥q, 1985.

A rather comprehensive field guide that has both Chinese and English descriptions. The illustrations are not as good as A Field Guide to the Birds of Taiwan, but this book seems more readily available in foreign countries (though it is rather difficult to find in Taiwan). Range maps for each species also shown.
• Severinghaus, Sheldon R. & Kenneth Turner Blackshaw. A New Guide to the Birds of Taiwan (·s¥xÆW³¾Ãþ«ü«n). Taipei, Taiwan: Mei Ya Publications, Inc., 1976.

Though outdated and out of print, this book still provides foreign birders with a useful and handy tool for identifying birds in Taiwan. Wonderful descriptions of each birds' habits and calls. Recommended to be used with newer, more comprehensive field guides.
• ¤¤°ê³¥³¾¹ÏŲ (A Field Guide to the Birds of China). »A³¾¤å¤Æ¨Æ·~¦³­­¤½¥q, 1996. *

Published through a joint effort by ornithologists on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, this field guide includs China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Hainan. The illustrations are not exceptional, but the book is very comprehensive. All the text is in Chinese except the English and scientific names. Status and range maps shown for each species.
• De Schanensee, Redolphe Meyer. The Birds of China. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984.

Good descriptions of the birds of China, including Taiwan. Plates aren't bad, but very few species featured.
• Bharat Bhushan. A Field Guide to the Waterbirds of Asia. Wild Bird Society of Japan, 1993.

Also illustrated by the same artist that illustrated A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, this book is in English and covers nearly all of the waterbirds that are found in Taiwan.
• Koichiro Sonobe. A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan. Wild Bird Society of Japan, 1982.

Some people prefer to use this book because it is in English. However, this book is only helpful when identifying migrants in Taiwan. There are few resident species that are found both in Taiwan and Japan.
• Kobayashi, Keisuke and Hidehiko Cho. Birds of Taiwan. Japan: Maeda Graphic Arts, 1981.

I don't know much about this book besides the fact that it exists. All Japanese.
• Robson, Craig. A Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2000.

The newest guide to birds of Southeast Asia. Does not include Taiwan, but does illustrate quite a few species found in Taiwan.
• King, Ben, Martin Woodcock, & E. C. Dickinson. The Collins Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. Lexington, Massachusetts: The Stephen Greene Press, 1975.

Not very many species in this book are found in Taiwan, but some people find it useful nevertheless.
• Inskipp, Tim, Nigel Lindsey & William Duckworth. An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental Region. U.K.: Oriental Bird Club, 1996.

A comprehensive checklist covering all the birds of the oriental region including Taiwan. Very useful for comparing the different common and scientific names as listed in various field guides.

• ¥xÆWÀã¦a³¾ªº¿ëÃÑ (Wetland Birds of Taiwan). Wild Bird Society of Taipei, 1998. *

A photographic guide to birds found in the wetlands of Taiwan. Good photographs, and useful as an identification aid. Entirely Chinese except English and scientific names.
• MacKinnon, John, & Nigel Hicks. A Photograhic Guide to the Birds of China and Hong Kong. London: New Holland (Publishers) Ltd, 1996.

Includes some birds from Taiwan, but otherwise not very useful.
• Xiang, Zhang CizuZhu, & Pang BingZhag. Birds of China. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 1997.

Color photos of many birds found in China, some species also found in Taiwan. Many of the photos were taken of captured birds, however.
• Note: There are many regional photographic guides published for specific national parks, counties, or areas, but all are in Chinese.

• ¤ý´f«º & ©P¤j¼y. ¥xÆW½à³¾¦a¹Ï (The Map of Wild Bird Watching). Taiwan: Morning Star Publishing Inc., 1999. *

This new book illustrates some of the main birding locations in each county and includes detailed maps of each one. Outstanding photographs of birds by the author himself and two other photographers. All Chinese, but the maps alone will be invaluable when traveling to places.
• Sargeant, Dave. A Birder's Guide to Taiwan. D.E.Sargeant, 1998.

A booklet that includes information about visiting Taiwan, a trip report, descriptions of birding locations in Taiwan, and an annotated species list. Lots of information and highly recommended for anyone planning a birding trip to Taiwan. The maps are especially helpful.
• Lee, Cin-ty (homepage) & Noam Shany. "Birding Taiwan." Birding (American Birding Association). Dec. 1998: 493-503.

A well-written article that covers many birding locations visited by the authors and information about Taiwan in general.
• Wheatley, Nigel. Where to Watch Birds in Asia. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1997.

Has brief, but helpful, section about birding in several locations in Taiwan. Useful if you plan on travelling to other countries in Asia aside from Taiwan.
• Zalles, Jorje I. & Bildstein, Keith L. Raptor Watch: A Global Directory of Raptor Migration Sites. Birdlife International & Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Oxford, United Kingdom: Information Press, 2000.

Informative if you plan to visit any of Taiwan's 6 watchsites listed in this book.

• ³¥³¾¤§­µ (The Bird Sounds of Taiwan). Digital Mastering by Nigel Bewley, British Library National Sound Archive, London.

Taiwan Hill Partridge, Taiwan Bulbul, Taiwan Laughing Thrush, Yellow Tit, Crested Goshawk, Bamboo Partridge, Lanyu Scops Owl, Gray-headed Green Woodpecker, Chinese Bulbul, Gould's Fulvetta, Hwa-Mei, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Gold-capped Cisticola, Thicket Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Jay.
• ¦ÊÄÚ±y»ïµe¬Ü¹| (Sounds of Taiwan Babblers). Digital Mastering by Richard Ranft and Nigel Bewley, British Library National Sound Archive, London.

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Hwa-mei, Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, Gould's Fulvetta, Red-headed Tree Babbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, White-bellied Yuhina, Formosan Yuhina, White-eared Sibia, Steere's Liocichla, Gray-sided Laughing Thrush, White-throated Laughing Thrush, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Streak-throated Fulvetta, Formosan Barwing, Formosan Laughing Thrush.
• ¤s¤§Å£-³¥³¾­ì­µ, ¥É¤s°ê®a¤½¶é¦ÛµMÀW¹D 2 (Bird Sounds of Yushan National Park 2). Digital Mastering by British Library National Sound Archive, London. (tape only)

Muller's Barbet, Formosan Yuhina, Fulvous-faced Flycatcher Warbler, Gray-sided Laughing Thrush, Steere's Babbler, White-eared Sibia, Gould's Nun Babbler, Mountain Bush Warbler, Rufous-breasted Blue Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Wren, Green-backed Tit, Gray-throated Minivet, Rufous-bellied Blue Flycatcher, European Nuthatch, Yellow Tit, Lesser Scimitar Babbler, Blue Shortwing, White-tailed Blue, Brown Bush Warbler.
• ¤s¤§Å£-³¥³¾­ì­µ, ¥É¤s°ê®a¤½¶é¦ÛµMÀW¹D 3 (Bird Sounds of Yushan National Park 3). Digital Mastering by British Library National Sound Archive, London. (tape only)

Formosan Whistling Thrush, Johnstone's Bush Robin, Bamboo Partridge, Finch-billed Bulbul, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler, White-eyed Nun Babbler, Hwamei, Island Thrush, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, White-browed Bush Robin, Red-headed Babbler, Chinese Bulbul, Pigmy Owl, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Black Bulbul.
• ¤s¤§Å£-³¥³¾­ì­µ, ¥É¤s°ê®a¤½¶é¦ÛµMÀW¹D 4 (Bird Sounds of Yushan National Park 4). Digital Mastering by British Library National Sound Archive, London.

Crested Serpent Eagle, Bush Warbler, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Bronzed Drongo, White-throated Laughing Thrush, Taiwan Yuhina, Spotted Scops Owl, Taiwan Sibia, Swinhoe's Pheasant, Blue Shortwing, Taiwan Hill Partridge, Island Thrush, Gray-headed Green Woodpecker, Vivid Niltava, Jay, Verreaux's Bush Warbler, Johnstone's Bush Robin, Coal Tit, Yellow Tit, Formosan Laughing Thrush, Alpine Accentor.
• ¤s¤§Å£-³¥³¾­ì­µ, ¥É¤s°ê®a¤½¶é¦ÛµMÀW¹D 5 (Bird Sounds of Yushan National Park 5). Digital Mastering by British Library National Sound Archive, London.

Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Bulbul, Gray-headed Pygmy Woodpecker, Oriental Cuckoo, Green-backed Tit, Taiwan Firecrest, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Collared Scops Owl, Crested Goshawk, Steere's Liocichla, White-tailed Blue Robin, Hwa-Mei, Eurasian Nuthatch, Strong-footed Bush Warbler, Red-headed Tit, White-throated Flycatcher-Warbler, White-bellied Yuhina, House Martin, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Gray-sided Laughing Thrush, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Beavan's Bullfinch, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Maroon Oriole.
• The Forest Show.

A mix of nature sounds and music. Also includes a CD with calls of Blue Shortwing, Taiwan Bulbul, White-tailed Blue Robin, Hwa-Mei, White-eared Sibia, Japanese White-eye (Orchid Island ssp.), Black Bulbul, Muller's Barbet, Little Grebe, Lanyu Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, White-breasted Waterhen, Ring-necked Pheasant, Gould's Fulvetta, and 3 mammals, 10 frogs, and 9 insects.

General Information

• Birds of Taiwan Home Page
• The Beauty of Wild Birds in Taiwan
• Wetlands and Water Birds of Taiwan
• Birds in Taiwan
• Where do you want to go birding in Taiwan today?
• ROC Tourism Bureau
• Travel Guide Taiwan
• Yangmingshan National Park
• Kuantu Waterbird Conservation Area
• Taipei Botanical Garden
• Lonely Planet Taiwan
• Taiwan - Atlapedia Online

• Taiwan National Parks
• Kenting National Park
• Yushan National Park
• Yangmingshan National Park
• Taroko National Park
• Shei-Pa National Park
• Kinmen National Park *
• Wildlife Refuges in Taiwan
• Protection of Nature Landscapes
• National Park Ecological Protection Areas

• Wild Bird Federation Taiwan (Chinese Wild Bird Federation)
• Wild Bird Society of Keelung *
• Wild Bird Society of Taipei *
• Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan *
• Wild Bird Society of Hsinchu *
• Wild Bird Society of Miaoli *
• Wild Bird Society of Changhua *
• Wild Bird Society of Nantou *
• Wild Bird Society of Yunlin *
• Wild Bird Society of Chiayi *
• Wild Bird Society of Tainan *
• Wild Bird Society of Kaohsiung *
• Wild Bird Society of Ping Tung *
• Wild Bird Society of Ilan *
• Wild Bird Society of Hualien *
• Wild Bird Society of Taitung *
• Wild Bird Society of Penghu *
• Wild Bird Society of Kinmen *
• Taiwan Wild Bird Society *
• Fong-Huan-Ku (Phoenix Valley) Birds Park *
• Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute Chinese
• Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute English
• The Natural Trail *

• Taiwan's Store specializes in Taiwan's nature and culture
• Natural Kingdom Inc. eco-tourism and nature store in Taiwan
• Tropical Birding (Taiwan: "Formosan endemics and endangereds," November 8 - November 19, 2002)
• Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (Taiwan & Hong Kong, March 23 - April 7, 2002)
• The Travelling Naturalist (Hong Kong and Taiwan, April 20 - May 4, 2000)