Top ten most beautiful birds in China

In today's world, we know of more than 9,000 different types of birds. What is heartbreaking is that in the past 2000 years, 139 species of birds have disappeared from the earth. This situation is really unacceptable.

However, as humans gradually strengthen their efforts to protect bird habitats, the numbers of some rare birds have begun to show an increasing trend, bringing us a glimmer of hope. China is home to many beautiful birds, some of which are particularly eye-catching.

As far as China is concerned, the following are the ten most beautiful birds: crested ibis, green peacock, red-crowned crane, fairy thrush, blue-crowned babbler, green-tailed rainbow pheasant, brown-eared pheasant, etc. Known for their unique appearance and captivating colors, these birds take people into a visual feast. Let us appreciate their beauty together.

1. Crested Ibis (Oriental gem/endangered/internationally protected bird/first-level protected animal/CITES first-level protected animal)

The crested ibis is generally regarded as one of the rare birds worth watching, and often occupies a place in the list of the top ten rare birds. Its beautiful appearance is known as the "Oriental Gem" and it is one of China's four national treasures, along with the giant panda, golden monkey and takin. This bird was once widely distributed in eastern China, Japan, Russia, North Korea and other places. However, due to environmental degradation and other factors, its population has declined sharply.

In 1960, the 12th World Ornithological Conference listed the crested ibis as an "internationally protected bird"; at the same time, China also listed it as a national first-level protected animal. Thanks to the unremitting efforts of scientists and artificial breeding programs, the global number of crested ibises has increased from only 7 when they were discovered in 1981 to more than 7,000 in May 2021.

2. Green Peacock (King of birds/Phoenix prototype/Endangered/First-level protected animal)

When it comes to beautiful birds, many people will immediately think of peacocks. This magical creature naturally ranks among the most beautiful birds in China. The green peacock, in particular, is extremely rare. Its tail extends over one meter of upper tail coverts, and the end of each feather flashes with gorgeous eye-like markings, forming a gorgeous tail screen that is eye-catching. The male peacock's feathers are bright and eye-catching, while the female's feathers are a bit plain, without the luxurious tail screen. The main coverts are emerald green, the back is dark brown, and there is a bunch of erect feather crests on the head.

Green peacocks are only distributed in the western, central and southern regions of Yunnan in China. According to data from 1995, there were approximately 800 to 1,100 green peacocks in Yunnan Province at that time. However, by 2014, the rare bird's distribution had become extremely rare. If effective protection measures are not taken in time, the wild green peacocks in Yunnan may face the risk of extinction in the next ten years.

3. Red-crowned crane (elf/fairy bird/endangered/first-level protected animal on the wetland)

The red-crowned crane, a famous rare bird, commonly known as the crane, is known as a symbol of good luck, loyalty and longevity. It is also a famous auspicious bird in China and has been given the title of "fairy bird" in mythology. Because it mainly inhabits mixed land and swamps with rich water resources, it is called the "elf on the wetland". It is one of the most beautiful birds to watch and is also listed as one of the top ten rare birds in the world.

Currently, there are only about 2,000 red-crowned cranes left in the world, and they are listed on the Red List of Endangered Species, becoming one of the endangered species. Red-crowned cranes are endemic to East Asia, with the largest population found in China. 18 nature reserves have been established in China mainly with the theme of protecting red-crowned cranes, including Xianghai in Jilin, East Dongting Lake in Hunan, Bird Island in Qinghai, and Poyang Lake in Jiangxi.

4. Fairy thrush (fairy among birds/vulnerable/secondary protected animal)

The Eight-Colored Thrush, commonly known as the Eight-Colored Thrush, is one of the colorful birds. Among the most beautiful birds in China, the eight-colored thrush, known as the "fairy among birds", is a treasure among flowers and birds. Its brilliant colors are no less beautiful than hummingbirds, birds of paradise and parrots. Mainly distributed in Japan, Korea, eastern and southeastern China, and migrates to Borneo in winter.

Although the Yangtze River Delta region of China is supposed to be its breeding ground, the number of Fairy Thrushes is very rare, with less than 10,000 individuals in the world, and relevant records were only recorded in Nanjing in the past. It is currently recognized as a globally vulnerable bird. Within China, there are estimated to be approximately 100 to 1,000 breeding pairs of Fairy Thrushes, and 50 to 1,000 migratory individuals.

5. Blue-crowned Babbler (The most mysterious bird in the world/critically endangered/first-level protected animal)

The blue-crowned babbler is a bird endemic to China and is praised as "the most mysterious bird in the world". These mysterious birds have been listed on the Endangered Species List, classified as Critically Endangered (CR), and classified as a Class I protected animal in China. It is estimated that their number is only 200-300, making them one of the ten rarest birds in the world.

The blue-crowned babbler has a graceful body, with a layer of blue feathers covering its head, like a "blue crown"; there is an olive green band on its shoulders; they have black facial features, and blue and white stripes on their tail feathers. Color, the throat is bright yellow, and it emits a pleasant and crisp cry.

Blue-crowned Babblers like to nest on trees higher than 10 meters. These trees are usually distributed around residential villages, or even within villages. These are places where intact Shuikou forests are preserved. Wuyuan in Jiangxi is their only surviving wild habitat. The four major habitats in Wuyuan include Caomen Village in Taibai Town, Shimen in Qiukou Town, Yueliang Bay, and the mountain forests near Hexi Village.

6. Green-tailed Pheasant (Queen of Bird Country/First-level protected animal/Vulnerable/CITES Level I protected animal)

The green-tailed pheasant is a rare bird endemic to China. There are only a few of them in existence, with less than 3,000 individuals. They are mainly distributed in the areas surrounding the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. Their rarity is comparable to that of giant pandas, and they are regarded globally as one of the most precious and beautiful species of pheasants, and thus have been given the reputation of "Queen of the Bird Country".

These green-tailed pheasants have brilliant feathers that display an extremely rich range of colors. The feathers of the male Green-tailed Pheasant are composed of 10 different colors. The head shows a black feather cluster, and the eyes are azure. From the mouth downwards, the color of the feathers gradually changes to a metallic emerald green; the back of the neck shines It is a bright red copper color, the upper body reflects the luster of copper and bronze, the lower back is snow white, and the lower body is blue-green. Especially under the sunlight, the green-tailed pheasant looks like a living "rainbow" when it takes off, transforming into a "rainbow bird", shining brightly and making it one of the most beautiful birds to watch.

7. Brown-eared Pheasant (First-class protected animal/vulnerable)

The brown-eared pheasant native to China is a rare and precious bird, known as one of the most wonderful birds in the country. It is about 60 centimeters long, with a deep brown color all over, with gray-black markings on its head and neck. There is a tuft of short and dense black hair on the top of its head, which looks like a crown. The face and cheeks of the brown-eared pheasant are bare and featherless, showing a bright red color, while the tail is made of white and blue, slender and vertical, like a feather fan, extremely gorgeous and charming.

These brown-eared pheasants mainly live in forest areas dominated by larch, spruce and other tree species in North China, and especially thrive in secondary coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests such as larch, spruce, poplar, and birch in North China. Their distribution range is limited to China's Shanxi, northwest Hebei, Huanglong Mountain in Shaanxi and Dongling Mountain in Beijing. According to a 1987 survey, there were only a few hundred wild brown-eared pheasants. According to literature reports in 2009, the current number of wild brown-eared pheasants in China is approximately 17,900.

8. Oriental white stork (a national treasure in the bird world/a world-class endangered species/a protected animal)

The International Council for the Conservation of Birds has listed the Oriental white stork as a world-class endangered species, and included it in the vulnerable category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In China, the Oriental white stork is regarded as a first-level protected animal and is known as the "national treasure of the bird world". This graceful bird is mainly found in southeastern Russia and northeastern China. According to the latest data released by the China Forestry and Grassland Administration in 2021, the total population of Oriental white storks in my country has exceeded 7,400.

The oriental white stork has a noble and elegant shape, with a body length of more than 1 meter and a wingspan of more than 3 meters. Its feathers are as white as snow, with black patches on the sides of its wings, and its legs are bright red. The mouth is black and the end tapers into an awl shape, and the exposed area around the eyes is bright red. These characteristics make the Oriental white stork graceful and attractive. When flying, their spread wings are like piano keys, black and white. They are one of the most beautiful birds in China.

9. Hainan Peacock Pheasant (First-class protected animal/endangered)

China's Hainan Peacock Pheasant is a unique endemic species mainly distributed in rare mountain forests in the southwest of Hainan Island, China. Their number is very limited, with the total number on the entire Hainan Island not exceeding 2,700. They are endangered birds in the world and are also China's first-level national protected animals.

The feathers of the Hainan Peacock Pheasant are soft, usually brown or gray-brown, and covered with tiny yellow dots. Its wings and tail have metallic eye-shaped patches, which are densely arranged, as if they are looking at the world with a thousand eyes, showing a dazzling and charming luster in the sun. During the breeding season, the male Hainan Peacock Pheasant will spread its feathers, especially the tail feathers, to form a beautiful display of open tail feathers, just like a blooming flower, showing thousands of beauties.

10. White-headed Ibis Stork (nearly endangered/first-level protected animal)

The white-headed ibis stork, also known as the painted stork, is a rare species of great concern and is listed as near-threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In my country, the bald ibis stork is listed as a national first-level protected wild animal. This elegant bird is mainly distributed in areas from India to southwestern China and India, and was once considered extinct in the country.

The white-headed ibis stork has beautiful feathers and graceful posture, and is known as one of the most graceful birds in the world. When they are still, the patterns on their bodies are very gorgeous and beautiful, and the colors are like ink paintings. The flight feathers and tail feathers of the White-headed Ibis Stork are black with a green metallic sheen, and their chest displays a broad black breastband with a green metallic sheen.

The selection criteria for the top ten most beautiful birds in China are mainly based on the degree of endangerment in the "International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species" and the endangerment level listed in the "Red Data Book of Endangered Animals in China", taking into account the existence in a certain number and scale and having ornamental value. of rare birds. During the selection process, the animal's appearance, endangerment level, popularity, and population size were comprehensively considered, and recommendations were made based on information from relevant Internet rankings.

Some birds are not included in this list because they are quite rare (less than 200 birds) and difficult to observe. The following list is for reference only. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave comments or criticisms at the end of the article.

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