Birding info of Hunan, China
Hunan is a landlocked province of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed. Its capital and largest city is Changsha, which also abuts the Xiang River. The name Hunan literally means "south of the lake". The lake that is referred to is Dongting Lake, a lake in the northeast of the province. Dongting Lake is the largest lake in the province and the second largest freshwater lake of China. Hunan covers an area of 211,800 square kilometres, making it the 10th largest provincial-level division. The east, south and west sides of the province are surrounded by mountains and hills, such as the Wuling Mountains to the northwest, the Xuefeng Mountains to the west, the Nanling Mountains to the south, and the Luoxiao Mountains to the east. Mountains and hills occupy more than 80% of the province, and plains less than 20%. The rich geographical types form a rich variety of different habitats, providing a habitat for many wildlife. About 500 bird species have been recorded in Hunan.
Some Important Birding Sites in Hunan
Dongtinghu Lake
Located to the north of Changsha, Dongtinghu Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China and covers 3,968 square kilometers. If you come here in winter, you can see some wintering migratory birds such as Greater White-fronted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Bewick's Swan, Falcated Duck, Smew, Great Crested Grebe, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Chinese Pond Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black Stork, etc. Other birds like Azure-winged Magpie, Yellow-bellied Tit, Mountain Bulbul, Chinese Blackbird, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, Oriental Greenfinch, etc.
Changsha Cemetery for the Revolutionary Martyrs
Covering 153.3 hectares, Changsha Cemetery for the Revolutionary Martyrs is located by the side of Liuyanghe River in the northwestern part of the city and the largest park in Changsha. The lush woods and huge artificial lake inside the park provide good habitats for birds. By the side of the lake, you have a good chance to see Black-crowned Night Heron, Chinese Pond Heron and Little Grebe. Inside the park, you also have good opportunities to see some forest birds such as Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Japanese Thrush, Huamei, Great Tit, Speckled Piculet, Azure-winged Magpie, Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Japanese Thrush, Grey-backed Thrush, Taiga Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Chinese Grosbeak, etc.
Yuelushan Hill and Juzhizhou Island
Located by the side of Xiangjiang River, Yuelushan is a famous historic site where lots of Chinese Scholars came here and made lectures in history. Juzhizhou is a narrow island opposite to Yulushan Hill and became famous around China because of a poem by Chairman Mao. In the forest, we have opportunities to see Eurasian Jay, Dark-sided Fly-catcher, Oriental Turtle Dove, Red-billed Leiothrix, White-throated Laughingthrush, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Yellow-bellied Tit, Chestnut Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, and Red-billed Starling. While by the side of the Juzhizhou Island, we may see Common Kingfisher, Great Egret, Little Grebe, Masked Laughingthrush, Chinese Grosbeak, etc.
Daze Lake
Located in Wangcheng County, Daze Lake is about 22km from Changsha City. Daze Lake is an excellent place for water birds including Cotton Pygmy Goose, Yellow Bittern, Chinese Pond Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Brown Crake, Grey-headed Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Wood Sandpiper, Whiskered Tern, Pied Kingfisher, Speckled Piculet, Chinese Penduline Tit, Oriental Skylark, Rufous-faced Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-collared Starling, Black-faced Bunting, etc.
Hupingshan
Located in the northwest of Shimen County, Hunan Province, Hupingshan is the boundary mountain between the two provinces of Hunan and Hubei. The elevation is generally more than 2,000 meters above sea level. The main peak is 2,098 meters high, which is the second highest peak in hunan province. The top of the mountain is high all around, low in the middle, shaped like a spout, hence its name. It is one of the world's 200 key ecological zones, a national nature reserve and a provincial eco-tourism demonstration zone. There are more than 200 bird species have been recored, such as Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Temminck's Tragopan, Black Bulbul, Black Baza, Crested Serpent Eagle, Eurasian Hobby, Greater Coucal, Speckled Piculet, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Green Shrike Babbler, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Yellow-bellied Tit, Collared Finchbill, Mountain Bulbul, Chestnut Bulbul, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Sooty Bushtit, Buff-throated Warbler, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moustached Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Black-headed Sibia, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Yellow-throated Bunting, etc.
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