Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations of endemic birds in Asia, around thirty species found nowhere else, on an island the size of a small country with mountain roads to 3,000 metres, good hotels and short drives. Mikado and Swinhoe's Pheasant walk out onto the forest tracks, Taiwan Blue Magpies come to fruit, Flamecrest and Taiwan Rosefinch feed at the tree line, and in December the lowland wetlands add Black-faced Spoonbill.
Our thirteen-day tour circles the island for one to four photographers, led by Ethan, with time at each key site to get the shy endemics (Rusty Laughingthrush, Taiwan Partridge, Flamecrest) rather than just the easy ones.
The endemics are unusually photogenic and unusually approachable. Taiwan Barbet, Steere's Liocichla, White-eared Sibia, Taiwan Yuhina, Collared Bush Robin and the two pheasants are all birds that come close, in good light, at established sites, and the infrastructure lets a small group move from high mountain to coast in an afternoon. More than 700 species have been recorded on the island, and December brings wintering ducks, stints, pratincoles and the spoonbills to the western wetlands.
October to April, when the mountain birds are at accessible elevations and the wintering waterbirds are present. December, when we go, adds Black-faced Spoonbill at its peak and the cool, clear mountain light. Summer is hot, wet and typhoon-prone.
Taipei, then Taitung for Mikado Pheasant, Flamecrest, Taiwan Barbet, Taiwan Yuhina and the sibias; Chiayi for Crested Honey Buzzard and the high-forest endemics, Steere's Liocichla, Taiwan Barwing, Taiwan Bullfinch and Taiwan Shortwing; Nantou for Taiwan Rosefinch, Taiwan Fulvetta, Alpine Accentor and Golden Parrotbill; Hualien for Styan's Bulbul, Taiwan Hwamei, Maroon Oriole and Collared Owlet; Yilan for Black-faced Spoonbill and the wetland birds; and back to Taipei for Swinhoe's Pheasant, Taiwan Bamboo Partridge and Taiwan Blue Magpie. Nineteen photography sessions.
US$10,000 per person (2026, limited spaces), single supplement US$900, deposit US$3,000. Includes guiding, ground transport, domestic flights, accommodation, meals, entrance and hide fees. Also scheduled 5-17 December 2027 (US$10,500) and 2028 (US$11,000).
Taiwan sits neatly after our December China tours (Yunnan, Jiangxi, Guangxi) for a longer East Asian trip; ask us.
October to April. Our scheduled tour runs 5-17 December.
Mikado and Swinhoe's Pheasant, Taiwan Blue Magpie, Taiwan Barbet, Steere's Liocichla, White-eared Sibia, Collared Bush Robin and Flamecrest are reliable. Around twenty-five of the thirty endemics is a normal result for the thirteen days.
Four at most. Private trips are possible from October to April; solo travellers on a private trip pay a single-participant surcharge.
Several of the pheasant and magpie sites are worked from screens or vehicles. 400-600 mm is ideal; 300 mm is enough at the feeding sites.
Easy. Light walking, early starts, comfortable hotels, and mountain roads rather than trails.
Guiding, ground transport, domestic flights, accommodation, meals, entrance and hide fees. Not included: international flights, visa, travel insurance, tips for local guides, personal items.
