On April 16, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and Forestry released a new version of the "List of Terrestrial Wild Animals in Beijing" at the launch ceremony of the 41st "Bird Week". The number of wild animal species in the city has increased to 608, with the 12 newly added species all being birds.
The previous edition of the "List of Terrestrial Wild Animals in Beijing" was published in 2021. The new edition in 2023 has increased the number of wild animal species from 596 to 608, including 515 bird species.
Black-faced Laughingthrush
The newly discovered bird species were spotted by wildlife enthusiasts during field observations and were confirmed as a new record for Beijing by experts organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and Forestry. Statistics show that the number of bird species in the city has increased by nearly 100 compared to ten years ago.
purple-backed starling
"Birds are very sensitive to changes in the ecological environment," said Deng Wenhong, a professor of zoology at Beijing Normal University. He explained that the increase in bird numbers is due to the city's ongoing efforts in ecosystem restoration, improving the quality of forests in mountainous areas, constructing large-scale ecological zones, and restoring wetland ecosystems. Currently, Beijing's wetland area has reached 62,100 hectares, providing habitats for nearly 50% of Beijing's plant species and 76% of its wild animal species. Furthermore, the establishment of 79 nature reserves of various levels and types, including forest parks, wetland parks, geological parks, and scenic spots, has effectively protected over 90% of the city's nationally and locally protected key wild animals and plants and their habitats.
Grey-crowned Warbler
In conjunction with Bird Week promotional activities, the city also released the "Beijing Bird Watching Map," highlighting 45 bird watching spots rich in bird resources, including Beihai Park, Cuihu Wetland Park, Shidu in Fangshan District, and Wild Duck Lake in Yanqing District, providing guidance for bird watching and photography enthusiasts.
The 12 newly added bird species are: Grey-crowned Warbler, Purple-backed Starling, Black-breasted Thrush, Kamchatka Warbler, Short-tailed Shearling, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Blue-fronted Redstart, Glossy Ibis, Short-billed Swift, Chestnut-backed Bulbul, Grey Tree Magpie, and Chestnut Kite. Among them, the Glossy Ibis is a Class I protected wild animal in China, and the Chestnut Kite is a Class II protected wild animal in China.
Beijing Birdwatching Map
