My 10 Favorite Birds of Shanghai

Given that Shanghai has a population that is about as large as that of the 10 biggest cities in the US combined, it may sound surprising that it is actually a decent place for birders. Then again, it is so mostly because it is on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Alaska, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36889825

People traveling on the highway do not stop at gas stations because they are attractive places but rather because they need to refuel, and going anywhere else would just lengthen the overall journey. So, they stop for a moment and then move on.

In that respect, Shanghai is not that different. As a result, only two of my 10 favorite Shanghai species can be found here all year round. Two can only be found in winter, and the remaining 6 only briefly pass through on their way to presumably preferable summer breeding grounds or their wintering locations.

So, which 10 species are my favorite? Two species are included primarily for cuteness.

One is the Reed Parrotbill, a Shanghai resident and also probably the most sought-after species by birders visiting Shanghai. Its cuteness comes from its somewhat oversized head and its funny way of climbing up reeds to see what is going on.

Oriental Scops Owls are also extremely cute – anything that looks a bit like a cat is. If I had to pick my favorite Shanghai bird, it might be this one. Though there is a breeding record in Shanghai, the best chance to see this owl is during autumn migration in the second half of September and the first half of October.

Next, Black-crowned Night Herons are on my list of favorites because of their elegance. They are Shanghai residents and easy enough to see even in some downtown riverside areas (one video frequently shown in the Shanghai metro also features them). I can sometimes even see them in my own compound. But that takes nothing away from their elegant appearance.

Amur Paradise Flycatchers display a different kind of elegance, particularly the male individuals of the white morph. A few of them even breed in Shanghai.

White’s Thrush winters in Shanghai. They are on my list because of their weirdness – and I mean that in a positive sense, not in the sense of reminding me of JD Vance. A bird looking like a reptile.

The Yellow-breasted Bunting is on my list due to its rarity. It is listed as Critically Endangered, and yet, it can be surprisingly numerous in a few coastal places at the right time during autumn migration.

The aspect of rarity is also a reason to list the Fairy Pitta – though mostly its inclusion is due to its wonderful color. It is truly a thrill to encounter one – again, most easily (though still not easily) during autumn migration.

Weirdly for somebody like me who basically only wears variations of black and grey, the last three species are all also in this list for their color.

The Northern Lapwing winters on Chongming Island. It is a bit like a poor people’s version of the Glossy Ibis – from many perspectives, it seems not to have any color at all, but occasionally one gets to see its multicolored glory.

The last two only have one strong color accent each, and are both mainly encountered on migration through Shanghai.

Blue is a wonderful color, and the Blue-and-white Flycatcher makes the most of it. The male, that is. As a bonus, the juvenile male adds a different but equally wonderful hue of blue.

Finally, the Siberian Rubythroat. I think a few might even winter in Shanghai, as I have seen them several times in winter months. The lipstick red of the male is just such an incredible accent that it makes me happy any time I see this species.

Of course, the problem with creating such a list is that the moment you finish it, you start having doubts. So, here are another 10 species that might have easily ended up on this list as well: Bluethroat, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Hoopoe, Siberian Blue Robin, Northern Boobook, Yellow-throated Bunting, Japanese Robin, Greater Painted-snipe, Black-capped Kingfisher, Black-throated Bushtit …

P.S.: Bonus feature of this post – a little messed-up memory game! Match the 10 species shown in the main post with the 10 species shown in the title photo, and win absolutely no prize whatsoever …