Alishan, Yangmingshan, Shoushan, Taiwan

  • A country that seems to really care about its wildlife

  • Plenty of forest to explore across the island

  • Incredible close views of most species (wildlife is not afraid)

  • Lots of endemics

  • Accommodation is relatively expensive considering quality

  • Requires booking some things very far in advance (treks, accommodation for certain areas)

Freedom:

Very high. You are free to explore most parks independently, day or night.

Costs:

Relatively expensive for accommodation, cheap for everything else. Excellent public transport is available to get around the island.

Target Species:

  • Mikado Pheasant

  • Taiwan Blue Magpie

  • Swinhoe’s Pheasant

  • Collared Bush-Robin

  • Taiwan Red-and-White Giant Flying Squirrel

My Species Stats (two week visit, photos only):

  • Birds - 50

  • Mammals - 3

  • Herps - 10

  • Insects/Arachnids/Mollusks - 28

Habitats:

  • Varied

Species

I’ve lumped a few national parks together for Taiwan. I’ve visited twice, for two weeks on each trip.

Excellent Sightings:

Birds - Taiwan Blue Magpie, Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler, Taiwan Barwing, Steere’s Liocichla, White-Whiskered Laughingthrush, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Lightvented Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Morrison’s Fulvetta, Asian Glossy Starling, Black-Crowned Nightheron, Malayan Nightheron, Green-backed Tit, Oriental Turtle Dove, Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Taiwan Barbet, Gray Treepie, Collared Bush-Robin, White-Rumped Shama.

Mammals - Formosan Rock Macaque, Taiwan Red-and-White Giant Squirrel, Pallas’ Squirrel.

Herps - Pond Slider, LaTouche’s Frog, Taiwan Common Toad, Paddyfield Frog, Temple Tree Frog, Common Thread Turtle, Asian Common Toad, Taiwan Japalure, Common Sunskink.

Good Sightings:

Birds - Black Eagle, Black-Naped Monarch, Eurasian Jay, Black-Throated Tit, Brown Bullfinch, Rufous-Capped Babbler, Chestnut-Bellied Tit, Large-Billed Crow, Eurasian Nuthatch, Gray Wagtail, Bronzed Drongo, Flamecrest, Coal Tit, Rufous-Faced Warbler, Chestnut-Tailed Starling, Common Moorhen, White-Tailed Robin, Spotted Dove, Taiwan Shortwing.

Sightings:

Birds - Common Kingfisher, White-Breasted Waterhen, Crested Goshawk, White-Bellied Epornis, Gray-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Taiwan Yuhinia, Fire-Breasted Flowerpecker, Plain Flowerpecker, Swinhoe’s Whiteeye.

Technically Seen:

NA

Not Observed But “Common”:

NA

Dream Wildlife On Park Lists:

Formosan Black Bear, Chinese Pangolin, Taiwan Serow, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Mikado Pheasant.