The Yellow tit (Parus holsti) is endemic to Taiwan. It is resident that is not widely distributed and is a protected bird. Their habitat is usually broad leaved or mixed forest at 700-2500 meter elevations but now they can be viewed on Taroko Terrace near the park HQ. The female and male birds look similar. They have yellow green crest like the Green-backed Tit. The call is rapid, pleasant to hear and changeable.

In addition, winter birds of passage and winter residents including White's Thrush (Zoothera aurea 虎鶇), Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus 黃尾鴝), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus 白腹鶇) . Other birds that can be seen include White-tailed Blue Robin (Cinclidium leucurum 白尾鴝), Formosan Pigmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus kaleensis 小啄木鳥), Varied Tit (Parus varius 赤腹山雀), White-eared Sibia (Heterophasia auricularis 白耳畫眉), Rufous-bellied Blue Flycatcher (Niltava vivida 黃腹琉璃), YelIow-throated minivet CR (Pericrocotus solaris 灰喉山椒烏頭翁), Muller's Barbet(Megalaima oorti 五色鳥), White Eye(Zosterops japonica 綠繡眼) can be viewed.

Most of the winter migratory birds breed in Heilongjiang and Siberia in summer then head for south China, Taiwan, Japan and the Qinghai Plateau in winter, beginning to appear in October in Taiwan. The Pale Thrush breeds in the Ussuri area of eastern Siberia and in the Northeast of China. They begin to migrate in November and return in April the following year.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Taroko National Park Headquarters