In the cold of early Spring a small flock of Japanese Waxwings appeared near the Shei-pa National Park Headquarters in Dahu Township, Miaoli County.

The park headquarters is located at the side of Wenshui River and is surrounded by a variety of trees native to Taiwan. Recently a park interpreter spotted six Japanese Waxwings resting in a flame tree on the grassy area in front of the visitor center. Over two weeks of observation the bird were regularly seen in nearby trees and were observed flying to a nearby banyan tree where they ate the fruit, then returning to their original position. They could be easily observed because the leaves had often fallen off the branches on which they perched. The Japanese Waxwing is easy to recognize because it has a face like a Beijing opera character.

There are three species of Waxwing in the world. Two, the Japanese Waxwing and Bohemian Waxwing, have been recorded in Taiwan. Japanese Waxwings are rarely seen in Taiwan and they have only previously been recorded in or near Taipei City in Danshui, Shilin, Da-an Forest Park and Yangmingshan National Park. The bird gets its Chinese name because of the red wedge shape at the end of its tail feathers when they are spread.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Sheipa National Park Headquarters