2025 Wildlife News
5 December 2025
The DALMATIAN PELICAN Pelecanus crispus 卷羽鹈鹕 Juǎn yǔ tí hú still at Shahe Reservoir (2N3501 WeChat name)
4 December 2025
A DALMATIAN PELICAN Pelecanus crispus 卷羽鹈鹕 Juǎn yǔ tí hú at Gonghuacheng, Shahe Reservoir (“Leeeeeeeeo” WeChat name).
Now apparently two EUROPEAN ROBINS Erithacus rubecula 欧亚鸲 Ōu yà qú at the Temple of Heaven Park.
2 December 2025
5 SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER Mergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā, Summer Palace (Cen Zhang et al.)
The CHESTNUT THRUSH Turdus rubrocanus 灰头鸫 Huī tóu dōng seen briefly in the mid-morning at the Botanical Gardens (unknown observer).
The EUROPEAN ROBIN Erithacus rubecula 欧亚鸲 Ōu yà qú still at the Temple of Heaven Park (via WeChat).
1 December 2025
1 EUROPEAN ROBIN Erithacus rubecula 欧亚鸲 Ōu yà qú, Temple of Heaven Park (original observer unknown)
1 CHESTNUT THRUSH Turdus rubrocanus 灰头鸫 Huī tóu dōng, Botanical Gardens (悠兰)
10 November 2025
1 EUROPEAN ROBIN Erithacus rubecula 欧亚鸲 Ōu yà qú, Taiyanggong Park (many observers).
1 WESTERN WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī, Huairou Reservoir (Paul Holt)
28 October 2025
1 (1cy) LITTLE GULL Hydrocoloeus minutus 小鸥 Xiǎo ōu, Guanting Reservoir (viewed from Yeyahu) plus 1 RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps grisegena 赤颈䴙䴘 Chì jǐng pì tī (Paul Holt).
21 October 2025
1 LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca 白喉林莺 Báihóu lín yīng, YuanDaDu Relics Park (many observers)
16 October 2025
1 BAND-BELLIED CRAKE Porzana paykullii 斑胁田鸡 Bān xié tián jī sound-recorded but not seen at the Huaisha River, Huairou District (Paul Holt).
7 October 2025
1 (adult male) PALLID HARRIER Circus macrourus 草原鹞 Cǎo yuán yào, Baiwangshan (Friends of Nature)
6 October 2025
At least three MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER Ficedula mugimaki 鸲姬鹟 Qú jī wēng, Temple of Heaven Park (Xuanyuan WUZG et al.)
1 MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER Ficedula mugimaki 鸲姬鹟 Qú jī wēng, Longtan Park (Ling Gan)
19 September 2025
1 SIBERIAN THRUSH Zoothera sibirica 白眉地鸫 Bái méi di dōng, Agricultural Exhibition Center (李大碗 et al.)
1 NORTHERN HAWK-CUCKOO Hierococcyx hyperythrus 北鹰鹃 Běi yīng juān, Peking University campus (Chen Xier)
1 DEMOISELLE CRANE Anthropoides virgo 蓑羽鹤 Suō yǔ hè, Huaisha He, Huairou (Paul Holt).
27 July 2025
At least 15 Lysurus fungi along the Wenyu River on 27 July, apparently most similar to Lysurus habungianus, a species relatively recently described from India. This species has been found at this site for five consecutive years in July and August.
26 July 2025
At least three male Oriental Blue Dasher Brachydiplax chalybea 蓝额疏脉蜻 Lán é shū mài qīng in Houshayu, Shunyi District (Terry Townshend). The third consecutive year that the species has been recorded at this site.
A Mountain / Formosa Wolf Snake – Lycodon ruhstrati – 黑背链蛇 – Hēi bèi liàn shé in northern Huairou District (Tony Bryant jr)
15 July 2025
1 LESSER COUCAL Centropus bengalensis 小鸦鹃 Xiǎo yā juān, DaNing Reservoir (Xuanyuan Wuzg, 云 杉 et al.)
15 June 2025
At least one CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO Clamator coromandus 红翅凤头鹃 Hóng chì fèng tóu juān, Fragrant Hills (Elizabeth Zhang et al.)
8 June 2025
1 CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO Clamator coromandus 红翅凤头鹃 Hóng chì fèng tóu juān, Botanical Gardens (ys Zhang et al.)
7 June 2025
1 BROWN-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa muttui 褐胸鹟 Hè-xiōng wēng, Xiaolongmen (Xiaoping Zang, Zhen Wang et al.)
1 June 2025
2 Wild Boar (Sus scrofa 野猪 Yězhū) at Mangshan Forest Park, Changping District (Josh MB). Comment: “2 medium-sized wild boar at Mangshan Forest Park (near the Ming Tombs Resevoir). ~05:00am, sniffing around together right by the large buddha in the centre of the park.”
31 May 2025
1 LESSER COUCAL Centropus bengalensis 小鸦鹃 Xiǎo yā juān, Zhujiawan, Miyun District (怡帆 杨)
29 May 2025
1 ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH Zoothera citrina 橙头地鸫 Chéng tóu dì dōng, Peking University campus
23 May 2025
A male SIBERIAN THRUSH Zoothera sibirica 白眉地鸫 Bái méi di dōng, Temple of Heaven Park (many observers)
A NORTHERN (RUFOUS) HAWK-CUCKOO Hierococcyx hyperythrus 北鹰鹃 Běi yīng juān, Olympic Forest Park (Allen Xue)
20 May 2025
1 RED-HEADED BUNTING (Emberiza bruniceps 褐头鹀 Hè tóu wú) or BLACK-HEADED BUNTING (Emberiza melanocephala 黑头鹀 Hei tóu wú) in the Olympic Forest Park (待富者钟 via 小红书). There is only one previous record of Red-headed in Beijing from May 1923 and no previous records of Black-headed.
18 May 2025
1 male JAPANESE THRUSH Turdus cardis 乌灰鸫 Wū huī dōng, ShiXiaCun, Miyun District (Heidi Qi and Qiuhan Zhang)
17 May 2025
Irkutsk Violet (Viola variegata) in flower at Lingshan
16 May 2025
1 GREY TREEPIE Dendrocitta formosae 灰树鹊 Huī shù què, BeiYunHe, Tongzhou District on 16 May 2025 (via 大好).
15 May 2025
1 RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE Lophotriorchis kienerii 棕腹隼雕 Zōng fù sǔn diāo, Baiwangshan (many observers). See here. The first record for Beijing and must be one of the most unexpected.
14 May 2025
1 ASHY DRONGO Dicrurus leucophaeus 灰卷尾 Huī juàn wěi, Yuanmingyuan (歪歪 via 小红书)
13 May 2025
1 ASHY DRONGO Dicrurus leucophaeus 灰卷尾 Huī juàn wěi and 1 TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis 林鹨 Lín liù, Ma Chang (Paul Holt)
1 PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA Hydrophasianus chirurgus 水雉 Shuǐ zhì, Shahe Reservoir (王与时).
11 May 2025
1 MALAYAN NIGHT HERON Gorsachius melanolophus 黑冠鳽 Hēi guān jiān, Academy of Forestry and Landscape, Chaoyang (小红薯). See here.
7 May 2025
1 (male) SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER Ficedula tricolor 灰蓝姬鹟 Huī lán jī wēng, Temple of Heaven Park. Apparently also present on 6th but not identified.
The Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor 灰蓝姬鹟 Huī lán jī wēng in the Temple of Heaven Park (Terry Townshend)
1 May 2025
1 (singing) BOOTED WARBLER Iduna caligata 靴篱莺 Xuē lí yīng, Beijing Expo Park (Zhang Jiaming). The first record for Beijing.
26 April 2025
A SLENDER-BILLED GULL Chroicocephalus genei 细嘴鸥 Xì zuǐ ōu at Ma Chang (严向荣). As far as I know, only the third Beijing record.
25 April 2025
My first sighting of Libellula angelina 低斑蜻 of 2025 in Shunyi. This critically endangered dragonfly is on the wing for only a few weeks in the second half of April and early May.
24 April 2025
1 RUFOUS-GORGETED FLYCATCHER Ficedula strophiata 橙胸姬鹟 Chéng xiōng jī wēng, 望京伯爵城中央公园 (Wangjing Earl City Central Park) (王钧桥 and 房鑫).
The male Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher in Wangjing Earl City Central Park on 24 April 2025 (Terry Townshend)
22 April 2025
One (male) CHINESE BLUE FLYCATCHER Cyornis glaucicomans 中华仙鹟 Zhōnghuá xiān wēng at Nanhaizi (陈金贵). The first documented record for Beijing.
20 April 2025
1 GREY-HEADED CANARY FLYCATCHER Culicicapa ceylonensis 方尾鹟 Fāng wěi wēng in the Olympic Forest Park (via Lou Fangzhou)
1 FUJIAN NILTAVA Niltava davidi 棕腹大仙鹟 Zōng fù dàxiān wēng at Nanhaizi (TaQini Liu, Heidi Qi et al.). Plus a WHITE-CROWNED PENDULINE TIT Remiz coronatus 白冠攀雀 Bái guān pān què.
6 (breeding plumaged) SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBE Podiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī, LeHuo ZhongDi, DaNing Reservoir (Xuanyuan Wuzg and 云 杉).
17 April 2025
2 (breeding plumaged) SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBE Podiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī, Nanhaizi (Wolstame)
1 CRESTED GOSHAWK Accipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng, Baiwangshan (Jun Shuai et al.)
7 April 2025
1 personata White Wagtail (Motacilla alba 白鹡鸰 Bái jí líng), ChaoBai River (Terry Townshend)
6 April 2025
1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR Oenanthe isabellina 沙䳭 Shā jí and 2 PIED WHEATEAR Oenanthe pleschanka 白顶䳭 Bái dǐng jí at LeHuo ZhongDi, near DaNing Reservoir (Liu Shuangqi et al.)
28 March 2025
The (female) SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER Mergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā still at DaYunHe, Tongzhou District (Tianli Zhao et al.)
The LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus 小白额雁 Xiǎo bái é yàn still at Nanhaizi (Cinclus cinclus)
27 March 2025
The (female) SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER Mergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā still at DaYunHe, Tongzhou District
26 March2025
1 PALLAS’S GULL Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus 渔鸥 Yú ōu, Yuyuantan Park (陈斌)
The (female) SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER Mergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā still at DaYunHe, Tongzhou District (DaHao et al.)
25 March 2025
1 LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus 小白额雁 Xiǎo bái é yàn, Nanhaizi (Zuhan Feng et al.)
1 (female) SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER Mergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā, DaYunHe, Tongzhou District (hingis)
23 March 2025
1 PIED KINGFISHER Ceryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu, 3 Kms downstream of Chaohui Daqiao (Paul Holt). Plus a MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù at the same site by the same observer.
21 March 2025
1 CRESTED GOSHAWK Accipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng, Peking University campus (Yixiao Wang)
13 March 2025
3 MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é, Lehuo Zhongdi (Yan Zhou et al.)
5 March 2025
17 MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é at DaShiHe (Chen Yanxin), and 4 MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é at the Summer Palace (Yufan Wang).
19 February 2025
1 WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī, Wenyu River Park (east). Found during the monthly biodiversity survey with Beijing Forestry University (Terry Townshend, 黄赓 and 杨宇琢.).
Water Rail at Wenyu River Park on 19 February 2025 (Terry Townshend)
Comparison between Brown-cheeked Rail and Water Rail. Images taken a day apart at different sites.
18 February 2025
Four (two males and two female) WHITE-CROWNED PENDULINE TIT Remiz coronatus 白冠攀雀 Bái guān pān què still at Shunyi Riverside Park (Terry Townshend)
Male White-crowned Penduline Tit
Second male White-crowned Penduline Tit (note slightly different mask pattern)
Presumed female White-crowned Penduline Tit
Presumed second female White-crowned Penduline Tit.
3 February 2025
1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER Melanitta deglandi stejnegeri 斑脸海番鸭 Bān liǎn hǎi fān yā, Ming Tombs Reservoir. An unusual winter record (most records in autumn and, occasionally, in spring).
21 January 2025
A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus 北极鸥 Běi jí ōu (with Mongolian Gulls) flew over Lianggezhuang Bridge, BeiYunHe, Tongzhou District on 21 January 2025 (Paul Holt)
16 January 2025
Four WHITE-CROWNED PENDULINE TIT Remiz coronatus 白冠攀雀 Bái guān pān què reported from Shunyi Riverside Park (Yufan Wang).
15 January 2025
1 SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia 崖沙燕 Yá shā yàn, ChaoBai River (Paul Holt). A very rare winter record. Plus a 2cy EURASIAN SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia 白琵鹭 Bái pí lù at the same site. Possibly the first January record in Beijing.
12 January 2025
The RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Ficedula parva 红胸姬鹟 Hóng xiōng jī wēng still at the 元大都遗址公园–西段 Yuan Dadu Relics Park–West (Elizabeth Zhang).
At least three WHITE-CROWNED PENDULINE TIT Remiz coronatus 白冠攀雀 Bái guān pān què, Shunyi Riverside Park (multiple observers).
8 January 2025
The RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Ficedula parva 红胸姬鹟 Hóng xiōng jī wēng still at the 元大都遗址公园–西段 (Yuan Dadu Relics Park–West).
A female BAER’S POCHARD Aythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at Xihai. It is wearing an engraved leg tag “GJ” and apparently escaped from the Beijing Zoo in 2021.
The female Baer’s Pochard at Xihai (Terry Townshend)
2 January 2025
The ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus 毛脚鵟 Máo jiǎo kuáng still at Liulangzhuang in the company of an Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius 大鵟 Dà kuáng.
The RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Ficedula parva 红胸姬鹟 Hóng xiōng jī wēng still at the 元大都遗址公园–西段 (Yuan Dadu Relics Park–West).
1 January 2025
At least two WHITE-CROWNED PENDULINE TIT Remiz coronatus 白冠攀雀 Bái guān pān què, Shunyi Riverside Park (Terry Townshend et al.). First found on 29 December 2024 by王嘉琦 and 张妍菲.
The White-crowned Penduline Tit Remiz coronatus 白冠攀雀 Bái guān pān què at Shunyi Riverside Park (Terry Townshend).
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