This page provides examples of nocturnal flight calls (NFCs), including spectograms and audio files, all of which have been recorded in Beijing. Dates and recording location are given for each file.
The aim is to build up a resource of nocturnal flight calls in Beijing to help anyone who wants to explore nocturnal migration in the city or, indeed, anywhere in NE China.
Nocturnal recording is in its infancy in Beijing, so it is possible some of the identifications are incorrect. If you believe a call is incorrectly identified, please contact Wild Beijing via the contact form on the “Welcome to Wild Beijing” page. Thank you.
Some of the calls are of poor quality and will be replaced by better quality recordings as and when available.
Information provided about some of the species has been drawn from the following excellent websites from Europe:
The Sound Approach ; and
My heartfelt gratitude goes to colleagues at Peking University, including Professor Hua Fangyuan, Liu Shuangqi and Ren Xiaotong for their help and support.
BEAN GOOSE sp. Anser fabalis/serrirostris, 豆雁 Dòu yàn
My favourite recording from the AIIB project is below, a group of Bean Geese seemingly flying low over the roof on its way north on the evening of 18 March 2022. This recording sends shivers down my spine!
Recorded at AIIB on 18 March 2022 at 2001 hrs.
RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea 赤麻鸭 Chìmá yā
Recorded at Lingshan on 21 April 2024 at 0257hrs
FALCATED DUCK Anas falcata 罗纹鸭 Luówén yā
Recorded at AIIB on 2 May 2024 at 0353 hrs.
EURASIAN TEAL Anas crecca 绿翅鸭 Lǜ chì yā
Recorded at Lingshan, Mentougou District, Beijing on 10 April 2025 at 2147 hrs.
LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis 小鸊鷉 Xiǎo pì tī
Little Grebe has two frequently heard vocalisations at night. The first is a call used during territorial flights and on migration. It is a series of ‘pliks’ followed by a trill, not unlike the call of a Whimbrel.
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District, Beijing on 19 July 2022 at 0306hrs
The second call is a ‘squeal’ or “whee”. According to The Sound Approach:
“Little Grebes also have a second NFC. This is a plaintive wailing whee… whee, quite unlike the trill. In our experience, Little Grebes use a similar series of wails in anxiety or especially when lone birds cannot participate in courtship displays of other pairs. Wailing at water level usually involves long series of whee, whereas the NFC is usually just one or two whee together. Arguably, the NFC whee is derived from the wailing series on the water, and may signify lone birds prospecting for congeners.”
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District, Beijing on 27 April 2024 at 0129 hrs.
GREAT BITTERN Botaurus stellaris 大麻鳽 Dà má-yán
During nocturnal flights Great Bitterns are quite vocal, although the frequency of calling can be quite slow. You may only hear two or three calls as the bird passes by. Being one of the largest species that calls at night, it also has one of the deepest NFCs. As a result, distant calls can be obscured by traffic noise, or dismissed as some other low-pitched sound of the night, including those of humans, aeroplanes or dogs. The recording below is particularly clear – it was recorded in a remote location away from anthropogenic noise and was obviously close to the recorder when it called.
Recorded at Lingshan, Mentougou District, on 11 October 2024 at 0114 hrs.
YELLOW BITTERN Ixobrychus sinensis 黄苇鳽 Huáng wěi jiān
The heron/bittern in Beijing with the highest pitch. The frequency range of the call is usually between 1.8-2.4 kHz, with the centre being above 2kHz. Note that the NFC of Schrenck’s Bittern and Cinnamon Bittern have not yet been determined, but this call is presumed to be Yellow Bittern based on the similarity of this call and the Little Bittern of Europe and Central Asia and the relative abundance of this species in Beijing.
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District, Beijing on 10 August 2022 at 0059hrs.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON Nycticorax nycticorax 夜鹭 Yè lù
By far the most common heron/bittern to be recorded in Beijing at night. The peak frequency is usually between 1.5 and 2kHz.
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District, on 3 September 2021 at 2347hrs.
STRIATED HERON Butorides striata 绿鹭 Lǜ lù
Striated Heron has a distinctive relatively ‘clean’ (for a heron) downward inflected call that usually begins at c2-2.5kHz. The recording below includes two typical calls recorded in the rain.
Recorded at AIIB on 12 September 2021 at 2301hrs.
GREY HERON Ardea cinerea 苍鹭 Cāng lù
I am sure most birders will know the screechy call of the Grey Heron. The pitch of the call is strongly influenced by general agitation. NFCs of Grey Herons are pitched roughly between Black-crowned Night Heron and Yellow Bittern, and the diffuse nature of the spectogram, obscuring the main frequencies of the call, is a characteristic of this species. It’s commonly recorded at night in Beijing.
Recorded at AIIB on 12 August 2022 at 2118hrs.
BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL Rallus indicus 普通秧鸡 Pǔ tōng yāng jī
The call below is believed to be that of Brown-cheeked Rail. It is similar to a well-known NFC from the closely related Water Rail in Europe. See here.
Recorded at AIIB on 13 May 2022 at 0019hrs.
COMMON MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus 黑水鸡 Hēi shuǐ jī
Moorhens has one predominant nocturnal flight call type – the ‘kek-kek-kek’ sequence.
It is usually a sequence of harsh ‘kek’ notes, often in groups of three or four. These can be given as a single burst or repeated every few seconds. Some passes can be very prolonged with 20 or more sets of kek notes, possibly indicating the bird is circling and territorial. Notes in the middle of a sequence are usually higher than those at the beginning and end.
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District on 15 May 2022 at 0142hrs
COMMON COOT Fulica atra 骨顶鸡 Gǔ dǐng jī
Commonly recorded. The recording below is the typical NFC of Common Coot. However, it should be noted that this species is notorious in Europe for having a wide variety of nocturnal calls. It is said that “if you have no idea what species you have recorded, it is most likely a Coot!”
Recorded at AIIB on 12 April 2024 at 0138hrs.
COMMON CRANE Grus grus 灰鹤 Huī hè
As expected, given Common Crane is primarily a diurnal migrant, this species has not been recorded regularly at night in Beijing. The recording below is from the evening of 28 March 2024 at Lingshan in Mentougou District and is of a group that must have been flying low over the recorder, possibly due to the strong winds also heard in the recording. Other crane species are possible, so any recordings of cranes should be checked carefully.
Recorded at Lingshan, Mentougou District, Beijing on 28 March 2024 at 1909hrs.
BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus 黑翅长脚鹬 Hēi chì cháng jiǎo yù
Fairly commonly recorded in Beijing at night, particularly in spring.
Recorded at Lingshan on 21 April 2025 at 0157hrs
NORTHERN LAPWING Vanellus vanellus 凤头麦鸡 Fèng tóu mài jī
Not commonly recorded at night in Beijing.
Recorded at Lingshan, Mentougou District, Beijing on 30 March 2024 at 0124hrs.
PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis fulva 金斑鸻 Jīn bān héng
Rarely recorded at night but quite distinctive.
Recorded at Lingshan, 16 May 2021 at 0516hrs.
Another, more distant recording:
Recorded at Lingshan on 21 May 2025 at 2200hrs.
GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola 灰斑鸻 Huī bān héng
Scarcely recorded in Beijing at night, reflecting its status based on observational records. A rather melancholic call.
Recorded at AIIB on 10 September 2021 at 0223hrs.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius 金眶鸻 Jīn kuàng héng
Fairly commonly recorded, especially in spring. Flight calls of ‘LRP’ are the same night and day. The shape of the spectogram is well-known to European noc-miggers as resembling an axe and is typically in the 3-4kHz range.
Recorded at AIIB on 2 August 2022 at 0402hrs
SIBERIAN SAND PLOVER Anarhynchus mongolus 西伯利亚沙鸻 Xī bó lì yǎ shā héng
This is a tentative ID pending further research.
Recorded at Lingshan on 27 April 2025 at 2057hrs.
GREATER SAND PLOVER Anarhynchus leschenaultii 铁嘴沙鸻 Tiě zuǐ shā héng
Recorded at Lingshan on 14 April 2024 at 2029hrs.
PINTAIL SNIPE Gallinago stenura 针尾沙锥 Zhēn wěi shā zhuī or SWINHOE’S SNIPE Gallinago megala 大沙锥 Dà shā zhuī. **This recording is most likely Swinhoe’s based on pitch and timbre**
Recorded at Lingshan, 10 May 2024 at 2024hrs.
LITTLE CURLEW/LITTLE WHIMBREL Numenius minutus 小杓鹬 Xiǎo biāo yù
One of the unexpected species recorded in the first autumn.
Recorded at AIIB on 9 September 2021 at 2358hrs.
EURASIAN CURLEW Numenius arquata 白腰杓鹬 Bái yāo biāo yù or FAR EASTERN CURLEW Numenius madagascariensis 大杓鹬 Dà biāo yù
I am not yet confident at separating the two large species of curlew. Both are scarce passage migrants in Beijing, with Eurasian being the most frequent.
Recorded at AIIB on 26 March 2024 at 0335hrs.
Another call that I presume is a large curlew species is this nice recording from late spring. Comments welcome!
Recorded at AIIB on 27 May 2024 at 2359hrs.
SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus 鹤鹬 Hè yù
Recorded most seasons in small numbers. The spectogram is a classic ‘V’ usually between 2.5-3.5kHz.
Recorded at AIIB on 26 September 2021 at 0518hrs.
COMMON REDSHANK Tringa totanus 红脚鹬 Hóng jiǎo yù
A lovely call, familiar to any shorebird enthusiasts.
Recorded at Lingshan on 29 April 2024 at 2207hrs.
COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia 青脚鹬 Qīng jiǎo yù
Recorded at AIIB on 7 September 2021 at 0529hrs
GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus 白腰草鹬 Bái yāo cǎo yù
Recorded at AIIB on 3 September 2021 at 0045hrs
WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola 林鹬 Lín yù
The classic two-note (sometimes three-note) descending call.
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District on 21 July 2022 at 0120hrs.
GREY-TAILED TATTLER Tringa brevipes 灰尾漂鹬 Huī wěi (piào) yù
One of the most unexpected species recorded in the first autumn. At the time it was only the eighth record of this species in Beijing.
Recorded at AIIB on 19 September 2021 at 0124hrs.
COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos 矶鹬 Jī yù
Recorded at AIIB on 21 May 2022 at 0119hrs.
RELICT GULL Ichthyaetus relictus 遗鸥 Yí ōu
One of my most-wanted targets for this project. Early April is the classic time for this species to pass through Beijing, with birds on their way from the coast to breeding grounds inland. A lovely call, not dissimilar to Black-headed Gull, but distinctive.
Recorded at AIIB on 0424 hrs on 12 April 2024.
COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo 普通燕鸥 Pǔ tōng yàn ōu
Recorded at Lingshan on 4 May 2024 at 2312hrs.
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER Halcyon pileata 蓝翡翠 Lán fěi cuì
Although quite scarce in Beijing, and declining, this species is quite vocal at night, and has been recorded many times at both AIIB and at Lingshan.
Recorded at Lingshan on 13 May 2025 at 0345hrs.
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis 普通翠鸟 Pǔ tōng cuì niǎo
Recorded at AIIB on 26 April 2024 at 0243hrs.
ASHY MINIVET Pericrocotus divaricatus 灰山椒鸟 Huī shān jiāo niǎo
Recorded at AIIB on 23 May 2023 at 0451hrs
BROWN SHRIKE Lanius cristatus 红尾伯劳 Hóng wěi bó láo
This species is a common migrant in spring and autumn but nocturnal recordings are rare. This is the typical diurnal call that has been recorded on only a handful of occasions at night.
Recorded at AIIB on 14 August 2022 at 2134hrs.
YELLOW-BELLIED TIT Periparus venustulus 黄腹山雀 Huáng fù shān què
Recorded at AIIB on 23 May 2023 at 0428hrs.
EURASIAN SKYLARK Alauda arvensis 云雀 Yún què
One of the most commonly recorded nocturnal migrants in Beijing.
Recorded at Lingshan on 7 October 2024 at 0257hrs.
SILVER-THROATED TIT Aegithalos glaucogularis 银喉长尾山雀 Yín hóu cháng wěi shān què
Recorded on multiple occasions but always around dawn, so maybe not a truly nocturnal migrant.
Recorded at AIIB on 15 October 2021 at 0557hrs.
CHESTNUT-FLANKED WHITE-EYE Zosterops erythropleurus 红胁绣眼鸟 Hóng xié xiù yǎn niǎo or SWINHOE’S WHITE-EYE Zosterops simplex 暗绿绣眼鸟 Àn lǜ xiù yǎn niǎo
Frequently recorded. I suspect that with some analysis of the respective calls, it may be possible to distinguish between these two closely-related species.
Recorded at AIIB on 18 September 2022 at 0450hrs.
EYEBROWED THRUSH Turdus obscurus 白眉鸫 Bái méi dōng
The vast majority of thrushes recorded appear to be Eyebrowed Thrush. They are typically heavily modulated calls between 6.5-8.5kHz. Note that it is likely that the closely related Grey-sided Thrush has a very similar flight call but for the purposes of this study, we have labelled these calls as Eyebrowed given the relative abundance of this species.
Recorded at AIIB on 9 September 2022 at 0158hrs.
winter thrush sp. (DUSKY, NAUMANN’S, RED-THROATED or BLACK-THROATED THRUSH)
I have not yet worked out how to differentiate the night calls of the four ‘winter’ thrushes. It is very likely that Dusky Thrush and Naumann’s Thrush are identical, and also Red-throated and Black-throated but with more research I think it may be possible to distinguish the two ‘dark-throated’ species from Dusky/Naumann’s. The calls in the recording below are typical of the flight calls used at night.
Recorded at AIIB on 7 November 2022 at 0107hrs.
Flycatcher sp. (possibly DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa sibirica 乌鹟 Wū wēng)
Flycatchers are perhaps the hardest group to identify to species from NFCs. We know from work in Europe that the calls used by Muscicapa and Ficedula flycatchers during nocturnal migration are rarely heard during the daylight hours. It is not surprising, therefore, that with the monitoring of nocturnal migration in Beijing still being in its infancy, the night flight calls of the flycatchers have not yet been established. The call type in the recording below is the most common ‘flycatcher’-type call that we record in Beijing and, given the date range of the recordings and relative abundance, I suspect that this call may belong to the most common Muscicapa sp. in Beijing – Dark-sided Flycatcher – but this is speculation. More work is needed to understand the NFCs of the Muscicapa and Ficedula flycatchers in Beijing.
Recorded at AIIB on 3 August 2022 at 0215hrs.
SIBERIAN ACCENTOR Prunella montanella 棕眉山岩鹨 Zōng méishān shí liù
Commonly recorded in late Autumn, the night flight call of this species is identical to its diurnal call, so causes no identification challenges.
Recorded at Lingshan on 28 October 2024 at 0630hrs.
FOREST WAGTAIL Dendronanthus indicus 山鹡鸰 Shān jí líng
Infrequently recorded in early Autumn and in May.
EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla tschutschensis 黄鹡鸰 Huáng jí líng
Commonly recorded in August and early September and again in May.
GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea 灰鹡鸰 Huī jí líng
Less frequently recorded than Eastern Yellow Wagtail but regular in spring and autumn.
Recorded at AIIB on 14 May 2022 at 0412hrs.
WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba 白鹡鸰 Bái jí líng
Commonly recorded but most within an hour or two of dusk or dawn.
Recorded at AIIB on 30 April 2024 at 0453hrs.
RICHARD’S PIPIT Anthus richardi 理氏鹨 Lǐ shì liù
Usually given in bursts of two (usually descending in frequency) or singly, occasionally in bursts of three or four.
Recorded at AIIB on 31 August 2022 at 2336hrs.
BLYTH’S PIPIT Anthus godlewskii 布氏鹨 Bù shì liù
Similar in structure to Richard’s Pipit but higher pitched. Again, usually given in bursts of two.
Recorded at AIIB on 10 September 2021 at 0105hrs.
OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT Anthus hodgsoni 树鹨 Shù liù
The most common call recorded at night in Beijing. This is a typical example, with the highest frequency around 8kHz (can be just above or below) and with the buzzy, descending quality.
Recorded at AIIB on 13 May 2022 at 0136hrs.
Among the thousands of typical calls of Olive-backed Pipit, occasionally we have recorded another, ‘cleaner’, call – usually recorded during bursts of typical calls, as is the case below. I believe this could be an alternative call of Olive-backed Pipit, similar to the alternative call of the closely-related Tree Pipit in Europe referenced in The Sound Approach – see here.
Recorded at AIIB on 26 October 2021 at 0628hrs.
RED-THROATED PIPIT Anthus cervinus 红喉鹨 Hóng hóu liù
The explosive high-pitched call of Red-throated Pipit is familiar to most birders and it is a common migrant in Beijing. However, at night, Red-throated Pipit often uses a different call, typically similar to the recording below, with two, three or four descending calls in quick succession.
Recorded at AIIB on 29 September 2021 at 0551hrs.
SIBERIAN PIPIT Anthus japonicus 黄腹鹨 Huáng fù liù
The classic ‘lightning strike’ spectogram of Siberian Pipit.
Recorded at AIIB on 11 October 2021 at 0617hrs.
BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla 燕雀 Yànquè
The recording below includes the two calls most freuqently recorded – the familiar upward-slurred call and the associated ‘chip’ contact calls.
Recorded at AIIB on 20 October 2022 at 0454hrs.
HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes 锡嘴雀 Xī zuǐ què
The call of the Hawfinch is represented by two high-pitched parallel descending lines.
Recorded at Lingshan on 25 October 2025 at 0622hrs.
COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus 普通朱雀 Pǔtōng zhūquè
One of the most frequently recorded calls at night in Beijing. The typical upward-inflected call, not unlike the call of Common Chiffchaff. Good quality recordings often show a fainter and shorter upward-inflected line around 4kHz just before the main call.
Recorded at AIIB on 24 August 2022 at 0329hrs.
Occasionally, Common Rosefinches also use a downward-inflected call reminiscent of a song element, such as the example below.
Recorded at AIIB on 3 September 2021 at 0324hrs.
PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH Carpodacus roseus 北朱雀 Běi zhūquè
Recorded at both AIIB and Lingshan in late autumn and early spring. The number of parallel bars on the spectogram increases with the quality of the recording, illustrated in the recording below which is presumably a bird that approaches the recorder while calling.
Recorded at Lingshan on 20 March 2024 at 0615hrs.
COMMON REDPOLL Carduelis flammea 白腰朱顶雀 Bái yāo zhū dǐng què
Uncommonly recorded in late autumn and early spring, usually immediately before dawn or just after dusk.
Recorded at Lingshan on 20 March 2024 at 0603hrs.
PINE BUNTING Emberiza leucocephalos 白头鹀 Báitóu wú
Infrequently recorded and usually just before sunrise. The recording below includes the two familiar flight calls.
Recorded at AIIB on 29 October 2022 at 0612hrs.
TRISTRAM’S BUNTING Emberiza tristrami 白眉鹀 Báiméi wú
I am not certain about the identification of this call. Comments welcome.
Recorded at AIIB on 8 October 2021 at 0349hrs.
LITTLE BUNTING Emberiza pusilla 小鹀 Xiǎo wú
Frequently recorded and easily the most common bunting Emberiza sp. recorded at night. Can be encountered throughout the night, not only around dusk and dawn. The spectogram is typically upward-inflected with a small hook at the base, sometimes absent on poor quality recordings.
Recorded at AIIB on 11 October 2021 at 0600hrs.
YELLOW-THROATED BUNTING Emberiza elegans 黄喉鹀 Huáng hóu wú
Recorded at AIIB on 28 October 2021 at 0617hrs.
YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING Emberiza aureola 黄胸鹀 Huáng xiōng wú
Not recorded frequently. The recording below is, I believe, this species but I am not 100% certain. Comments welcome.
Recorded at AIIB on 3 September 2021 at 0219hrs.
In addition to the flight call, on one occasion we recorded what sounds like a song element of Yellow-breasted Bunting. However, again, I am not 100% sure of the identity and comments are welcome.
Recorded at AIIB on 5 May 2022 at 0059hrs.
PALLAS’S BUNTING Emberiza pallasi (lydiae) 苇鹀 Wěi wú
Pallas’s Bunting is an abundant migrant and winter visitor to Beijing. Three races occur. The first call below, I believe, belongs to the race lydiae. The second is, I believe, of the race polaris. See this post for more information about the calls of Pallas’s Bunting and the relative status of the three races in Beijing.
Recorded at AIIB, Chaoyang District, on 21 October 2021 at 0442hrs.
The recording below is one of the other races of Pallas’s Bunting, most likely polaris, based on the spectogram. Again, see this post for more information on the variety of calls from this species. This race is the most likely to be recorded as a vagrant in Europe given its relatively northern distribution and longer distance migration.
Recorded at AIIB on 22 October 2021 at 0518hrs.
LAPLAND BUNTING/LONGSPUR Calcarius lapponicus 铁爪鹀 Tiě zhǎo wú
Recorded in late autumn and early spring. The recording below shows the usual flight call combination of the short trill, followed by the downward-inflected ‘tew’ with its distinctive-shaped spectogram. The recording below includes a bark from a Siberian Roe Deer (Capreolus pygargus).
Recorded at Lingshan on 4 November 2024 at 2126hrs.
Sometimes, only one of the two call elements are recorded, for example sometimes only the trill (see below).
Recorded at AIIB on 28 October 2022 at 0219hrs.
And sometimes only the ‘tew’ call, as below.
Recorded at AIIB on 1 November 2021 at 2335hrs.
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