Birding Taiwan
If you are interested in Birding Taiwan, come and join us at Kaiyote Tours!
Birding Taiwan, The Heart of Asia
Time to Travel to Taiwan: No visa required, officially bi-lingual with English as the second language, and non-stop flights from many cities in the United States. Check out more info about our tours and travel to Taiwan:
Taiwan is a very special place and is one of our favorite places! If you are a birder, in Taiwan you will find 32 endemic species, with nearly 700 species in total. If you are a nature lover, besides the beautiful birds, you will find wonderful forests, canyons, mountains, stunning coastlines, lots of butterflies, fantastic local people, many interesting mammals, and great food!! If you are a hiker, you will find great trails through the forests, mountains, and river canyons.
Taiwan is a small island located 110 miles off the coast of southeastern China. Although Taiwan maintains its own independent government, it is officially: “The Republic of China”. Taiwan is about 1.5 times larger than the state of New Hampshire and has a population of nearly 24 million people. Taipei is the capital city and is located in the northern part of the country and 9.3 million people live in the Taipei–Keelung–Taoyuan metropolitan area. Artifacts dating back 30,000 years have been found on the island and the Taiwanese Aboriginals have lived in Taiwan for 6,000 years. Over the past centuries, there have been many occupying forces; the Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese, with China having the most control and influence. Today 85% of the population identifies as Han Chinese. Most Taiwanese are either Buddhist or Taoist and freedom of religion is in the constitution.
Taiwan is a mountainous country with over 268 peaks above 9,800 feet across the subtropical zone. Yushan (Jade Mountain, Mount Yu) is the highest point at 12,966 feet, 3,952m. Taiwan’s culture is a blend of indigenous, Chinese, and Japanese influences that travelers can actually experience through tasting the island’s creative culinary scene. Taiwan is also an advocate for human rights and is the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Enjoy a vacation in this scenic paradise. Don’t miss out on this colorful and vibrant travel destination!
Through all the years of changes, the one thing that has not changed is the Taiwanese people's love of nature. Taiwan has 10 national parks covering a total of 1.9 million acres and every county has local forest preserves and parks. Taiwan is dominated by forested mountains and has 18 National Forest Recreation areas. The island is criss-crossed with a network of well-maintained hiking trails. Taiwan has 65 different fire-fly species, which are a beloved insect and protected in the country. Taiwan is home to abundant bio-diversity. Nearly 700 different bird species, 61 mammal species (including the endemic Formosan White-throated black bear), 92 reptile species, 30 amphibian species, 400 butterfly species and over 4,000 vascular plant species.
Taiwan is a very modern and developed country with all the conveniences and luxuries anyone could need. About 10 million foreign tourists visit Taiwan every year and the country has the best hotels and restaurants for a great travel experience. It is a free, democratic, and progressive society. You can visit Taiwan without having to get a visa in advance and much of the country is bi-lingual with English as the second language. Taiwan has a fantastic infrastructure including a wonderful rail system with bullet trains traveling 185 mph. We will take the train several times on the Taiwan tour, and it is a very nice and relaxing experience to travel on the trains. According to the U.S. Department of State, violent crime against foreigners is unusual, and overall violent crime rates in Taiwan are among the lowest in the world. Taiwan has modern medical facilities, with state-of-the-art equipment available at many hospitals and clinics. For many of the other countries we travel to, these things are not always the case and so there are no excuses not to go to Taiwan!
Printable Bird List
(Checklist of birds that we have seen on this trip)
Map of the 16-day travel route here: Taiwan Map (this map will enlarge when clicked on, opens a new window)
2024 April/May tour: Taiwan Trip Report (opens a new window)
Ersten Imaoka’s Photo Album (opens new page)
- #12 Fairy Pitta 2025: May 15 - 30, 2025 (16 days). This very special tour will spend extra time in the Huben area to view the Fairy Pitta and other endemic species. The itinerary will be very similar to the one posted below, but we will visit the locations in a different order. Spots left = 0, wait list is full. Time to sign up for 2026! More dates are available as listed below
- #13 The 1st World Bird Fair is September 20 - 21, 2025 in Taichung, Taiwan: This is going to be an amazing event and we are organizing a tour before, and which includes the Bird Fair, from September 12 - 23, 2025 (12 days). $4,150 per person (double occupancy). Please contact us for the details, this will be a very special tour. Spots left = 5
- **#14 Taiwan, around the island! November 5 - 14, and/or November 15 - 25, 2025, (10 - 21 days), Part one is 10-days, part two is 11-days. This will be an amazing trip as we circle the entire island looking for birds. This tour will also spend 8-nights at high elevation areas to view mountain birds. You will see it all: from wetlands to mid elevation, to high elevation habitats, and everything in between. Price: for full 21-day tour is $6,150 per person double occupancy, with an additional $1,820 for single occupancy. Spots left = 7. Do you want a shorter trip? It is possible to join or exit this tour about mid-way, (while we are staying in Budai). This would give you a tour of either 10 - 11 days or 12 - 13 days. You can choose to join the tour for the first 10 - 11 days or join the tour for the last 12 - 13 days. Please contact us for details and pricing.
- #15 Taiwan and Okinawa combo: Please contact us for details
- Okinawa (8 days) November 27 - December 4th, spots left = 6
- Taiwan (8 days) December 5 - 12th, spots left = 6
- #16 Taiwan: January 7 - 22, 2026 (16 days). This is our standard tour and most closely resembles the itinerary as listed below. This tour is about 80% and 20% culture. We expect to see close to 200 species of birds. Price is $4,920 per person for double occupancy with an additional $1,250 for single occupancy. Spots left = 10
- #17 Taiwan: March 1 - 16, 2026 (16 days). This is our standard tour and most closely resembles the itinerary as listed below. This tour is about 80% and 20% culture. We expect to see close to 200 species of birds. Price is $4,920 per person for double occupancy with an additional $1,250 for single occupancy. Spots left = 6
- #18 Fairy Pitta 2026: May 1 - 16, 2026 (16 days). This very special tour will spend extra time in the Huben area to view the Fairy Pitta and other endemic species. The itinerary will be very similar to the one posted below, but we will visit the locations in a different order., and we will not visit Hualien and Taroko Gorge. Price is $4,920 per person for double occupancy with an additional $1,250 for single occupancy. Spots left for 2026 = 7
- **#19 The Islands of Taiwan: May 19 - June 6, 2026 (19 days). Not only is Taiwan a beautiful island, but the are many smaller islands that are also part of Taiwan. On this tour we will visit four islands of Taiwan: Kinmen, Penghu, Lanyu (Orchid), and Ludao (Green) Island. Click here for eBird lists: Kinmen, Penghu, Lanyu, Ludao. We will fly to the islands of Kinmen and Penghu, and we will take ferries to Lanyu and Ludao. There will be opportunities to see pelagic birds along the ferry routes. Both Lanyu and Ludao have great snorkeling and swimming. Please contact us for the specific itinerary. Price: $6,350 per person double occupancy, with an additional $1,915 for single occupancy. Spots left = 8
- Additional Dates: Tours by Request
- Group Size: 10 travelers plus guides
- Trip Length: 8 - 21 days
- Rates Rate per person = $4,120 - $6,350 depending on which tour and for double occupancy. Single occupancy is an extra $1,050 - $1,950, depending on tour length.
- Rates include: Domestic transfers and travel, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, park entrance fees and basic travel insurance.
- Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
- Adventure level: Moderate because of high altitude and stairs, please check "Welcome" page for definition.
- Reservations: To reserve a spot on the trip, a non-refundable $800 per person deposit is required, and the non-refundable balance is due six months prior to the trip.
**One of the first questions that I get about Taiwan is "Aren't you scared about China?" and the answer is no. Neither myself nor most of the Taiwan population is worried about an imminent invasion. And the last comment at the end of the tour is always: "We wished we booked a longer trip and stayed longer. Taiwan is so very wonderful". So here is your chance to visit Taiwan and stay a while!
High Altitude: Please be aware that this trip has two lodging nights at 5,700 feet (Ren'ai) and two nights at 7,500 feet (Dasyueshan). The Dasyueshan area has many stairs and a high point of 9,000 feet for a day trip on the mountain. Ren'ai has a high point of 10,750 for a day trip to Hehuanshan pass, which is the highest point on the Taiwan highway system. If you are concerned about the high altitude, you can skip the day trips to the higher elevations and stay at the hotel for the day. The hotel areas are lovely locations to spend the day.
Travel Dates: Because of the extreme time change and long flight, you are welcome to arrive a day early. I will still be able to meet you at the airport and make the arrangements for early arrival at the hotel. By arriving early, you will be well rested when the tour starts, and you will also be able to see more of Taipei and we will go birding and touring every day. The only added expense for you will be the extra nights at the hotel, (which is about $150/night per room), and your food.
Special offer: Included with your trip (one per room) is a copy of the field guide “Birds of Taiwan”, by Wild Bird Society of Taipei. You will receive this when you reserve your trip so you will have time to study the beautiful birds of Taiwan.
Scroll down to view the Taiwan Blue Magpie video and the Morrison's Fulvetta video.
Okinawa: The island of Okinawa is only a 1-hour flight from Taipei. This makes it an excellent choice for a short extension to your Taiwan trip. Okinawa is a small island and we recommend an 8-day visit, or as long as you like. Please contact us for details.
Basic Itinerary:
*Below is the basic itinerary that we work from for each tour. There are some locations, like Dasyueshan, that we visit every tour, and some locations are visited seasonally. Because we go to Taiwan multiple times a year, during different seasons, we vary the itinerary for each tour. Since the April 2024 earthquake in Hualien, we are adjusting the itinerary for each tour because Taroko Gorge is partially closed. Please contact us for the itinerary for the specific dates that interest you.
Day 1: Arrival in Taiwan
Flights are overnight with arrival on day one. Flights arrive in Taipei at the Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), and you will be greeted at the airport and shuttled to the Rido Hotel in the Da'an neighborhood in Taipei, where we will spend 2-nights. Just across the street from the hotel is Da'an Park, which is a great place for walking and viewing local birds such as the Taiwan Barbet, Common Kingfisher, Black Drongo, Malayan Night-Heron, Spotted Dove, Grey Treepie, Black Bulbul, Crested Goshawk, Light-vented Bulbul, Black Bulbul, and Swinhoe's White-eye.
Day 2: Taipei
Taipei is full of wonderful parks for walking and birding; it also has great museums and monuments. In the morning we will visit the Taipei Botanical Gardens and here we will find the endemic, Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler. The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Park has beautiful gardens and birds: Brown Shrike, Oriental Turtle Dove, Eurasian Magpie, Black Bulbul, Pale Thrush, Asian Glossy Starling, and Black-collared Starling. And directly across the street from our hotel is Da'an Park, which has a bird list of 165 species. Evergreen Shipping has a very impressive Maritime Museum, one of the best in the world, and we usually have lunch here.
Day 3: Hualien
From Taipei it is a 3-hour drive down the spectacular east coast of Taiwan to the city of Hualien. We will take our time with numerous stops along the way for birding and viewing the Pacific scenery. Hualien is located at the base of Taroko Gorge National Park. We will be staying at the Dream House B&B for 2-nights. This small hotel is located in a wooded area where we will see numerous birds including the Slaty-legged Crake and the Maroon Oriole.
*Day 4: Taroko Gorge
Because of the 7.6 earthquake on April 3, 2024, the Taroko Gorge National Park Canyon Road, which travels up and over Hehuanshan Pass is only opened intermittently. Construction, to fully repair the road, is estimated to take 5-years, (until 2029). We might be able to visit the lower portions of the road for a half day visit. Taroko Gorge National Park is one of the largest marble canyons in the world. Possibly and hopefully, part of this day will be spent birding, walking, and getting to know the geological and cultural history of this natural wonder. called Taroko Gorge. The cutest bird here is the Little Forktail and this is also a good location for finding the Brown Dipper. Birds to add to the list: Styan's Bulbul, White-breasted Waterhen, Red-collared Dove, Blue Rock Thrush, Javan Myna, Crested Myna, and Oriental Honey Buzzard. If the road is closed, we will visit other locations in the Hualien area.
Day 5: Yilan
In the morning we will visit the Hualien waterfront, estuary, and beach for more birding and walking along the shoreline. This area is good for shorebirds and raptors. From Hualien we will make our way back up the coast to another coastal town called Yilan, which is a 2.5 hour drive north of Hualien. In Yilan we will find estuaries, paddy fields, the Wuweigang Waterbird Refuge, and the Luodong Forestry Culture Park. We will spend one night at the Lan Yang Seaview Hotel.
Day 6: Hsinchu
From Yilan, it is a 2-hour drive to Hsinchu area, located along the west coast, and here we will find numerous wetlands, estuaries, and pond areas for viewing waterfowl and shorebirds. Along the way from Yilan to Hsinchu we will stop at a few birding sites in the Wulai area. We will spend 1-night at the 168 Motel, close to the waterfront.
Day 7: Dasyueshan
From Hsinchu, it is a 2-hour drive to Dasyueshan National Forest where we will be spending two nights at Dasyueshan Lodge located within the recreation area at 7,500 feet. Dasyueshan is a mountain paradise with great wildlife viewing, birding, and many miles of great hiking trails. On our way, we will stop at a few wetland areas in the Hsinchu area to view shorebirds and waterfowl. Once we get within the Dasyueshan area, there will be great viewing of both the Mikado Pheasant and Swinhoe's Pheasant, as well as the Yellow Tit, Eurasian Jay, Taiwan Fulvetta, Eurasian Nutcracker, and White-eared Sibia.
Day 8: Dasyueshan
We will spend the day on the mountain ranging in elevations from 6,100 – 7,900 feet. You will have options to go birding, hiking and/or relaxing at the lodge and visitor center. There are nearly 20 endemic species at Dasyueshan, and this area is home to numerous mammals including the Formosa Rock Macaque (Taiwanese Rock Monkey), giant flying squirrels, barking deer, serow, and we will see these animals both during the daylight hours and during night-time exploring. Dasyueshan is a birding hot spot for Taiwan and also an important hiking area for locals. We will have a full day to see all the important bird species.
Day 9: Guoxing and Huisun
It is a 2-hour drive to the next location at Guoxing and here we will stay at the Pei Kong Creek Resort, located along the Pei Kong River, which has several hot spring pools and a large swimming pool for relaxing. The river is beautiful, and we will see the Common Kingfisher and Plumbeous Redstart. But most impressive here is the "sky-walk" suspension bridge, which offers a great vantage point for birding and viewing very interesting insects. Although this area is not listed as a birding hot spot, it should be. In the evening hundreds of bats take flight from their riverbank roost, while Great Egrets, Medium Egrets, Malayan Herons, and Little Egrets come home to roost. Other birds seen at this location: Black Kite, Taiwan Barbet, Taiwan Blue Magpie, Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Grey Wagtail, and Black-naped Monarch just to name a few....
Day 10: Huisun
A short 20-minute drive from the resort is the Huisun National Forest Park and it is your choice to spend the day hiking, birding, or relaxing at the hammock park in the forest gardens. We will spend a full day at the park. There are numerous butterfly species here and flocks of Taiwan Blue Magpie. Gray Treepies gather to feed and bath in the gardens. Huisun is one of our favorite places in Taiwan. This area is great for endemic species and birds in general including Taiwan Bamboo Partridge, Swinhoe's Pheasant, Taiwan Fulvetta, Chestnut-bellied Tit, and also Grey-chinned Minivets, Fulvettas and Laughing-thrushes. There are great walking trails and waterfalls here as well.
Day 11: Qingjing Farm
From Guoxing, it is a 1.5 hour drive the to the Qingjing Farm/Ren'ai area. Along the way we will stop at the Chung Tai Chan Temple, which is the largest Buddhist temple in Taiwan, as well as other birding spots in the Puli area. The Qingjing and Ren'ai area is located at 5,700 feet. A little further up this mountain road is a good birding hot spot for high elevation birds like the Taiwan Rosefinch, Taiwan Bullfinch, and the Alpine Accentor. Here we will also see the Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler, Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler, and the Chestnut-bellied Tit, and many other birds. Besides great birding and wildlife viewing, there are many miles of great hiking trails here as well. We will not be staying at the farm, but close by at the Ailiga Travel Villa for 1-night.
Day 12: Xitou
In the morning we will head up the mountain pass for more high altitude birding. After lunch, from our hotel in the Ren'ai area, it is a 2-hour drive to the Xitou Nature Education area. We will spend 1-night at the Gingko Hotel. Our hotel is next to the entrance station for Xitou. We will go for a late afternoon walk in the park. Here we have good chances to see endemic laughing-thrushes, bullfinches, and flycatchers.
Day 13: Budai
From Xitou, it is a 1-hour to the Sun-Link Sea Nature Resort. Here we will find the Little Forktail and the Brown Dipper. There are beautiful walking paths and waterfalls to see as well as other endemics. In the afternoon we will head to Budai with a stop in the Huben area for birding and a visit to a local temple for viewing birds like the Black Eagle, Oriental Magpie, Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler, and Green-backed Tit. We will arrive in Budai in the late afternoon where we will stay at the Ocean Hotel for 2-nights. Budai is a fun town. It is a fishing village, where they also farm oysters. There are great restaurants here and we always have a great time after a full day of birding. Here we will see terns and gulls by the thousands: Black-headed Gulls, White-winged Terns, Whiskered Terns, and Caspian Terns. The southwest coast is also an important wintering ground for thousands of shorebirds and vagrants and rarities can often be found as well.
Day 14: Budai
The area of Budai is along the southeastern coast of Taiwan and is a bird watchers paradise with numerous marshes, reserves, canals, and salt flats for viewing birds. The gem of them all is the Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve where numerous other species can be seen including Sacred Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, and many species of shore birds. The activity choices for the day are birding and/or hiking. In the evening near the oyster farms, sometimes as many as 20,000 whiskered terns come to roost and it is an amazing site to watch as the sun sets. Budai is close to several significant historical and cultural areas. The day will be spent viewing birds and getting to know the Budai and Beimen townships. A few of our favorite shore birds that we see are Cinnamon Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Greater Painted Snipe, and thousands of shorebirds. Please check the bird list for details.
Day 15: Taipei
Our travels will have brought us to southern Taiwan near the city Tainan, the oldest city and former capitol city of Taiwan, established by the Qing Dynasty in 1683. The Nankunshen Temple, which is one of the largest temples in Taiwan, is located just outside the village of Beimen. There will be time for birding and visiting temples. Many of the temples in Taiwan are very elaborate Taoist Temples. Everywhere we travel to in Taiwan, you will find birds. In the late afternoon, we will take the high speed train (185 mph) back to Taipei where will be staying at the Rido Hotel across the street from the Da'an Park for 1-night.
Day 16: Fly Home
There will be a shuttle to the airport for flights home.
Our local guide for Kaiyote Tours
Jian Long Wu lives in Taipei and is a freelance bird guide and translator. Wu, as he likes to be called, translated the field guide “Birds of Taiwan”, written by the Wild Bird Society of Taipei from Chinese to English. He is also the eBird regional reviewer for Taiwan and its islands including Kinmen and Matsu. We have one of the top birders as our local guide. Jian Long Wu lived in Minneapolis for two years.
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