Birds to See in China in February
174 bird species on our list for China are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Little Grebe, Little Egret and Moorhen. New this month: Great Tit, Steller's Sea-eagle, Glaucous Gull and Long-billed Dowitcher and 4 more.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
Japanese WaxwingBusiest month of the year · Nov–May
Lesser Black-backed GullBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Water RailBusiest month of the year · Jun–Jul
Red-throated LoonBusiest month of the year · Dec–Mar
Blossom-headed ParakeetBusiest month of the year · Jan–Mar
Arctic LoonBusiest month of the year · Jan–Apr
From China’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 174 birds in February
174 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Feb
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Feb
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Feb
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Feb
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Feb
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Feb
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Feb
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentCommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Feb
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.72% in Feb
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.70% in Feb
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Feb
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.63% in Feb
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Feb
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Feb
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Feb
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Feb
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.53% in Feb
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Feb
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Feb
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Feb
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Feb
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Feb
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Feb
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.41% in Feb
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorUncommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.40% in Feb
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Feb
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Feb
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Feb
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.32% in Feb
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Feb
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Feb
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.29% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.29% in Feb
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.28% in Feb
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Feb
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.27% in Feb
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.25% in Feb
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Feb
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Feb
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Feb
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.20% in Feb
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.18% in Feb
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Feb
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Feb
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Feb
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Feb
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Feb
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Feb
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Feb
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.15% in Feb
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Feb
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.13% in Feb
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Feb
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb- Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.10% in Feb
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Feb
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.09% in Feb
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Feb
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Feb
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Feb
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusWinter visitorUncommon27–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Feb
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorUncommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Feb
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Feb
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Feb
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.05% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Feb
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Feb
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Feb
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Feb- Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorRare23–28 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.04% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.04% in Feb
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb- Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Feb
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Feb
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon cyanotisResidentRare20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Feb
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Feb
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Feb
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Feb
FieldfareTurdus pilarisSummer visitorRare22–27 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.02% in Feb
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Feb
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Feb
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb- Blossom-headed ParakeetPsittacula roseataPassage migrantRare33–36 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.02% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Feb
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Feb
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Feb
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusSummer visitorUncommon90–105 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb- Arctic LoonGavia arcticaPassage migrantRare58–77 cmRegularly Jan–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
RedwingTurdus iliacusPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Jan–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.01% in Feb
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.01% in Feb
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Feb
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantRare55–66 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusPassage migrantRare120–145 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorRare10–12 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Feb
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeSummer visitorUncommon100–120 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Feb
MagpiePica picaSummer visitorUncommon44–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Great TitParus majorSummer visitorUncommonRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Feb
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusPassage migrantRare85–105 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantRare62–68 cmRegularly Feb–Apr · 0.00% in Feb
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Feb
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Feb
Reeves's PheasantSyrmaticus reevesiiSummer visitorRare100–210 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.00% in Feb
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made