Summer in Shanghai is not the best season for birding – most birds seem to agree with me that it is too hot. And yet, there are still birds to see …

The Black-crowned Night Heron is one of my favorite common birds in Shanghai. If it wasn’t so common, I would be quite happy to travel some distance to see it.

This Eurasian Hoopoe has just been pushed aside from its feeding spot by a Crested Myna – and even a juvenile, what a shame!

A Common Cuckoo, a rare example of me successfully taking an in-flight shot.

A Common Moorhen chick, both cute and ugly.


Grey-headed Lapwing – juvenile and parent.

An Oriental Dollarbird adding some color to this post.

Another in-flight shot: Reed Parrotbill. The Chinese bird photographers call this the butterfly pose

Ring-necked Pheasant, a native bird here in Shanghai.

Synchronized swimming team, runners-up: Pheasant-tailed Jacana.

Lesser Coucal in the style of a Chinese watercolor painting. And enjoying the morning sun.

Collared Finchbill. Looking like it doubts my photography skills

Pied Kingfisher. This should be the subspecies insignia, which is found in southeastern China and has a much larger bill than the other subspecies. Or so says Wikipedia.

Brown Crake. Not quite done with the morning shower yet. And later, on the catwalk.

Striated Heron. A bird that looks like it has been designed by a successful sportswear company.

Little Egret. Striving for balance.

Light-vented Bulbul (juvenile). Photo chosen more for the fruit than for the bird, for once.

Now it getting even hotter – birding will be tough until the end of August or so. But then, it is time for some exciting migrants again.

More Shanghai birds here.

Written by Kai Pflug
Kai Pflug has been living in Shanghai for 20 years. He only became interested in birds in China – so he is much more familiar with birds in China than with those in Germany. While he will only ever be an average birder, he aims to be a good bird photographer and has created a website with bird photos as proof. He hopes not too many clients of his consulting company read this blog, as they will doubt his dedication to providing consulting services related to China`s chemical industry. Whenever he wants to shock other birders, he tells them his (indoor) cats can distinguish several warblers by taste.