Wawu Mountain, a scenic area in Sichuan province, solidified its reputation as a bird-watching hotspot during the recent third Wawu Mountain Bird Race.

Over two days, 30 competing teams from across the country identified an impressive 222 bird species, including nine species never before documented within the scenic area's boundaries. This brings the total number of bird species recorded in the scenic area to 342 as of May 20.

Interestingly, the vast majority of these species belong to the order of Passeriformes (songbirds), accounting for roughly 73.98 percent of all recorded birdlife — a testament to the diverse habitats the mountain provides.

Within this rich avian tapestry, several birds stand out due to their conservation status. Seven species, including the Sichuan partridge, black-necked crane, black stork, cinereous vulture, golden eagle, golden-fronted fulvetta and Emei Shan liocichla, are classified as national first-class protected animals. Another 53 species, such as blood pheasant, tawny owl, mountain hawk-eagle, Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, and Sichuan treecreeper, are listed as national second-class protected species.

What truly sets Wawu Mountain apart is its exceptional diversity of parrotbills, a family of small birds that inhabit reedbeds, bamboo groves and forests. They feed mainly on seeds, to which their robust bill, as the name implies, is well-adapted.

With 10 different species recorded, including great parrotbill, three-toed parrotbill, brown parrotbill, vinous-throated parrotbill, ashy-throated parrotbill, gray-hooded parrotbill, fulvous parrotbill, golden parrotbill, gray-headed parrotbill, and spotted-breasted parrotbill, the area has earned the nickname "home of the parrotbills" in China, boasting one of the highest concentrations of parrotbill species in the country.

chenliang@chinadaily.com.cn