Biodiv Sci ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 25521.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2025521

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Update and revision of avifauna of Heilongjiang Province

Yusheng Li1,2, Xiaoying Xing1,2*   

  1. 1. College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China 

    2. Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Harbin 150040, China

  • Received:2025-12-31 Revised:2026-04-07 Online:2026-05-20
  • Contact: Xiaoying Xing

Abstract:

Background and Aims: Heilongjiang Province is one of the important regions for the distribution of Palearctic birds in China. The Avifauna of Heilongjiang, published in 1992, recorded a total of 343 species belonging to 19 orders and 57 families. In 2016, a systematic revision listed 384 species belonging to 20 orders and 64 families. During the past decade, avian classification systems have experienced rapid changes. Along with the expansion of birdwatching activities and the sustained implementation of avian biodiversity surveys, new bird records have been increasingly reported across regions. Concurrently, the emergence of citizen science has facilitated the development of online bird recording platforms, broadening data acquisition channels and shifting the discovery of new records beyond conventional surveys and dedicated publications. 

Method: In this study, we compiled relevant literature published between 2017 and 2025 and integrated records from eBird and China Bird Report Center. Based on the 2016 revision, using AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025 as the taxonomic reference and the fourth edition of the Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China as the reference for Chinese names and distribution information, we conducted a systematic revision of the bird checklist of Heilongjiang Province. 

Results: After this revision, a total of 414 bird species belonging to 23 orders and 69 families are recorded in Heilongjiang Province, accounting for approximately 27.5% of the total bird species in China (1,505 species). Compared with the 2016 revision, 4 orders, 7 families, 32 species and 4 subspecies were added, while 1 order, 2 families, 2 species and 8 subspecies were removed. In total, the names of 1 order, 1 family, 40 genera were revised, along with 21 Latin species names, 16 subspecies names, 12 Chinese names. 

Conclusion: This study provides a timely update to the avifaunal checklist of Heilongjiang Province and contributes to the further improvement of the avifaunal checklist of China.

Key words: new bird record, revision of avifauna list, Heilongjiang