Abstract:

Aims: The Hengduan Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot and one of China’s most diverse regions for bird species, have not seen an update to their bird checklist in 30 years. As a core component of baseline biodiversity data, a species checklist is fundamental to regional biodiversity research and conservation, making its updating an urgent priority. This study aimed to provide an updated checklist of the birds of the Hengduan Mountains. 

Method: This study systematically updated the bird checklist of the Hengduan Mountains by integrating multiple sources of species distribution data (as of 30 July 2025) based on the AviList Checklist (v2025) taxonomic system. 

Results: A total of 1,012 bird species belonging to 26 orders and 97 families were recorded in the Hengduan Mountains, accounting for 67.3% of China’s total bird species. This represented an increase of 427 species compared with the previous checklist (Birds of the Hengduan Mountains, 585 species), including 402 new distribution records and 25 species elevated to species rank from subspecies. The bird assemblage was dominated by Passeriformes (609 species), and breeding birds were predominant (75.2%), reflecting the region’s importance as a key breeding area for birds. The area contains 258 nationally protected bird species (65.5% of China’s total of 394), 62 IUCN threatened species, and 102 CITES-listed species, highlighting its significant and prominent role in biodiversity conservation. Three bird species with questionable distribution records were identified, suggesting the need for further validation through field evidence. Additionally, based on the “Greater Hengduan” region delineated by similarities in geography, fauna, environment, and species composition, this study identified 26 bird species not previously recorded within the traditional Hengduan Mountains area, which helps to further reveal the characteristics of avian diversity in this region. 

Conclusion: This updated checklist represents significant progress in the foundational work on bird diversity in the Hengduan Mountains. It addresses a long-standing data gap and provides an important scientific basis for regional biodiversity conservation, ecosystem research, and sustainable development decision-making.

Key words: birds, Hengduan Mountains, species checklist, biodiversity