Every winter more than half of the world’s black-faced spoonbills fly to Taiwan. The 2026 census counted 4,719 on the island, a record, most of them on the fish ponds and mudflats around Tainan and Taijiang National Park. It is the clearest example of what makes Taiwan good for wildlife: a small, crowded island where rare animals are easy to reach by train and bus.
Because the island rises from tropical coast to nearly 4,000 m, it holds more than 30 endemic bird species, from the Taiwan blue magpie in Yangmingshan to the Mikado pheasant on the high roads near Yushan. Formosan rock macaques roam the hills of Shoushan in Kaohsiung, tens of thousands of raptors pass over Kenting each autumn, and dolphins and whales feed in the deep water just off the east coast.
For park fees, trails and closures, see our national parks guide; this page is about what you can see and where your odds are best.
At a Glance#
- Black-faced spoonbills: October to March on the coast of Tainan and in Taijiang National Park, Taiwan’s best-known wildlife spectacle.
- Endemic birds: Taiwan blue magpie in Yangmingshan; Mikado and Swinhoe’s pheasants at Dasyueshan and in the mountains of Alishan and Taroko.
- Raptor migration: Chinese sparrowhawks peak over Kenting in mid-September and grey-faced buzzards in mid-October.
- Whales and dolphins: boat trips from Hualien and from Wushi harbour to Guishan Island, roughly April to October.
- Sea turtles: green turtles in the shallows of Xiaoliuqiu, Green Island and Orchid Island.
- Monkeys: Formosan rock macaques on Shoushan in Kaohsiung. Feeding them is banned.
- Insects: fireflies in April and May, purple crow butterflies wintering in the valleys of southern Taiwan.
Tainan and the southwest coast#
The lagoons, salt pans and fish farms north of Tainan are Taiwan’s great wetland. Black-faced spoonbills, an endangered species with a global population of just over 7,000, spend the winter here, and the Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve at the mouth of the Zengwen River in Qigu has viewing platforms and scopes. Come between November and March, ideally at high tide when birds gather close to the banks. Taijiang National Park protects the same coast, with boat trips through the Sicao mangrove tunnel and herons, egrets and fiddler crabs year round.
The same coast is busy with migrant shorebirds in spring and autumn, and Aogu wetland further north in Chiayi County is another winter stronghold for spoonbills and ducks.
Mountain birds#
Taiwan’s endemic birds are the main draw for visiting birders, and most live in the mountains. Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, up a long road from Taichung, is the classic site: Swinhoe’s pheasant and Mikado pheasant walk the road edges at dawn, and the forest holds Taiwan barwing, white-whiskered laughingthrush and flamecrest. Hehuanshan on Highway 14A, in Taroko National Park, and the forests around Alishan have many of the same species higher up.
Lower down, the Taiwan blue magpie, the unofficial national bird, travels in noisy groups through Yangmingshan and the forested hills around Taipei. Guandu Nature Park in the city is good for waterbirds in winter. Formosan black bears live in the high mountains of Yushan National Park, but sightings are rare.
Kenting and the south#
Kenting National Park at the southern tip is a migration funnel. In September, Chinese sparrowhawks pour south over the peninsula, with peak days in mid-September, and in 2025 counters logged more than 150,000 in a single day. Grey-faced buzzards follow in mid-October, roosting in the hills of Manzhou and rising on the thermals in the morning. The park’s recommended watching points are the pavilions in Sheding Nature Park. The raised coral forests of Kenting also have Formosan sika deer, reintroduced after they died out in the wild.
In Kaohsiung, the hill of Shoushan above the harbour has a large troop of Formosan rock macaques, Taiwan’s only native monkey, close to the trails. In winter, the low valleys of southern Taiwan, including Maolin in Kaohsiung, hold great clusters of purple crow butterflies sheltering from the cold.
East coast and islands#
The seabed drops away fast off Taiwan’s east coast, so whales and dolphins feed within a short boat ride of shore. Trips from Hualien harbour run roughly April to October, with May to September the peak; spinner, Risso’s and bottlenose dolphins are the usual sightings, and sperm whales and false killer whales turn up some days. Expect to pay about NT$800 to 1,200 (25 to 40 USD). In the northeast, boats from Wushi harbour near Toucheng combine whale and dolphin watching with a circuit of Guishan Island, whose landing is permit-only and limited by season.
On Xiaoliuqiu, a coral island off Pingtung, green turtles graze on the seaweed close to shore and snorkellers see them on most days. Green Island and Orchid Island have turtles and healthy reefs too; see our islands and beaches guide for ferries and seasons.
When to see what#
| What | Where | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| Black-faced spoonbills | Tainan, Taijiang, Chiayi coast | November to March |
| Endemic pheasants and mountain birds | Dasyueshan, Hehuanshan, Alishan | All year; March to May for song |
| Chinese sparrowhawks | Kenting | Mid-September |
| Grey-faced buzzards | Kenting and Manzhou | Mid-October |
| Whales and dolphins | Hualien, Wushi harbour | April to October |
| Green turtles | Xiaoliuqiu, Green Island | All year |
| Fireflies | Mountain forests across Taiwan | April and May |
| Purple crow butterflies | Southern valleys such as Maolin | December to February |
Spring and autumn are the best all-round seasons, with migrant birds and comfortable walking. Summer is hot and wet, and typhoons from July to October can cancel boats and close mountain roads. Our best time to visit Taiwan guide has the weather month by month.
Guides, ethics and safety#
You can see most of Taiwan’s wildlife on your own by public transport, but a local birding guide makes a big difference for the endemics, which are shy and know the forest far better than you do. The Wild Bird Society of Taipei runs guided outings, mostly in Mandarin, and private operators offer English-speaking birding guides. Most national parks are free; forest recreation areas charge a small entry fee.
- Do not feed animals: feeding the macaques is banned and fined, and it makes them aggressive.
- Keep your distance at sea: do not touch or chase turtles while snorkelling, and choose whale-watching boats that slow down and do not crowd the animals.
- Avoid wildlife products and “mercy release”: the custom of buying and releasing captive birds and fish harms wildlife; do not join in.
- Hornets and snakes: Taiwan has venomous snakes, including bamboo vipers and the Taiwan cobra, and aggressive hornets in autumn. Stay on trails, wear long trousers in the forest, and back away calmly from hornet nests.
Go to the spoonbill reserve at high tide. When the water rises, the birds are pushed off the far mudflats and gather on the banks near the viewing platforms.
For wildlife trips elsewhere in the region, see Wildlife and safaris in East Asia and the best wildlife destinations in the world.
Best places for wildlife in Taiwan#
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More Things to Do#
Taiwan wildlife FAQs#
Where can I see black-faced spoonbills in Taiwan?
On the coast north of Tainan, especially the Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve at the Zengwen River mouth in Qigu and around Taijiang National Park. They are present from about October to March, with the best numbers from November to February.
When is whale watching season in Taiwan?
Roughly April to October, with May to September the peak. Boats leave from Hualien on the east coast and from Wushi harbour in Yilan. Dolphins are seen on most trips; large whales are less predictable.
Where is the best birdwatching in Taiwan?
Dasyueshan near Taichung for endemic mountain birds such as Swinhoe’s and Mikado pheasants, the Tainan coast for spoonbills and shorebirds in winter, and Kenting for the autumn raptor migration.
Are there dangerous animals in Taiwan?
Venomous snakes and hornets are the main risks, and both are uncommon on busy trails. Stay on paths, wear long trousers in forest, and avoid hornet nests, especially in autumn. Macaques can grab food, so keep snacks out of sight.
Can you see sea turtles in Taiwan?
Yes. Xiaoliuqiu, a short ferry ride from Pingtung, is the easiest place, with green turtles feeding close to shore. Green Island and Orchid Island also have turtles. Do not touch them or block their path to the surface.