In the incredibly biodiverse country of China, Yunnan stands above all other provinces as the one with the highest bird diversity. Colloquially known in the country as "The Kingdom of Plants and Animals," Yunnan lies where the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and the Tibetan Plateau meet, hosting over half of the country’s bird species, from Himalayan specialties to forest birds of tropical Southeast Asia.
In 2027, Field Guides will make our return to Yunnan after more than ten years away, but it's a new Yunnan, with more birding locations uncovered and opened up for access than ever before, and a good network of bird blinds and feeding stations at which to see a delightful assortment of interior forest denizens!
You like chickens? Well, Yunnan has a few great ones, with possibilities of Mrs. Hume's, Lady Amherst's, Silver, and Kalij pheasants, as well as White-cheeked and Rufous-throated partridges, Gray Peacock-Pheasant, and even the original chicken: Red Junglefowl. How about laughingthrushes? Yunnan features some very special ones, including Red-tailed, Chestnut-crowned, Blue-winged, Giant, Gray-sided, and the extremely range-restricted Biet's! Do you fancy some range-and-elevation restricted nuthatches? Yunnan Nuthatch and Giant Nuthatch (you can collect a couple of the world's "Giant" birds on this tour!) await. It's also got hornbills, babblers, barbets, sibias, yuhinas, fulvettas, rosefinches, and more! Birds aren't the only thing to recommend Yunnan either. In addition to the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayan foothills, there are some high quality mammals, like Black Snub-nosed Monkey, Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon, Phayre's Langur, and Bengal Slow Loris.
The wide elevation range (we'll cover a nearly 2000-meter spread of elevation) means that this tour offers a phenomenal mix of habitats and field experiences over the two-plus weeks we'll be in country. Add to that some authentic Yunnan cuisine, and this is sure to be a fantastic tour!
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.