Readers’ Photos

White-Eared Sibia and Cherry Blossoms (Huang Zhengdun)

The Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata) has deep pink blossoms. White-eared sibias (Heterophasia auricularis) are lured by its charms.

Plain Prinia (Zhang Xiuhuang)

Taiwan is home to an endemic subspecies of the plain prinia—Prinia inornata flavirostris—that is often seen in the midst of silvergrasses and reeds. Its nesting season lasts from March till July.

Wuling Farm (Xu Jia’en)

With more than 20,000 planted cherry trees, Wuling Farm is popular with tourists, who go there to admire the beauty of the cherry blossoms.

Orange Daylilies on Mt. Liushishi, Hualien (Chen Xiumei)

At an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, Mt. Liushishi has the largest area planted with orange daylilies anywhere in the Coastal Range. The local landscape has earned the sobriquet “the Angels’ Floral Carpet.”

Taiwan Yuhina and Cherry Blossoms (Yang Shuzhen)

The Taiwan yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps) has a pointed crest of chestnut and white feathers. This photo shows the songbird taking a shower in the rain; the cherry blossoms are like its showerhead.

Taiwan Blue Magpie (Zhang Licong)

Taiwan blue magpies (Urocissa caerulea) love to take a dip, but only rarely can we capture the moment when they swoop down and hit the surface of the water. Their long tail feathers are tipped with eye-catching flashes of white.

Pheasant-Tailed Jacanas (Pan Tongxi)

Pheasant-tailed jacanas (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) walk like light-footed nymphs on floating vegetation. They like marshes with floating-leaved plants.

A Feathery Pair (Wang Chaoteng)

This photo shows two warbling white-eyes (Zosterops japonicus) huddling together on a twig in the spring. These cute little birds are instantly recognizable by the white rings around their eyes.

Feeding Time (Chen Shengwen)

From a distance, Eurasian hoopoes (Upupa epops) look like butterflies when they fly. They are assiduous in finding food for their young.

Black-Faced Spoonbills (Jiang Yuhan)

Taiwan is a major wintering site for black-faced spoonbills (Platalea minor). These birds are not competitive foragers, so they need our protection.

Prunus Blossoms (Huang Huiqin)

A sea of white flowers in full bloom covers the mountaintop like snow.

Embraced by Cherry Blossoms (Li Yuanjun)

Even in central Taipei, we can relish the nocturnal beauty of cherry blossoms.