Some birds are not just birds—they are “iconic.”
We will search for some of the region’s most iconic species, including the hornbill and the trogon.
What it means:
These are well-known, attractive birds—high on most wish lists.
‘Iconic’ is determined as much by marketing as by biology.
Photo: Blue Whistling Thrush, Baihualing, Yunnan, March 2026
Kai has lived in Shanghai for 22 years. He only started birding after moving to China, so he is far more familiar with Chinese birds than the ones back in his native Germany. As a birder, he considers himself strictly average and tries to make up for it with photography, which he shares on a separate website. Alas, most of the photos are pretty average as well.
He hopes that few clients of his consulting firm—focused on China’s chemical industry—ever find this blog, as it might raise questions about his professional priorities. Much of his time is spent either editing posts for 10,000 Birds or cleaning the litter boxes of his numerous indoor cats. He occasionally considers writing a piece comparing the two activities.
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