General
Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin reflects Mandarin pronunciation; for some dialect names, it is no more than a polite fiction. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.
Ornithologically, the general term for 'tit' in Chinese is 山雀 meaning 'mountain-sparrow' or 'mountain-finch'. However, in many ornithological names this is abbreviated to 雀 , meaning simply 'sparrow' or 'finch'. (The character 雀 in Chinese was originally applied narrowly to the sparrows, but from a very early stage was extended more broadly to finches and other small passerines. At our glosses we will consistently use the term 'finch'.)
山雀 does not appear to have originally referred to the tits in Chinese, being merely a name for mountain sparrows or passerines (note). It was the earliest list of Chinese ornithological names, Chinese Birds (35) published in 1927, that first appears to have suggested 山雀 as the Chinese equivalent to the English name 'tit'. Given that list's widespread adoption of Japanese names, it is possible that 山雀 is based on the Japanese name of the Varied Tit, ヤマガラ yama-gara, which is written 山雀.
Later, 山雀 was ornithologically restricted to just two types of 'tit': the genus Parus and the family Aegithalidae (long-tailed tits). Other birds known, or originally known as 'tits' in English, including Paridae genera other than Parus, the Remizidae (penduline tits), and the crowtits (now known as 'parrotbills'), are now formally termed as varieties of 雀 'sparrow' or 'finch' in Chinese. However, the use of 雀 for these groups obviously originated as an abbreviation of 山雀 .
Within the Paridae, the motivation for the differential naming is clearly to enforce firm distinctions among genera. Aside from the original Parus, the main generic names within the family are:
1. 火冠雀 'fire-crested finch' for the genus Cephalopyrus (earlier belonging to the Remizidae). The name is possibly modelled on the Latin generic name.
2. 林雀 'forest finch' for the genus Sylviparus. The name appears to be modelled on the Latin.
3. 冕雀 'official-headdress finch' for the genus Melanochlora. The traditional miǎn headdress can be seen here.
Following the break-up of Parus itself into a number of genera, the motivation behind this system of generic distinctions has been obscured.
In addition, there are some families where 'tit' is used as the first element in compound names ('tit-warblers' in the Aegithalidae and 'tit-babblers' in the Sylviidae and Timaliidae). In such cases 雀 is again used as the equivalent of English 'tit'.
The most widespread tit in much of China is the Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus), which has a variety of popular names. The Great Tit (Parus major) is represented in the west and north of the country, and the popular names used for the Cinereous Tit also apply to this species.
Species names
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
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| Cephalopyrus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Cephalopyrus flammiceps |
Fire-capped tit | 火冠雀 (火冠雀) 'fire-crested finch' (1, 2, 3, 4) 火帽雀 (火帽雀) 'fire-hatted finch' (5) |
火冠 (火冠) 'fire-crest' (early ornithological) (35) |
ベニビタイガラ (紅額雀) beni-bitai gara 'red-foreheaded tit' |
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| Sylviparus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Sylviparus modestus |
Yellow-browed tit | 黄眉林雀 (黄眉林雀) 'yellow-eyebrowed forest-finch' |
黄眉山雀 (黄眉山雀) 'yellow-eyebrowed mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
メジロガラ (目白雀) me-jiro gara 'white-eyed tit' |
Chim Bạc má rừng 'forest silver-cheek bird' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Melanochlora | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Melanochlora sultanea Parus sultanea |
Sultan tit | 冕雀 (冕雀) 'official-headdress finch' |
皇帝山雀 (皇帝山雀) 'emperor mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
サルタンガラ (サルタン雀) sarutan gara 'sultan tit' |
Chim mào vàng 'yellow crested bird' (12) |
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| Pardaliparus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Pardaliparus venustulus Parus venustulus Periparus venustulus |
Yellow-bellied tit | 黄腹山雀 (黃腹山雀) 'yellow-bellied mountain-finch' |
黃腹山雀 (黄腹山雀) 'yellow-bellied mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) 点 (點) 'dot' |
キバラガラ (黄腹雀) ki-bara gara 'yellow-bellied tit' |
노랑배진박새 norang-bae-jin-bak-sae 'yellow-bellied true ? gourd? bird' |
Inner M: Шар дэвэлт задуулай ᠰᠢᠷᠠ ᠳᠡᠪᠯᠢᠲᠦ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠣᠯᠠᠢ toortsogt zaduulai 'button-capped tit' (31) |
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| Periparus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Periparus ater Parus ater |
Coal tit | 煤山雀 (煤山雀) 'coal mountain-finch' |
(煤山雀) 煤山雀 'coal mountain-finch' |
黑山雀 (黑山雀) 'black mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
ヒガラ (日雀) hi-gara 'sun tit' |
진박새 jin-bak-sae 'true ? tit-bird' |
Өдөрч хөхбух ᠡᠳᠦᠷᠴᠢ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ ödörch khökh-bukh 'day ?? darkblue bull' IM: Өдөрч хөх бух ᠡᠳᠦᠷᠴᠢ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ ödörch khökh bukh 'day ?? darkblue bull' (33) IM also: Хүрэвтэр оройт задуулай ᠬᠦᠷᠡᠤᠲᠥᠷ ᠡᠷᠡᠢᠢᠶᠡ ᠵᠠᠳᠣᠠᠯᠠᠢ khürevter oroit zaduulai 'lightbrown-headed mountain-finch' (31) |
|
| Periparus rufonuchalis Parus rufonuchalis |
Rufous-naped tit Rufous-napped tit |
棕枕山雀 (棕枕山雀) 'reddishbrown naped mountain-finch' (2, 3, 4)  Taxonomy |
橄榄胸凤头山雀 (橄欖胸鳳頭山雀) 'olive-breasted phoenix-headed mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
アカエリシジュウカラ (赤襟四十雀) aka-eri shijū kara 'red-naped forty tit' |
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| Periparus rubidiventris Parus rubidiventris |
Rufous-vented tit Black crested tit |
黑冠山雀 (黑冠山雀) 'black-crested mountain-finch' |
柑色腹凤头山雀 (柑色腹鳳頭山雀) 'mandarin-coloured bellied phoenix-headed mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
カンムリシジュウカラ (冠四十雀) kanmuri shijū-kara 'crested forty tit' |
Inner M: Тоорцогт задуулай ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠴᠣᠭᠲᠣ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠣᠯᠠᠢ toortsogt zaduulai 'button-capped tit' (31) |
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| Lophophanes | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Lophophanes dichrous Parus dichrous |
Grey-crested tit Brown-crested tit |
褐冠山雀 (褐冠山雀) 'brown-crested mountain-finch' |
褐色凤头山雀 (褐色鳳頭山雀) 'brown-coloured phoenix-headed mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
ハイイロカンムリガラ (灰色冠雀) hai-iro kanmuri gara 'grey-crested tit' |
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| Sittiparus | ||||||||
| Sittiparus varius Parus varius Poecile varia |
Varied tit | 杂色山雀 (雜色山雀) 'mixed colour mountain-finch' |
(赤腹山雀) 赤腹山雀 'red-bellied mountain-finch' |
杂山雀 (雜山雀) 'mixed mountain-finch' |
ヤマガラ (山雀) yama-gara 'mountain tit' |
곤줄박이 gonjulbagi 'variedtit' |
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| Poecile | ||||||||
| Poecile palustris Parus palustris |
Marsh tit | 沼泽山雀 (沼澤山雀) 'swamp mountain-finch' |
黑头山雀 (黑頭山雀) 'black-headed mountain-finch' 泥沼山雀 (泥沼山雀) 'slough mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
ハシブトガラ (嘴太雀) hashi-buto gara 'thick-billed tit' |
쇠박새 soe-bak-sae 'small tit-bird' |
Хартолгой хөхбух ᠬᠠᠷᠠ ᠲᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠢ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ khar-tolgoi khökh-bukh 'black-headed darkblue bull' Inner M: Намагийн задуулай ᠨᠠᠮᠣᠭ ᠦᠨ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠣᠯᠠᠢ namagiŋ zaduulai 'marsh tit' (31, 33) |
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| Poecile hypermelaenus Parus hypermelaenus Parus hypermelaena Poecile hypermelaena |
Black-bibbed tit | 黑胸山雀 (黑胸山雀) 'black-breasted mountain-finch' (4) Note |
ミナミハシブトガラ (南嘴太雀) minami hashi-buto gara 'southern thick-billed tit' (Wikipedia) |
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| Poecile montanus Parus montanus Poecile montana |
Willow tit | 褐头山雀 (褐頭山雀) 'brown-headed mountain-finch' (1, 3, 4, 5) 北褐头山雀 (北褐頭山雀) 'northern brown-headed mountain-finch' (2) 歌山雀 (歌山雀) 'song mountain-finch' (4) |
吱吱红 (吱吱紅) 'zhi-zhi red' (Also P. major) |
コガラ (小雀) ko-gara 'small tit' |
북방쇠박새 bukbang-soe-bak-sae 'northern small tit-bird' |
Хүрэнтолгойт хөхбух ᠬᠦᠷᠡᠩ ᠲᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠢᠲᠣ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ khüren-tolgoit khökh-bukh 'darkbrown-headed darkblue bull' Inner M: Хүрэвэр оройт задуулай ᠬᠦᠷᠡᠪᠢᠷ ᠣᠷᠣᠢᠢᠲᠣ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠣᠯᠠᠢ khürever oroit zaduulai 'darkbrown-headed tit' (31) Parus songarus: Хүрэн оройт задуулай ᠬᠦᠷᠡᠩ ᠣᠷᠣᠢᠢᠲᠣ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠣᠯᠠᠢ khüreŋ oroit zaduulai 'darkbrown-headed tit' (33) |
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| Poecile weigoldicus | Sichuan Tit | 川褐头山雀 (川褐頭山雀) 'Sichuan brown-headed mountain-finch' (Internet) |
卫氏之泥沼山雀 (衛氏之泥沼山雀) 'Mr Wei's slough mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
-- | ||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Poecile superciliosus Parus superciliosus |
White-browed tit | 白眉山雀 (白眉山雀) 'white-eyebrowed mountain-finch' |
白眉山雀 (白眉山雀) 'white-eyebrowed mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
マユガラ (眉雀) mayu-gara 'eyebrow tit' |
Inner M: Цагаан хөмсөгт задуулай tsagaaŋ khömsögt zaduulai ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠬᠦᠮᠦᠰᠭᠭᠡᠲᠦ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠣᠯᠠᠢ 'white-eyebrowed tit' (31) |
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| Poecile davidi Parus davidi |
Père David's tit Rusty-breasted tit Red-bellied tit |
红腹山雀 (紅腹山雀) 'red-bellied mountain-finch' |
红腹山雀 (紅腹山雀) 'red-bellied mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
アカハラガラ (赤腹雀) aka-hara gara 'red-bellied tit' |
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| Cyanistes | ||||||||
| Cyanistes cyanus Parus cyanus |
Azure tit | 灰蓝山雀 (灰藍山雀) 'grey-blue mountain-finch' |
中国西方蓝山雀 (中國西方藍山雀) 'Chinese western blue mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
ルリガラ (瑠璃雀 ~ 琉璃雀) ruri-gara 'lapis lazuli tit' |
Номин хөхбух ᠨᠣᠮᠢᠨ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ nomiŋ khökh-bukh 'lapis lazuli darkblue bull' Номин хөх бух ᠨᠣᠮᠢᠨ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ nomiŋ khökh bukh 'lapis lazuli darkblue bull' (33) |
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| Pseudopodoces | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Pseudopodoces humilis |
Groundpecker or Ground Tit Hume's Groundpecker Tibetan Ground-jay Hume's Ground Chough Brown Ground Chough Hume's Ground Pecker |
褐背拟地鸦 (褐背擬地鴉) 'brown-backed pseudo ground-crow' |
酱色地居黄嘴鸦 (醬色地居黃嘴鴉) 'soy-coloured ground-dwelling yellow-billed crow' (early ornithological) (35) |
ヒメサバクガラス (姫砂漠烏 ~ 姫砂漠鴉) hime sabaku-garasu 'princess desert-crow' |
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| Parus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Parus monticolus |
Green-backed tit | 绿背山雀 (綠背山雀) 'green-backed mountain-finch' |
(青背山雀) 青背山雀 'green/blue-backed mountain-finch' |
绿背山雀 (綠背山雀) 'green-backed mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
キバラシジュウカラ (黄腹四十雀) ki-bara shijū-kara 'yellow-bellied forty tit' |
Chim Bạc má bụng vàng 'yellow-bellied silver-cheek bird' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Parus major |
Great Tit Intermediate Tit |
大山雀 (大山雀) 'large mountain-finch' |
-- | Их хөхбух ᠶᠡᠬᠡ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ ikh khökh-bukh 'large darkblue bull' Inner M: Дууд задуулай ᠳᠠᠭᠣᠳᠣ ᠵᠠᠳᠠᠥᠯᠠᠢ duud zaduulai 'calling tit' (31, 33) or Их хөх бух ᠶᠡᠬᠡ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ ikh khökh bukh 'large darkblue bull' (33) |
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| Parus bokharensis |
Turkestan tit | 西域山雀 (西域山雀) 'Western region mountain-finch' |
ボハラシジュウカラ (ボハラ四十雀) bohara shijū-kara 'Bokhara forty tit' |
Цэнхэр хөхбух ᠴᠡᠩᠬᠡᠷ ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠪᠣᠬᠠ tseŋkher khökh-bukh 'lightblue darkblue bull' |
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| Parus cinereus | Cinereous Tit | 苍背山雀 (蒼背山雀) 'darkblue-backed mountain-finch' (Internet) |
(白颊山雀) 白頰山雀 'white-cheeked mountain-finch' |
白脸山雀 (白臉山雀) 'white-faced mountain-finch' (31) 白面公 (白面公) 'white faced duke' 白面只 (白面只) 'white-faced zhi' 灰山雀 (灰山雀) 'grey mountain-finch' 黑子 (黑子) 'black fellow' 仔仔黑 (仔仔黑) 'zaizai black' 吇吇黑 (吇吇黑) 'zizi black' 吱吱嘿 (吱吱黑) 'zhizhi black' 山仔仔黑 (山仔仔黑) 'mountain zaizai black' 吱吱红 (吱吱紅) 'zhi-zhi red' 羊粪蛋 (羊糞蛋) 'sheep manure ball' 花脸雀 (花臉雀) 'flower-faced sparrow' 花脸王 (花臉王) 'flower-faced king' 子归鸟 (子歸鳥) 'child return bird' 吱啵 (吱啵) 'zhibo' |
シジュウカラ (四十雀) shijū-kara 'forty tit' |
박새 bak-sae 'tit-bird' |
Chim Bạc má 'silver-cheek bird' (12, 13, 34) |
|
| Machlolophus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Machlolophus spilonotus Parus spilonotus |
Yellow-cheeked tit Chinese yellow tit |
黄颊山雀 (黃頰山雀) 'yellow-cheeked mountain-finch' Taxonomy |
黑斑点黄山雀 (黑斑點黃山雀) 'black-dotted yellow mountain-finch' (early ornithological) (35) |
ルリカンムリガラ (瑠璃冠雀 or 琉璃冠雀) ruri kanmuri gara 'lapis lazuli-crested tit' |
Chim Bạc má mào 'crested silver-cheek bird' (12, 13) |
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This name refers to the Тоорцог toortsog, a traditional type of Mongolian cap that is buttoned on top. One particular example of this can be found here.
This word is not found in the dictionary or on the Internet, but the meaning is clearly 'darkbrown'.
The word 山雀 shān-què is found in the Imperial Pentaglot Manchu Mirror (御製五體清文鑑 yùzhì wǔtǐ qīngwén jiàn) of the late eighteenth century as a translation of Manchu alin-i cecike. Auf kaiserlichen Befehl erstelltes Wörterbuch des Manjurischen in fünf Sprachen „Fünfsprachenspiegel“ (Harrassowitz 2013) glosses this entry as Bergsperling, the usual German term for Passer montanus. The Mongolian translation is given as Хадны болжмор khadnii boljmor literally 'rock lark' or 'mountain sparrow', depending on the interpretation. In modern Inner Mongolian ornithological usage this refers to Passer rutilans or Petronia petronia, although this is clearly just a calque on Chinese 山麻雀 shān má-què 'mountain sparrow' or 石雀 shí-què 'rock sparrow'.
The term 山雀 shān-què 'mountain finch' (or 'mountain sparrow') is the ornithological name for the tits (Paridae). The name has possibly been influenced by Japanese ヤマガラ yama-gara, written 山雀, which is the name of the Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius). Within the Paridae, Mainland usage now reserves 山雀 for species that at the time belonged to the genus Parus. Other genera use the abbreviated form 雀 què.
Chinese ornithologists reserved the term 山雀 shān-què 'mountain finch' (or 'mountain sparrow') for the genus Parus. Other genera are simply called 雀 què 'sparrow/finch. With Parus now split into several genera, the motivation for this distinction has been lost.
Authorities recognising Parus flavipectus (Yellow-breasted Tit) use the term:
黄胸山雀
'yellow-breasted mountain-finch' (2, 3, 4)
中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
汉蒙名词术语分类词典（自然科学部分） Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
内蒙古动物志 (第四卷 鸟纲 雀形目) Fauna Inner Mongolia (Volume 4 Aves Passerines), 主编：旭日干 (Chief Editor: Xurigan), 内蒙古人大学版社 (Inner Mongolian University Press), Hohhot 2015
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009
Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類（中國鳥類目錄試編） N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)
Floating Menu by Milonic |
Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
