Conservation on diversity and distribution patterns of endemic birds in China

The diversity and distribution patterns of endemic species of birds in China have been studied on the basis of the distribution database of specimen collections and published references. One hundred and two endemic species of birds in China, belonging to 53 genera, 16 families and 8 orders are recognized. They account for 8.1% of the total species of China. The distribution patterns were studied and three centers of endemism were found, including Hengduanshan Mountains, mountain areas of western Qinling, north Sichuan Province and South Gansu Province, as well as Taiwan Island, which are suggested as conservation priorities based on endemism. Twenty-four endemics are rare and endangered, listed in the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals. Among them, 15 species are in rank I and 9 species are in rank II. The study results are to be beneficial to further study on both the processing mechanism of the distribution patterns and on the priority of the diversity and endemism conservation.