Birding Highlights: Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Chinese Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill, Pale-throated Wren-Babbler (Near Endemic), White-throated Wren-Babbler (Endemic), Bar-throated Minla, Spectacled Barwing, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Red Avadavat,...
Location: Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao Forest) - Northern Vietnam
Best time to visit: December to May
Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails is a network of traffic roads and mountain trails in the Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao Forest), one of the best birding hotspots in Northern Vietnam, located in Yen Bai Province. This site is located about 300km northwest (7 hours drive) of Hanoi Capital.
Some of the most beautiful birds on these trails include Great Barbet, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, Crested Finchbill, Collared Finchbill, Striated Bulbul, Black-faced Warbler, Chinese Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, White-collared Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Black-streaked Scimitar-Babbler, Bar-throated Minla, Spectacled Barwing, Red-billed Leiothrix, Red-tailed Minla, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Red Avadavat, Crested Bunting,...With a very luck, you might spot the most rare and shy endemic "White-throated Wren-Babbler" and the near-endemic "Pale-throated Wren-Babbler".
***Bird Photography: Please note that you need luck if you want to get good pictures of those birds on birding trails. These stunning birds are the most difficult species to photograph.
*** Note extensions: You can spend time for capturing the beautiful landscapes of rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai, the land of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world.
Black-eared shrike-babbler

Black-eared Shrike-Babbler at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Golden Parrotbill

Golden Parrotbill at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Chinese Golden-breasted Fulvetta

Chinese Golden-breasted Fulvetta at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Spot-breasted Parrotbill

Spot-breasted Parrotbill at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Red Avadavat

Red Avadavat at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Green-tailed Sunbird

Green-tailed Sunbird at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Mrs.Gould's Sunbird

Mrs.Gould's Sunbird at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Bar-throated Minla

Bar-throated Minla at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Stripe-throated Yuhina

Stripe-throated Yuhina at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien
Crested Bunting

Crested Bunting at Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien