The Arctic tundra is immensely rich in breeding waterbirds, in particular shorebirds. The Asian section extends across northern Russia from Taymyr to Chukotka and Koryakia, and supports breeding populations of four threatened waterbird species. The breeding ranges of two of these extend westwards outside the Asian region, Lesser White-fronted Goose to northern Europe, and Siberian Crane into western Siberia (although only tiny numbers of the crane breed outside the Asian region). Two species have highly specialised habitat requirements and localised distributions, Siberian Crane, which breeds in lacustrine depressions in north-east Yakutia, and Spoon-billed Sandpiper, which nests only coastal tundra on the Chukotka Peninsula.
Key habitats Tundra wetlands.
Countries and territories Russia (Taymyr, Krasnoyarsk, Yakutia, Chukotka, Koryakia).
The coastal wetlands around the Sea of Okhotsk and the northern Sea of Japan are rich in threatened waterbirds, both breeding and on passage. These include two species which only breed in this region, Steller’s Sea-eagle and Spotted Greenshank, both of which nest at low densities in a mixture of coastal wetland and forest habitats around the Sea of Okhotsk; conservation issues affecting forests in this region, and therefore relevant to these two species, are discussed under F01. Another important breeder is Red-crowned Crane, which nests in eastern Hokkaido and the southern Kuril islands. Chinese Egret, Baer’s Pochard and Styan’s Grasshopperwarbler have significant breeding populations in southern Primorye, which is also an important staging area for several threatened species. The last confirmed records of Crested Shelduck were from here; its breeding grounds have never been found and it could now be extinct.
Key habitats Coastal wetlands, freshwater wetlands on coastal plains.
Countries and territories Russia (Chukotka, Koryakia, Kamchatka, Magadan, Khabarovsk, Primorye, Sakhalin); Japan (Hokkaido); North Korea.
This region includes the floodplains of the middle and lower Amur river and the Ussuri river in south-east Russia, and the Sungari (Songhua) river in north-east China, which includes the Sanjiang (Three Rivers) plain. The extensive lowland wetlands on these floodplains support important breeding populations of several threatened waterbirds, most notably almost the entire global population of Oriental Stork, and high proportions of the global populations of Baer’s Pochard and Red-crowned Crane, and probably Swinhoe’s Rail. Large numbers of waterbirds occur on passage, notably Baikal Teal and Siberian and Hooded Cranes.
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains.
Countries and territories Russia (Khabarovsk, Amur, Jewish Autonomous Region, Primorye); China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia).
This region includes the wetlands on the main southern islands of Japan, other than the coastal wetlands of Kyushu and the Nansei Shoto islands which are treated as part of the China Sea coast (W10). Many waterbirds declined substantially in Japan during the past two centuries, notably Crested Ibis, which is extinct there, Oriental Stork, which no longer breeds, and wintering Baikal Teal. However, Honshu still has an important population of Marsh Grassbird, and Izumi on Kyushu supports a remarkable wintering concentration of White-naped and Hooded Cranes.
Key habitats Freshwater and coastal wetlands.
Countries and territories Japan (Honshu, Izu islands, Shikoku, Kyushu).
There are many large, rich wetlands associated with the steppe grasslands that extend from eastern Europe through central and western Asia to north-east Asia. Large numbers of waterbirds breed in the east Asian part of the steppes, including several threatened species, most notably the entire world population of Relict Gull and high proportions of the global populations of Swan Goose and White-naped Crane. This region is also important for several threatened grassland birds, which are covered in G01.
Key habitats Freshwater and saline wetlands.
Countries and territories Russia (Krasnoyarsk, Khakassia, Tuva, Irkutsk, Buryatia, Chita); Mongolia; China (Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu); outside the Asia region, the steppes extend through central and west Asia to eastern Europe.
The coastal wetlands around the Yellow and Bohai Seas are of immense importance for threatened waterbirds. They support the entire known global breeding populations of Black-faced Spoonbill and Saunders’s Gull, and almost all breeding Chinese Egrets; the spoonbill and egret nest on small islands, mostly off western Korea, and the gull in coastal saltmarshes. High proportions of the populations of Swan Goose and Red-crowned Cranes winter on the coast of Jiangsu in China, and most of the world’s Baikal Teal winter in South Korea. Large numbers of threatened waterbirds move through on passage, notably Spotted Greenshank and Spoon-billed Sandpiper, for which the region’s intertidal mudflats provide vital feeding habitat.
Key habitats Coastal wetlands, freshwater wetlands near the coast.
Countries and territories North Korea; South Korea; China (Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai).
This region extends across central China, from Shaanxi in the west to Shandong and northern Anhui in the east. It is notable for supporting the only known wild population of Crested Ibis; the species was feared extinct, but was rediscovered in Shaanxi in 1981. There are also some important sites for wintering waterfowl and migrant cranes, mainly in the Yellow River valley.
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains, and traditionally managed agricultural land.
Countries and territories China (Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu).
The extensive lakes and marshlands in the lower Yangtze basin support huge numbers of wintering waterbirds. These include many threatened species, notably almost the entire global populations of Oriental Stork and Siberian Crane, and significant proportions of the populations of Swan Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, White-naped Crane, Hooded Crane and Marsh Grassbird. The lower Yangtze basin is also thought to be the main wintering area of the poorly known Swinhoe’s Rail.
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains.
Countries and territories China (Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan).
The many high-altitude lakes and marshlands on the Tibetan plateau support one unique waterbird species, Black-necked Crane, which is widely distributed during the breeding season but moves to the relatively low eastern and southern parts of the plateau for the winter. Baer’s Pochard and Pallas’s Fish-eagle also occur on the southern and eastern fringes of the plateau.
Key habitats High altitude lakes and marshland.
Countries and territories China (Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou); India (Jammu and Kashmir [Ladakh], Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh); Bhutan.
The coasts of southern Japan, southern China, Taiwan and northern Vietnam are fringed with wetlands, mainly estuaries with their associated freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangroves and intertidal mudflats. These wetlands are vital for waterbirds migrating from North-East Asia to their wintering grounds to the south, including substantial numbers of Chinese Egret, Spotted Greenshank and Spoon-billed Sandpiper. They are also important for wintering waterbirds, most notably almost the entire global population of Black-faced Spoonbills and large numbers of Saunders’s Gull, while the main wintering grounds of Styan’s Grasshopper-warbler also appear to be in this region.
Key habitats Coastal wetlands.
Countries and territories Japan (Kyushu, Nansei Shoto); China (mainland: Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan; Hong Kong; Macau; Taiwan); Vietnam.
The wetlands associated with the Indus river and its tributaries are the stronghold for two species of migratory duck in the Asia region, White-headed Duck and Marbled Teal. Populations of the former are concentrated in north-east Pakistan, in Punjab province, while the latter visits shallow wetlands in the lowlands of Sind in southern Pakistan. An important non-breeding population of Dalmatian Pelican also occurs here, mostly on large lakes near the Indus delta. Jerdon’s Babbler breeds very locally in reedbeds and other tall riverine grasslands along the Indus river and its tributaries. Breeding populations of Pallas’s Fish-eagle and Indian Skimmer were once large, but have declined to low levels over recent decades.
Key habitats Freshwater and coastal wetlands, saline lakes.
This region includes the wetlands on the Gangetic plains, together with the coastal and freshwater wetlands of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It supports more breeding Sarus Cranes (on shallow wetlands and associated agricultural land) and Indian Skimmers (on the vast system of rivers) than any other region, and the scattered lakes and reservoirs also provide habitat for non-breeding flocks of Sarus Crane and significant numbers of breeding and wintering Pallas’s Fish-eagles. The ‘central population’ of Siberian Crane winters in the region, but has declined to near extinction in recent years. The swampy wetlands of northern India, particularly in Bihar, were once the stronghold for Pink-headed Duck, a species which may now be extinct, although it could possibly survive in the more inaccessible parts of its former range. The conservation of grassland birds on the Gangetic plains is covered in G02.
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains, and associated agricultural land; coastal wetlands.
Countries and territories India (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar); Nepal.
The wetlands of this region support a high proportion of the global population of Spot-billed Pelicans, with many colonies associated with water storage reservoirs or ‘tanks’ on the Deccan plateau in southern India and the dry zone lowlands of Sri Lanka. Lesser Adjutant also occurs, but in relatively low numbers, and small numbers of Spoon-billed Sandpiper have been found wintering in coastal wetlands.
Key habitats Freshwater and coastal wetlands.
Countries and territories India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orissa); Sri Lanka.
In India, all wetlands in this region fall within the catchment of the Brahmaputra river, while in Bangladesh it includes inland wetland habitats associated with the Brahmaputra–Jamuna and Meghna– Kalni rivers. This huge lowland area of marshy plains and large lakes is now the global stronghold of Greater Adjutant, following the historical crash of the vast breeding colonies in Myanmar. It also supports important breeding populations of Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant and Pallas’s Fish-eagle, and a large non-breeding population of Baer’s Pochard. The conservation of grassland birds on the Assam and Sylhet plains is covered in G02, and forest wetland birds (such as White-winged Duck) in F06.
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains.
Countries and territories India (West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya); Bangladesh.
This region includes the extensive coastal wetlands which extend from the Sundarbans of India and Bangladesh along the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar to the Irrawaddy delta. The highest known counts of Spotted Greenshank and Spoon-billed Sandpiper are from shifting intertidal mudflats and islands (known as chars) in the outer Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna delta in Bangladesh, and it is possible that this area and the poorly known coastal wetlands of Myanmar will prove to be the main wintering grounds of both species. The coast of Bangladesh also supports an important concentration of non-breeding Indian Skimmers.
Key habitats Coastal wetlands.
Countries and territories India (West Bengal); Bangladesh; Myanmar.
The Irrawaddy, Chindwin and Sittang valleys were once hugely important breeding grounds for large waterbirds such as Spotbilled Pelican and Greater Adjutant, but their populations crashed in the early twentieth century because of the wholesale destruction of the forests where they used to nest. There is little recent information on the status of these and other threatened waterbird species from Myanmar, but it is possible that the sandbars on these rivers still support breeding populations of Indian Skimmers and that significant breeding populations of birds such as Pallas’s Fish-eagle and Sarus Crane occur around large lakes and swamps, while Baer’s Pochard may winter in substantial numbers. Pink-headed Duck, a species which may now be extinct, could possibly survive in the poorly known wetlands of Myanmar. This region also supports populations of White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures, which may prove to be important, given the recent rapid declines in their numbers in the Indian subcontinent (see G03).
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains, cultivation and other open habitats.
This region includes the wetlands on the floodplains of the Chao Phraya river and its tributaries, and on the Gulf of Thailand coast. It once supported populations of large waterbirds such as Spot-billed Pelican, Giant Ibis and Sarus Crane, but these now occur as vagrants only, or not at all, mainly because their habitat has been lost. The enigmatic White-eyed River-martin is known from a single site in this region, Bung Boraphet, but it is possible that the species survives in riverine habitats in Thailand or a neighbouring country.
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains, coastal wetlands.
The plains of the lower Mekong still retain some areas of nearprimary habitat, with mosaics of open deciduous dipterocarp forest, seasonally inundated wetlands and grasslands, and riverine habitats. The region supports the entire world population of Giant Ibis, together with a high proportion of the global population of White-shouldered Ibis and large numbers of several other threatened birds. The swamp forests around Tonle Sap, the world’s largest floodplain lake, have the most important waterbird colonies remaining in mainland South-East Asia, with globally significant breeding populations of Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant and Greater Adjutant. The seasonally inundated grasslands around the lake are probably the global stronghold for Bengal Florican, and grasslands in the Mekong floodplain and delta support several hundred pairs of Sarus Crane. In addition to the waterbirds, this region has important populations of White-rumped and Slenderbilled Vultures (particularly given their rapid declines in South Asia: see G03) and several threatened birds found in forests and associated wetlands (White-winged Duck, Masked Finfoot and Green Peafowl: see F06).
Key habitats Freshwater wetlands on riverine plains, seasonally inundated grassland, open deciduous forest, swamp forest.
Four threatened waterbirds occur in the Philippine archipelago. The freshwater wetlands support the endemic Philippine Duck and the only known non-breeding population of Streaked Reedwarbler. The Philippines also appears to be the main non-breeding area of Chinese Egret, which inhabits coastal beaches, mangrove swamps and estuaries. There were formerly breeding populations of Spot-billed Pelican and Sarus Crane, but these both appear to have declined to extinction.
This region includes the coasts of southern peninsular Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and associated small islands. The large areas of mangrove swamp (the most extensive in the world) and intertidal mudflat throughout the region provide important habitat for Milky Stork and Lesser Adjutant, both of which have their highest numbers here, and there are nonbreeding populations of Chinese Egret, Spotted Greenshank and possibly Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Two waterbirds are endemic to wetlands on the coastal plains of Java, the Sunda Coucal, which survives in mangroves and associated swamps, and the Javanese Lapwing, which was last recorded in marshy grassland in 1940 and may now be extinct.
Key habitats Coastal wetlands.
Countries and territories Thailand; Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah, Sarawak); Singapore; Brunei; Indonesia (Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java).
