The Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area encompasses quite a large territory, including diverse and intact vegetative communities that support innumerable wildlife species with their excellent habitats and environments. Within the scope of the park area among all types of wildlife, birds are the most accessible to observe, and have the most species and largest populations. Consolidating past records of investigative reports, at least 107 species in 32 families have been recorded within the park, including the endemic Mikado Pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado), Swinhoe's Pheasant (Lophura swinhoii), White-eared Sibia (Heterophasia auricularis), and Taiwan Yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps), and the endemic subspecies of Island Thrush (Turdus poliocephalus), Vivid Niltava (Niltava vivida), and Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius). Except for species normally found on the plains and at low elevations, most of Taiwan's resident species have been seen in this area. In March 2008 to April 2009, the Endemic Species Research Institute (ESRI) sponsored an avian ecological investigation of hiking trails, and recorded 100 species, with more than 50 species seen in each month, which indicates that bird populations here have high complexity and are stable. For this reason, Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area relatively early became known among bird lovers as a birdwatcher's paradise, and was designated by the Transportation Department's Tourist Bureau as the number one birdwatching spot among the "Ten International Birdwatching Spots of Taiwan". When foreign bird lovers come to Taiwan to observe birds, they must come here.
Among all species of birds, resident species comprise the greatest proportion at around 80%. Many species move to different elevations with the seasons, giving rise to the phenomenon of local vertical migration. Therefore, even though they are resident species, some birds are not recorded the entire year within the boundaries of the park. Among bird families, species of the Timaliidae are the most numerous. Because it has a different elevational distribution and habitat environment, the Taiwan Hwamei (Garrulax taewanus) has not been recorded within the park. Otherwise, 15 species in this family contribute to the bird assemblage in the park. The uncommon Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush (Garrulax ruficeps) and Rusty Laughingthrush (Garrulax poecilorhynchus) have stable observation records here. Birdwatchers often focus on the large endemic pheasants, the Mikado and Swinhoe's Pheasants. Not only are there stable, easily observed populations within the park, but the two can also occasionally be seen in the same territory. It is rare in Taiwan to be able to see both pheasants at the same place or within a small area. In addition, the rare diurnal raptor, Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis), has a small but stable population within the park.
Within the Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, numbers of winter visitors and passing migrants are comparatively low, occupying only about 10% of the total species, including five species of Scaly Thrush (Zoothera dauma), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus), Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus), and Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus). From October to November, they arrive one after another in the park, and numbers are stable throughout the winter until the following March and April. The Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) of the Fringillidae is recorded in overwintering flocks within the park. In fall, migrant species are more numerous, including the rarer Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica) and Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila); in September and October, you can observe the diurnal raptors Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter soloensis), Gray-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Oriental Honey-Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus), and Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) passing through. Based on times when they have been seen, there are several high- and rapidly flying members of the Apodidae, such as the White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), Silver-backed Needletail (Hirundapus cochinchinensis), and Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus), which also apparently just pass through the area. Summer visitors are the fewest, and there are only three species which definitely and stably appear: the Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus), Large Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides), and Ferruginous Flycatcher (Muscicapa ferruginea). In other mountainous areas of Taiwan, the Lesser Cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) was recorded breeding, but in this park there are no records; perhaps it is a just passage migrant here.
In addition to birds, one also has the chance to see larger mammals active within the park, including the Formosan serow (Naemorhedus swinhoei), Formosan muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus), Formosan macaque (Macaca cyclopis), and white-faced flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus lena). Occasionally, one can find evidence of the Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus). So the mountains of Dasyueshan are an excellent place to have new personal experiences and make ecological observations.
