Bird species composition and conservation challenges in the Gaoligong Mountains, one of the most diverse bird areas in the world

The Gaoligong Mountains (GLGM), located in southwestern China, extend north to south along the western border of the Hengduan Mountains, spanning approximately 600 km. In this study, we consolidated findings from 17 bird surveys conducted in the GLGM between 2010 and 2022. We found that the GLGM harbors tremendous bird diversity, with a total of 796 documented bird species in the region. Nearly a quarter (23.0%) of these species are listed as state key protected species or as Chinese and global threatened species. Analysis of species richness at the county level showed a decreasing trend with increasing latitude, with the greatest diversity in Yingjiang (661 species). Observations indicated that the GLGM belongs to the Oriental realm, primarily composed of bird species from southern and southwestern China. The GLGM plays an important role in avian conservation by sheltering exceptional bird diversity, providing corridors and flyways for bird migration and dispersal, and mitigating the effects of climate change. In response to the conservation needs of birds and other wildlife, the Chinese government has established numerous protected areas within the GLGM. Despite these efforts, avian conservation still faces considerable challenges in the GLGM due to limitations in the protected area network, transboundary nature of the regions, and existing gaps in monitoring and research.