A falcated duck and a white-crowned redstart, two rare bird species, were spotted in Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in Zhangye, Northwest China's Gansu province, for the first time.

A falcated duck swims in the Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo/xgs.newgscloud.com]

Falcated ducks appear in different colors depending on whether they are male or female. Growing to about 50 cm in length, they mainly inhabit rivers, lakes, river bends and swamps.

Compared with ribbed ducks, white-crowned redstarts have a smaller body size at about 19 cm. They often roost in valleys, and on river banks or rocks beside mountain streams.

Both of the above bird species are included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

A white-crowned redstart perches on a rock in the Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo/xgs.newgscloud.com]

The population of falcated ducks is much rarer. According to a survey organized by the International Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau in 1990, only 3,879 ribbed ducks were counted in mainland China, and nearly 20,000 in the entire Asian region.

In recent years, Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve has spared no efforts to improve the ecology of bird habitats.

By the end of 2022, a total of 232 species have been detected here, including 55 species of national key protected birds such as black storks and relic gulls. As of now, another 77 new species of birds have been added, which is strong evidence that the ecological environment of the reserve is improving.