A bird's annual date with Longmen Grottoes

By Du Qing

Updated: 2015-11-12

"Lidong", the 19th solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar to mark the beginning of winter falls on Nov 8. The drop in temperature during the past few days makes us feel the arrival of cold winter days.

A wallcreeper, also known as “butterfly bird” in Chinese came to spend the winter in Longmen Grottoes for the 10th year.

A wallcreeper fully spreads its wings in Longmen Grottoes [Photo by Du Qing / Luoyang Evening News]

The story of arrival of the bird started in February 2005, when bird-watching had just got popular in China and Luoyang, Henan province became a hot site. A couple surnamed Zheng had once found a wallcreeper in Longmen Grottoes. Birdwatchers of Luoyang were excited over the news and soon came in large numbers to have a look at it.

But question arises that why a small bird is so attractive? In my opinion, there are very few birds like it with the hidden amazing charm. Its most striking plumage feature is its extraordinary crimson wings, though this bright coloring is largely hidden when the wings are folded. Quite plain appearance at first glance but it looks exactly like a butterfly when spread its wings. Usually fat, however, the bird is actually a good climber.

A wallcreeper flies near to a rock face in Longmen Grottoes. [Photo by Du Qing / Luoyang Evening News]

The wallcreeper is a small passerine bird, found throughout the high mountains of Eurasia. It is mainly present in the west part of the country and could hardly be seen in central China.

Since the Zheng couple found the bird in Longmen, Luoyang during winter has had a new signature specific for birdwatchers.

Two days ago, I came to the grottoes and was lucky to see the bird near the statue of Buddha Losana. It flies up and down along the rock faces. If for the 10 years it is the same wallcreeper we have seen around the grottoes, the bird is at least 11 years old now.

But where does it come from? Where will it be in next spring? We may never know the answers, but it is enough for my heart to see this old friend, every year.  

A wallcreeper rests on a rock in Longmen Grottoes. [Photo by Du Qing / Luoyang Evening News]

It's a story originally written by Du Qing, a reporter from Luoyang Evening News, in Chinese.