As towns and cities expand at an ever-growing pace in Taiwan, the variety of birds has decreased to include mostly Japanese white-eyes, Chinese bulbuls, and sparrows. Even though rice paddies, orchards, farms, and ponds represent a large expanse of land under cultivation, they still provide an important habitat that supports birdlife.

        One of the most common birds seen is the Eurasian tree sparrow. "Sparrows on Brambles and Bamboo" by a Sung dynasty (960-1279) artist shows them through the intimate touch of fine brushwork used in the "sketching from life" manner of the Sung dynasty. "Sparrows and Millet" shows these birds literally in a different light as Lang Shih-ning, the Italian missionary-artist Giuseppe Castiglione working at the Ch'ing dynasty (1644-1911) court, injected the shading and perspective of Western painting into this Chinese style and subject.

        The gentle and peaceful qualities of the dove, as often seen in city parks, was also admired by such scholar-painters as Shen Chou of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), as seen in his depiction of a spotted-neck dove in "Dove Calling for Rain". Birds nowadays can be seen among tree branches and even on utility poles as they survey the surroundings. But don't be fooled by the size of the shrike, which is known for its territorial fierceness and its habit of displaying prey on tree branches. Li An-chung of the Sung dynasty has represented one in his "Shrike and Bamboo". Although at ease, its eyes are as vigilant as ever. The artist successfully used the technique of outlines filled with colors to render the feathers with such detail and naturalism that it looks almost as if you can reach out and touch it. Thus, despite the bustle of human activity in towns and cities throughout Taiwan, birds remain a vital aspect of life.