35 new bird species recorded in Vietnam's nature reserve, including rare eagles, hornbills

Truong Quang Trung, director of the Nam Quang Tri Special-use Forest Management Board, said on Tuesday that the discoveries were made during a survey conducted from June to September 2026.

Among the newly recorded birds are six species of conservation significance: the black eagle, rufous-bellied eagle, white-faced scops owl, great hornbill, black-headed laughingthrush, and yellow-billed blue magpie.

The reserve is now home to 228 recorded bird species across 55 families and 17 orders, accounting for approximately 24.8 percent of all bird species documented in Vietnam.

Of these, 49 are classified as rare, endangered, or of conservation importance, including 18 listed in Vietnam's 2024 Red Data Book, 13 on the 2026 IUCN Red List, and 41 covered by national regulations protecting endangered, precious, and rare species.

Four species, namely the Edwards's pheasant, yellow-faced peacock-pheasant, crested argus, and great hornbill, are designated for priority protection.

The survey also documented 10 protected wildlife species through camera traps, including the Annamite striped rabbit, mainland serow, and red-shanked douc langur.

Researchers surveyed 10 forest routes covering more than 36.6 kilometers, deployed 57 mist nets to study birds, and installed 34 camera traps that captured over 4,600 images.

Despite the reserve's rich biodiversity, the study identified hunting, wildlife trapping, and habitat degradation as major threats.

Forest encroachment for farming, the collection of non-timber forest products, and free-ranging livestock were also found to put pressure on wildlife habitats.

According to BirdLife International, Dakrong Nature Reserve lies within an endemic bird area of Vietnam, making it an important site for bird and biodiversity conservation.

Spanning 37,009 hectares across Dakrong, Ba Long, Ta Rut, and La Lay Communes in Quang Tri Province, the reserve is managed by the Nam Quang Tri Special-use Forest Management Board.