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Wildlife Expeditions
Wildlife of
Wildlife of
Heilongjiang Sheng
China's northernmost province, Heilongjiang blends taiga-like forests and vast Amur-Songhua wetlands, hosting rare big cats and one of Northeast Asia's great migratory bird flyways.
64
Species
454,000 km²
Land Area
Wildlife of Heilongjiang Sheng
Peregrine Falcon
Built for the stoop.
Horned Grebe
Golden horns, master of the dive
Ermine
Black-tail hunter, winter-white
Elk
Hear the mountains bugle: wapiti
Keta Salmon
Calico traveler of the North Pacific
Wild Boar
Rooting, roaming, reshaping ecosystems
Eurasian Eagle-owl
Booming monarch of the night cliffs
Caribou
Antlers, Arctic, and endless miles.
Long-Tailed Tit
Long tail, tight flock, big personality
About Heilongjiang Sheng
Heilongjiang has cold seasons, wide river valleys, and large forest-wetland areas. At China’s northern edge it holds both boreal and temperate animals, where Asian forest species mix with Siberian kinds. Big, intact places still support secret top predators and roaming plant-eaters, making the province vital for big-mammal conservation. Mixed conifer-broadleaf forests in the Lesser Khingan and Zhangguangcai ranges give cover and prey for Amur tiger and Amur leopard, plus deer, wild boar, and small carnivores. The floodplains and marshes of the Amur (Heilongjiang), Ussuri, and Songhua rivers are vast wetlands that raise fish and amphibians and serve as stopovers and breeding sites for migratory waterbirds. The high-latitude river-wetland network and tiger-country forests on the Russia border make Heilongjiang unique, with easy wetland birding in spring and autumn and one of the last continuous Amur-region landscapes.
Geography
Heilongjiang's cold high-latitude climate creates habitat shifts from boreal forests to river plains and marshes. The Amur (Heilong), Songhua, Ussuri, and Nen rivers and the Sanjiang Plain wetlands form a key freshwater network that gathers fish, amphibians and large mammals and provides habitat for migratory waterbirds. Long winters, ice, and mixed forests favor cold-adapted forest and wetland wildlife.
454,000 km²
Land Area
6th-largest provincial-level division in China
Size Rank
China
Country
Province
Type
Elevation Range
~50 m (lowland plains and wetlands) to ~1,690 m (Datudingzi Mountain)
Coastline
No ocean coastline; major inland waters include Xingkai/Khanka Lake (border lake with Russia) and extensive floodplain lakes, marshes, and reservoir systems tied to the Amur-Songhua-Ussuri-Nen basins.
Key Landscapes
Protected Areas
Heilongjiang’s protected areas include national reserves for Amur tiger and leopard, key wetlands on the Amur, Ussuri, Songhua and Nen rivers, forest parks in the Khingan ranges, and Ramsar wetland sites on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. They protect cold‑temperate forests, peatlands, reed marshes, floodplain river‑lake systems, cranes, storks, geese, swans, large carnivores and hoofed mammals.
Protected Coverage
Approx. 15-20% of the province's land area is under some form of protected-area designation (nature reserves, forest parks, wetland parks, scenic areas).
National Parks & Preserves
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park - Heilongjiang portion
≈14,600 km² total (park spans Jilin & Heilongjiang; Heilongjiang contains a smaller share)China's key recovery landscape for Amur tiger and Amur leopard, protecting forested border mountains and prey-rich habitats; best-known in the province for big-cat conservation and camera-trap monitoring rather than casual wildlife viewing.
Zhalong National Nature Reserve
≈2,100 km²One of Northeast Asia's most important reed-marsh wetland complexes and a premier crane breeding area; globally famous for conservation of large waterbirds and wetland restoration/management.
Xingkai (Khanka) Lake National Nature Reserve
≈2,225 km²A vast border lake-marsh system shared with Russia (Lake Khanka), crucial for migratory waterbirds and reedbed specialists; excellent for seasonal bird concentrations during spring and autumn migration.
Sanjiang National Nature Reserve
198,089 ha (≈1,981 km²)Wetland reserve on the Sanjiang Plain that protects large floodplain marshes and associated habitats important for migratory and breeding waterbirds.
Honghe National Nature Reserve
≈200-250 km²A representative Sanjiang Plain marsh-meadow-forest mosaic, valued for breeding waterbirds and wetland plant communities; a strong site for conservation-oriented birding in migration seasons.
Liangshui National Nature Reserve
≈120-130 km²Old-growth Korean pine-broadleaf forest in the Lesser Khingan region, important for forest biodiversity, cavity-nesting birds, and intact understory communities; valued for temperate-forest conservation research.
State & Provincial Parks
Jingpo Lake Scenic Area / Global Geopark
Protected landscape with multiple zones; core scenic/geopark area is on the order of hundreds of km²Volcanic lake, river corridors and surrounding forests that support mixed woodland birds and raptors; notable as a protected landscape where aquatic habitats meet forest edges (best in migration periods).
Wuying National Forest Park
≈100-200 km² (park area varies by administrative definition)Well-known conserved forest block in the Lesser Khingan region featuring mature conifer-broadleaf stands; good for observing forest birds and signs of mammals in a managed protected-forest setting.
Maoershan Forest Park
Tens to ~100+ km² (managed park and surrounding protected forest units)Accessible protected forest landscape near Harbin that supports regional woodland biodiversity; useful for education and relatively easy wildlife/bird viewing in mixed forests.
Wildlife Refuges
Zhalong Wetland (Ramsar Site / key waterbird habitat)
Overlaps Zhalong NNR; ≈2,100 km² order of magnitudeInternationally recognized wetland supporting large congregations of cranes, storks and geese; functions as a flagship "wildlife refuge" landscape for wetland-dependent species in Northeast China.
Xingkai (Khanka) Lake Wetlands (Ramsar-type transboundary waterbird habitat)
Large lake-marsh complex; ≈2,000-4,000 km² scaleA major transboundary lake-wetland refuge complex for migratory waterbirds, especially during spring/autumn staging; conservation importance is tied to water-level management and reedbed integrity.
Sanjiang Plain Wetland Conservation Complex (wetland parks + reserve network)
Multi-site network; collectively thousands of km² across the plainA network of protected marshes, peatlands and floodplain habitats that together act as a regional refuge for threatened shorebirds and waterfowl on the flyway, buffering remaining natural wetlands from agricultural conversion.
Wilderness Areas
- Greater Khingan (Daxing'anling) boreal forest belt in northern/western Heilongjiang: extensive road-poor conifer forests, peatlands, and river headwaters with low human density in places
- Lesser Khingan Mountains (Xiaoxing'anling) remaining old-growth Korean pine-broadleaf forest pockets and rugged uplands around reserves/forest parks (e.g., Liangshui region)
- Wanda Mountains (Wandashan) and border highlands: key connective habitat near the tiger-leopard landscape with relatively intact forest tracts
- Amur (Heilongjiang) and Ussuri river floodplain forests and islands: seasonally dynamic riparian wilderness important for raptors, otters and migratory birds
- Sanjiang Plain reed marshes and peatlands: large open wetland expanses with limited access away from roads and farm edges, especially in core reserve zones
Wildlife
Heilongjiang sits at the junction of the boreal (taiga-like) forests of Northeast Asia, vast river floodplains (Amur/Heilong and Songhua systems), and some of China's most important freshwater wetlands (e.g., Sanjiang Plain, Zhalong). The province's wildlife character is strongly "northern": large forest mammals (bears, deer, lynx), cold-adapted predators (Amur tiger), and spectacular concentrations of migratory waterbirds (cranes, storks, swans, geese) using breeding, staging, and molting habitats. River and lake ecosystems also support notable cold-water fish, including globally imperiled sturgeons and the iconic taimen.
~70-90 species (forest and wetland mammals dominate; includes large carnivores and ungulates)
Mammals
~380-450 species (major migratory flyway province; many waterbirds and raptors)
Birds
~15-25 species (low diversity due to cold climate; mostly snakes and lizards in warmer lowlands)
Reptiles
~10-15 species (frogs/toads/newts concentrated in wetlands and forest edges)
Amphibians
~100-150+ species (Amur-Songhua basin, lakes and wetlands; includes sturgeons and salmonids)
Fish
Iconic Species
Amur Tiger (Siberian Tiger)
The flagship predator of Northeast China's forests; Heilongjiang is part of the core recovery landscape where tigers are returning to larger areas along the Russia border.
Red-crowned Crane
A globally iconic wetland bird; Heilongjiang's marshes (notably Zhalong and the Sanjiang Plain) are among the most important breeding/stopover areas in China.
Oriental Stork
A tall, striking stork strongly tied to large reedbeds and floodplain wetlands; the province is a key breeding and migration region in Northeast Asia.
Chinese Merganser
A rare, beautiful river-dwelling duck; Heilongjiang's forested rivers provide critical breeding habitat and are one of the best places to look for it in China.
Moose (Eurasian Elk)
A classic boreal mammal of swampy forests and river valleys; encountered in remote northern forests and protected areas near the border.
Eurasian Lynx
A secretive forest cat of the taiga-temperate transition; Heilongjiang is one of its strongholds in China.
Brown Bear (Ussuri Brown Bear)
A top omnivore of big forests and mountain valleys; tracks and sign are common in wilder forest reserves, and sightings occur in remote areas.
Blakiston's Fish Owl
One of the world's largest owls, dependent on old-growth riparian forest and healthy fish populations; a highly sought-after, emblematic Amur-region species.
Whooper Swan
Large flocks stage on lakes and river wetlands during migration; Heilongjiang's open waters and marsh mosaics are important stopover habitats.
Siberian Taimen
A legendary cold-water salmonid of large, clean, free-flowing rivers in the Amur basin; where present it indicates intact, well-oxygenated river systems and is a centerpiece of Heilongjiang's freshwater biodiversity.
Endemic & Rare Species
Notable Populations
- Key breeding and staging concentrations of Red-crowned Crane in major marsh systems (e.g., Zhalong wetlands and the wider Sanjiang Plain).
- Nationally important breeding and migration habitat for Oriental Stork in floodplain wetlands of the Amur-Songhua region.
- One of China's most important landscapes for recovery and dispersal of Amur Tiger along the Russia border forests (linked to the broader Amur tiger population).
- Critical river-breeding habitat for the globally rare Chinese Merganser in forested catchments of Northeast China.
- Amur-Songhua river system supports historically significant (now heavily reduced) populations of giant sturgeons (Kaluga and Amur sturgeon), globally important from a conservation perspective.
Recent Changes
- Amur tiger numbers and occupied range in Northeast China have been increasing in recent years, with more frequent reports of dispersing individuals using border forest corridors connected to Russia; protection and connectivity efforts have intensified via large protected-area initiatives in the region.
- Amur leopard remains extremely rare but has shown signs of gradual range expansion in the broader transboundary landscape; sporadic records near Heilongjiang's border forests are treated as conservation milestones.
- Wetland restoration and water-management projects in parts of the Sanjiang Plain and other marsh systems have improved habitat quality locally, benefiting cranes and storks, though pressures from agriculture and hydrological alteration persist.
- Some waterbird populations (notably storks/cranes) show localized improvements where disturbance control and nesting-site protection are effective, while broader wetland loss/fragmentation continues to constrain recovery.
- Large river fish (especially sturgeons) have continued to face declines from historical overfishing, bycatch, habitat change, and barriers; stocking/restocking and tighter enforcement exist but recovery remains slow and uncertain.
- Human-wildlife interactions (livestock depredation risk and occasional encounters) have increased in some forest-edge areas as large carnivores recover, driving expanded compensation and conflict-mitigation efforts.
Wildlife Viewing
Heilongjiang offers special wildlife viewing in its boreal and temperate forests, large floodplain wetlands, and big rivers (Amur/Heilong and Songhua). Plan trips for spring and autumn bird migrations, summer wetland megafauna and raptors, and winter cranes and possible Amur tiger tracks. Guided, conservation-focused tours use hides, boardwalks, and observation points.
Best Seasons
Spring (Apr-May)
Peak northbound migration: large concentrations of geese, swans, ducks, cranes, and raptors staging on wetlands and river flats. Expect dynamic day-to-day bird numbers, crisp mornings, muddy access roads near marshes, and excellent photography light.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Breeding season in wetlands and forests: best for songbirds, woodpeckers, owls, and wetland mammals (deer, fox). Long daylight hours, lush landscapes, and easier access to boardwalks-though insects can be intense in marshy areas.
Autumn (Sep-Oct)
Southbound migration and dramatic colors in forested regions. Reliable chances for cranes, swans, and raptors funneling along river systems; cooler, clearer weather is ideal for observation towers and river viewpoints.
Winter (Nov-Mar)
Signature Heilongjiang experience: snowbound wetlands with cranes and other hardy waterbirds near ice-free patches, plus chances to look for tracks/sign of Amur tiger and other forest wildlife with a licensed guide. Cold is severe; visibility can be excellent on calm days, and river ice landscapes are spectacular.
Top Wildlife Experiences
- Red-crowned crane and Oriental stork viewing at Zhalong National Nature Reserve (near Qiqihar): walk boardwalks/observation areas for marsh birds, especially during migration and snowy shoulder seasons.
- Wetland birdwatching circuit around the Sanjiang Plain: visit Honghe National Nature Reserve and nearby wetland parks for cranes, geese, swans, and raptors during spring/autumn peaks.
- Amur (Heilong) River birding and raptor watching: choose river viewpoints and floodplain habitats near border counties for migrating raptors, waterfowl, and riverine species in spring and autumn.
- Forest birding and mammal sign-tracking in the Greater Khingan (Daxing'anling) forests: target boreal species (woodpeckers, owls) and look for deer/fox tracks with local guides; best late spring through early autumn, and again in winter for tracking.
- Snow-season crane photography near Qiqihar wetlands: combine Zhalong and surrounding farmlands/wet meadows for dramatic winter scenes of cranes against snow and reedbeds.
- Tiger-and-leopard conservation-area visit in the northeast (border forest reserves): join permitted, conservation-minded excursions focused on habitat interpretation, camera-trap education, and winter track-sign searches (no guaranteed sightings).
- Songhua River winter ice landscapes in Harbin area with birdwatching add-on: focus on hardy river birds around open water sections and scenic river corridors; pair with early-morning observation for best light and fewer crowds.
Wildlife Watching Types
Guided Options
- Zhalong National Nature Reserve guided birdwatching/interpretation programs (local reserve staff or licensed local guides; ask about hides and best seasonal viewing points).
- Sanjiang Plain wetland birding guides (Honghe and surrounding reserves): day trips focused on crane/stork hotspots and migration timing.
- Heilongjiang forest park/local guide services in Daxing'anling: guided hikes for boreal birds, botany, and winter tracking with safety support.
- Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (region-wide program): inquire through official visitor channels/authorized tour operators for education-focused visits, camera-trap learning, and regulated route access (availability varies).
- Harbin-area nature clubs and birding societies: seasonal migration outings along the Songhua River and nearby wetlands, often timed to peak movements.
- Specialist wildlife photography tours (small-group) that combine Zhalong + Sanjiang wetlands during spring/autumn migrations; look for operators that coordinate permits, hides, and ethical distance practices.
Ecosystems
Heilongjiang lies in a cold-temperate to boreal transition in Northeast Asia, with conifer and mixed forests on the Greater and Lesser Khingan, large lowland plains (Songnen and Sanjiang) fed by the Songhua-Nen-Ussuri-Amur rivers, and key inland wetlands for migratory waterbirds. Taiga-like forests, broadleaf stands, meadow-steppe, and floodplains make varied habitats and big seasonal changes.
Biomes
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
Taiga-like conifer forests (larch, spruce, fir, pine) dominate cooler uplands and northern latitudes, with frequent natural disturbance (fire) shaping forest structure in parts of the Khingan ranges.
Widespread in the Greater Khingan (Daxing'anling) and northern uplands; a major biome in the north and northeast.
Temperate Forest
Cold-temperate mixed forests and broadleaf stands (e.g., birch, aspen, oak locally, mixed with conifers) occur in warmer/lower elevations and southern/eastern mountains and foothills.
Common in the Lesser Khingan (Xiaoxing'anling) and southeastern ranges/foothills; patchy to extensive depending on elevation and land use.
Temperate Grassland
Meadow-steppe and grassland mosaics occur on drier plains and sandy/alkaline soils, often intergrading with farmland; important for open-country birds and grazing landscapes.
Most evident on the Songnen Plain and other lowland plains; now heavily modified by agriculture.
Freshwater
Large river systems (Amur/Heilong, Songhua, Nen, Ussuri/Wusuli) and associated lakes and oxbows support rich fish communities and provide migratory corridors.
Province-wide along major river basins and floodplains; especially prominent in northern and eastern border rivers.
Wetland
Extensive floodplain marshes, peatlands, and seasonally inundated wetlands (notably on the Sanjiang Plain) provide key breeding and stopover habitat for migratory cranes, geese, and ducks.
Concentrated in the Sanjiang Plain and along major river floodplains; scattered peatlands and marshes elsewhere.
Alpine
Small areas of subalpine-like meadow/shrub communities and cold, wind-exposed ridgelines occur on the highest peaks of the Khingan and southeastern mountain systems, creating localized treeline/near-treeline conditions.
Limited to high elevations; minor overall area compared with forest and lowland plains.
Habitats
Forest
Broad forest matrix across mountain ranges and uplands, ranging from larch-dominated stands to mixed broadleaf-conifer forests with strong fire and winter-cold influences.
Coniferous Forest
Larch and pine/spruce-fir forests are characteristic of the Greater Khingan and colder uplands, with extensive secondary growth in some managed areas.
Deciduous Forest
Birch-aspen and other cold-temperate deciduous stands occur widely as successional forests, especially after disturbance and on lower slopes/valleys.
Woodland
Open-canopy forest/forest-steppe edges occur where plains meet foothills, often forming transitional belts between cropland/grassland and closed forest.
Grassland
Meadow-steppe on the Songnen Plain and other open lowlands, often fragmented by cultivation and drainage.
Steppe
Drier meadow-steppe and saline/alkaline steppe-like patches on parts of the Songnen Plain, supporting specialized plant communities adapted to soil salinity.
Shrubland
Willow/alder shrubs on riparian bars and post-fire shrub communities in some uplands; also shrub encroachment on degraded grasslands.
Mountain
Greater and Lesser Khingan and southeastern ranges create elevation-driven habitat gradients, cold-air valleys, and important headwaters.
River/Stream
Major transboundary and internal rivers (Amur/Heilong, Songhua, Nen, Ussuri/Wusuli) with broad floodplains, islands, and riparian forests.
Lake
Natural and reservoir lakes across plains and river basins, including shallow lakes important for waterbirds and fisheries.
Pond
Oxbows, floodplain ponds, and small farm/irrigation ponds that add fine-scale wet habitat diversity on the plains.
Wetland
Large wetland complexes on the Sanjiang Plain and along river floodplains; critical for cranes and other migratory birds.
Marsh
Reed/sedge marshes in floodplains and shallow lake margins, often seasonally inundated and highly productive.
Bog
Peat-accumulating mires and boggy wetlands in cooler areas and poorly drained plains/uplands, with acidic, nutrient-poor conditions.
Swamp
Forested and shrub swamps along slow-moving channels and backwaters, including willow/alder-dominated riparian swamps.
Agricultural/Farmland
Extensive croplands on the Songnen and Sanjiang plains (notably grain and soybean systems), often replacing former grasslands and wetlands.
Urban
Major urban centers (e.g., Harbin and other cities) create concentrated built habitat and modified riverbanks.
Suburban
Expanding peri-urban belts around cities and county seats, with mixed housing, industry, and remnant riparian/wetland fragments.
Ecoregions
Conservation
Primary Threats
- Large-scale conversion of the Sanjiang Plain and other lowlands to mechanized agriculture (notably rice and soy) has historically drained and fragmented marshes and floodplain wetlands, reducing breeding/stopover habitat for cranes, storks and waterfowl and increasing nutrient and pesticide runoff into the Songhua-Nen-Amur basins.
- Wetland drainage, riverbank modification, and continued fragmentation of forest-wetland mosaics around reserve boundaries reduce habitat quality and connectivity, especially for wide-ranging carnivores (tiger/leopard) and for wetland birds that need large, undisturbed reedbeds and shallow water.
- Roads, rail lines, border infrastructure, and energy corridors dissect forest landscapes in eastern Heilongjiang (near Mudanjiang/Dongning) and across the Khingan ranges, increasing barrier effects, wildlife-vehicle collision risk, and human access that can elevate poaching pressure.
- Hydrological alteration from water control works (drainage canals, embankments, irrigation withdrawals) and river regulation changes seasonal flooding and water depth in wetlands such as reed marshes and floodplains, directly affecting nesting success of cranes/storks and fish spawning dynamics.
- Industrial and urban effluents in the Songhua River basin (historically linked to petrochemical and heavy industry) plus agricultural runoff drive episodic water quality issues (nutrients, pesticides) that degrade wetland food webs and can affect fish, amphibians and waterbirds.
- Rapid warming at high latitudes alters ice phenology and spring melt timing in the Amur-Songhua system, increases drought and wildfire risk in boreal/temperate forests (Greater/Lesser Khingan), and can shift wetland vegetation structure-raising uncertainty for migratory bird staging and reedbed integrity.
- While large-scale natural forest logging has been curtailed under national programs, legacy forest structure simplification persists in some areas, and localized illegal cutting can still occur, affecting old-growth dependent species and reducing cover/connectivity for tigers, leopards and their prey.
- Coal and other mineral extraction in parts of Heilongjiang can cause habitat disturbance, road expansion, dust and water pollution; associated settlement growth increases cumulative pressure on nearby forests and river catchments.
- Fishing pressure in the Amur/Heilong and Songhua systems and connected wetlands can reduce prey availability for fish-eating birds (e.g., Chinese merganser, fish owl) and alter aquatic community structure, especially when combined with habitat modification.
- Poaching and snaring remain a risk in remote forest landscapes, primarily impacting ungulate prey (roe deer, wild boar) and thereby indirectly affecting tiger/leopard recovery; illegal bird capture can also occur along migration corridors.
- High-value species and derivatives (big cats, raptors) can be targeted for illegal trade, with transboundary risk heightened by proximity to Russia and the broader Amur region.
- As tiger/leopard populations rebound near the eastern border forests, occasional livestock depredation and perceived safety risks near villages can trigger retaliation pressure unless compensation, rapid response, and husbandry improvements are maintained.
- Reed harvesting, unregulated tourism, vehicle access, and seasonal activities near wetlands (e.g., around Zhalong and other scenic wetlands) can disrupt nesting colonies and staging flocks, particularly during spring and autumn migration peaks.
- Aquatic invasives and invasive wetland plants can spread via connected river systems and aquaculture pathways, potentially altering native fish/amphibian communities and wetland plant composition in the Songhua-Amur watershed.
- Disease risks include spillover between domestic animals and wildlife (e.g., canine diseases affecting carnivores, or livestock-linked pathogens near forest edges) and outbreaks in concentrated bird congregations in wetlands, which can be exacerbated by habitat crowding and disturbance.
Did You Know?
Border rivers aren't real barriers in winter: camera-trap and track records from the Heilongjiang-Ussuri river corridors show that large mammals (including Amur tigers) can move across international boundaries when the rivers freeze, turning "water borders" into seasonal wildlife bridges.
Some of Heilongjiang's largest birds, oriental storks (Ciconia boyciana), nest in human places—on power pylons and artificial platforms in the Sanjiang Plain and around Xingkai (Khanka) Lake where tall trees are rare.
Red-crowned cranes that breed in Heilongjiang travel across the sea to winter in Korea and Japan. Their migration links the province's wetlands with other countries, so many nations must help protect them.
The "reeds" are not just scenery-they're an ecosystem engineer: Heilongjiang's vast reedbeds (notably in Zhalong) create windbreaks, nesting cover, and invertebrate-rich food webs that directly determine where cranes, herons, and ducks can successfully breed.
Cold doesn't stop Heilongjiang's wetlands; it rearranges life. Fish and water invertebrates stay under ice, while birds and mammals move to river edges, springs, and open channels, creating winter hotspots for predators and scavengers.
Heilongjiang is part of China's main wild moose range: moose (Alces alces), the world's largest deer species, occur in the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains (spilling into adjacent Inner Mongolia).
The Amur (Heilongjiang) River is home to the giant kaluga sturgeon (Huso dauricus), which can grow over 5 m long and weigh around or above 1,000 kg, one of the largest freshwater fish.
Heilongjiang's Sanjiang Plain (at the meeting of the Amur/Heilongjiang, Songhua, and Ussuri rivers) is widely recognized as China's largest contiguous freshwater marsh region-an outsized "migration engine" for Northeast Asian waterfowl.
Zhalong National Nature Reserve near Qiqihar is a key East Asian breeding area for the rare red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis). It holds many of China's breeding birds in one reed-wetland.
Heilongjiang is one of the very few places in China where the world's largest cat- the Amur (Siberian) tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)-still occurs in the wild, using the province's forest-wetland mosaic and border river corridors.
Animals Found in Heilongjiang Sheng
64 species documented in our encyclopedia
Amur Leopard
Asian Giant Hornet
Asian Longhorn Beetle
Asiatic Black Bear
Brown Bear
Caribou
Cervalces latifrons (Broad-Fronted Moose)
Common Carp
Common European Adder
Common Goldeneye
Common Raven
Cross Fox
Eared Grebe
Elk
Ermine
Eurasian Bullfinch
Eurasian Eagle-owl
Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Lynx
Eurasian Nuthatch
Fire-Bellied Toad
Gadwall
Goshawk
Grass Carp
Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee
Gypsy Moth
Gypsy Moth Caterpillar
Horned Grebe
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
Jackdaw
Kaluga Sturgeon
Keta Salmon
Leopard Cat
Long-Eared Owl
Long-Tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Muskrat
Norway Rat
Osprey
Peppered Moth
Peregrine Falcon
Potato Beetle
Purple Emperor Butterfly
Raccoon Dog
Red Fox
Red Squirrel
Reindeer
Rough-Legged Hawk
Sable
Short-Eared Owl
Sika Deer
Sparrowhawk
Spongy Moth
Stoat
Tiger
Ural owl
White-Tailed Eagle
Wild Boar
Wolf
Wolverine
Woolly Mammoth
Woolly Rhinoceros
Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee (formerly Fernald's Cuckoo Bumblebee)