An upland pipit is spotted in Longquan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Wen Chaoran]

In an exciting development for bird enthusiasts, the elusive upland pipit (Anthus sylvanus) has been spotted in the Longquan area of the Qianjiangyuan-Baishanzu National Park candidate site in Zhejiang province.

This marks the first confirmed photographic record of the species in Lishui since the 1990s.

The upland pipit is typically found in southern China, inhabiting high-altitude mountains, forest edges, and shrubs. During the breeding season, it prefers bare rocks and grassy slopes and primarily feeds on insects and plant seeds.

An upland pipit is spotted in Longquan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Wen Chaoran]

According to historical records of 1990, the upland pipit was once collected as a specimen in Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang. However, due to a lack of photographic or audio evidence over the years, it was presumed extinct in Lishui.

In Zhejiang, the species had only been recorded twice, between 2010 and 2011, on the Kuocang Mountain of Taizhou.

"This sighting is significant because suitable habitats for the upland pipit are rare in Zhejiang," said Wen Chaoran, the person who first spotted the bird, "Capturing this moment was incredibly special."

The Qianjiangyuan-Baishanzu National Park candidate site boasts a high forest coverage rate and rich biodiversity, attracting bird watchers from across the country.