Yilan has beautiful mountains and plains that are rich in forests and wetlands, providing perfect habitats for birds. This has made Yilan County one of Taiwan's premier areas for bird watching.

Rentze, Qilan, Cuifeng Lake are ideal sites for watching the Taiwan whistling thrush, brown dipper, Taiwan laughing thrush, Steer's liocichla, and the "national treasure" birds, the Mikado pheasant and Swinhoe's pheasant. April to June is the best time for bird watching here.

River estuaries and wetlands are the favored habitats for migrant birds during their spring and fall migrations. These are also places where water birds like to pass the winter. The following chart shows when and where to watch: