Based on photographs and video footage recorded on September 14, 2026 at Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park by Mr. Nguyễn Châu Mỹ, Deputy General Director of Oxalis Company and Director of T20 Company, the research team analyzed and identified the species as the Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus). This species had not previously been listed in the park’s bird checklist, bringing the total number of recorded bird species from 353 to 354.

Earlier, the provincial-level science and technology project “Survey of the wild bird fauna in Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park and several key bird areas of Quảng Bình Province to propose conservation solutions and ecotourism development” had recorded 17 additional species, raising the park’s bird checklist to 353 species. The identification of the Forest Wagtail adds further data on the species composition and distribution of the bird fauna in the area.

The Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus), described by Gmelin in 1789, belongs to the genus Dendronanthus, the family Motacillidae (wagtails and pipits), and the order Passeriformes. The photographs and video served as the basis for the research team to analyze identifying features, determine the species, and compare it against the existing checklist. This result adds data on the species’ presence in the park at the time of observation, supporting updates to the biodiversity database and subsequent research and monitoring activities.

From a conservation science perspective, recording an additional species contributes to completing the checklist and improving understanding of the bird fauna. However, documentation from a single point in time is not sufficient to draw conclusions about the Forest Wagtail’s residency status, breeding, or population size in the park. Continued surveys across seasons, along with thorough records of the time, location, and habitat of observations, will help clarify the species’ pattern of occurrence.

This record also demonstrates the value of sharing materials between individuals and businesses operating in the area and the park’s management authority and research team. Field data that is verified, identified, and standardized helps support the monitoring, management, and conservation of biodiversity in Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park.

MSc. Đinh Huy Trí

Deputy Director of Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park

Photos and video: Nguyễn Châu Mỹ, Deputy General Director of Oxalis Company / Director of T20 Company. Taken on September 14, 2026.