A Chinese thrush pops up in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

A rare bird species, the Chinese thrush, was discovered in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province, according to the Lishui Bird Ecology Protection Association.

Zhou Linke, a member of the association, was the first to photograph the bird. On Jan 30, he was fortunate enough to encounter this rare creature at the Jiulong National Wetland Park in Lishui. He said that it was perched on a tree and had a white belly speckled with black dots.

Li Xuan, vice president of the Lishui Bird Ecology Protection Association, said that the Chinese thrush is endemic to China, primarily found in North and Central China and is rarely seen in East China, with only sporadic records of such occurrences in Zhejiang.

"During the Spring Festival holiday, the Chinese thrush became a 'star' of Jiulong National Wetland Park, attracting bird enthusiasts from various places," Li said.

Lishui has recorded a total of 460 resident bird species, contributing to the rich and diverse ecosystem of the city.