The purpose of this study is to compare the bird communities between mature secondary forests and Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica) plantations. Bird census was carried out in Teng-jhih National Forest Recreation Area, Kaohsiung county, Taiwan during both breeding season and non-breeding season from March to November in 2007. To compare bird communities between two types of forests, diversity index, evenness index, species richness and densities of bird were calculated. Densities of birds were estimated by variable circular-plot point count method. All birds were classified into 10 assemblage guilds. ANOVA was used to examine whether forest types, breeding season and monthly changes will effect the composition of bird communities. A total of 36 bird species of 19 families were recorded during the study period. All of these species were found in secondary forests, and only 27 of them were observed in Cryptomeria plantations. The results showed that bird diversity, abundance and total densities were higher in secondary forests than those in Cryptomeria plantations, either during breeding season or non-breeding season. Canopy tree species of families, Lauraceae and Fagaceae of the secondary forests which can provide more foods than Cryptomeria, canopy foliage omnivores and woodpeckers were more in secondary forests than in Cryptomeria plantations. On the other hand, the openess of shrubs and understory vegetation in the Cryptomeria plantations, shrub foliage omnivores were more in Cryptomeria plantations than in secondary forests.