In this paper we briefly reviewed the development history of zoogeography, and summarized the birth, progress, important achievements and future development trends of bird biogeography in China. This review article discussed five aspects: 1. The birth and development of the avian biogeography; 2. Zoogeographical regionalization, emphasing fauna survey and biogeographical distribution pattern of island birds, the relationship of avifauna between Taiwan, Hainan and mainland neighboring regions, as well as avian endemism; 3. The distribution pattern of species richness and its maintenance, with focusing on several important hypotheses; 4. Phylogeographical pattern and its forming causes and influencing factors; 5. New progress and future development trends in bird biogeography, with focusing on new growing points due to the develop and contribution from studies of phylogeography and adaptive evolution, which is also the development trend of bird biogeography in China and all over the world in the era of big data and omics. Key words: Fauna; Geographical distribution; Bird; Phylogeography; Zoogeographical regionalization; Adaptive evolution; Species diversity