Abstract: In order to explore the ecological environment quality of “720” migratory bird habitat for “the China model” and “the international landmark of bird conservation” of ecological restoration in world natural heritage site in Tiaozini Dongtai, Jiangsu Province, the contents of eight heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Cr, As, Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn) in surface sediments from five sample sites at the migratory bird habitat and four sample sites at its adjacent intertidal zones were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. Based on the geoaccumulation index and the potential ecological risk index, the characteristics of heavy metal content and ecological risk in surface sediments of two areas were compared. Results Showed that the mean contents of eight heavy metals in the surface sediments at the study areas of the migratory bird habitat and intertidal zones outside the embankment were lower than the class I national marine sediment quality and the contents from the two areas are significantly different (P<0.05). The average contents of heavy metals in the sediments in the migratory bird habitat were higher than that in the intertidal zone outside the embankment area. The potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the sediments of the migratory bird habitat is higher than that in the intertidal zone outside the embankment area. The difference may be related to the aquaculture activities before the construction of the migratory bird habitat, migratory bird activities in the habitat, nearby agricultural activities and hydrodynamic conditions. The geoaccumulation indexes of heavy metals at each sampling site in both areas were less than zero, indicating no significant geoaccumulation risk of heavy metals. The comprehensive potential ecological risk indexes of both areas were less than 150.00 and the single factor of potential ecological risk at each sampling sites was less than 40.00. Thus all sites belong to low potential ecological risk level. Compared the characteristics of heavy metals with other coastal natural wetlands of China, it was found that the leading ecological risk factor in this study area was Hg and then Cd. So attentions should be paid to the contents of Hg and Cd in the habitat sediments.