Copper Pheasant ssp. intermedius ; 20th APR, 2019. Tokushima, Japan This bird is an endemic species of Japan with 5 subspecies, and some field guides treat them as 3 taxa. Each one shows different ranges in Japan and different plumage colors.  The bird in the photo is ssp. intermedius . In Japan, it lives only in the Shikoku area, and it is known for the white bands on the tail feathers, which are more clear than in other subspecies. The male Copper Pheasant has a very long

Copper Pheasant（Scintillant Pheasant) ssp. subrufus : 31th MAR, 2018. Osaka, Japan This bird is an endemic species of Japan with 5 subspecies, and some field guides treat them as 3 taxa. Each one shows different ranges in Japan and different plumage colors. The bird in the photo is ssp. subrufus. Unlike the neighboring ssp. scintillans , it has no white edging on the feathers. Its bright copper shine is the strongest among all subspecies. The male Copper Pheasant has a very

Copper Pheasant ssp. scintillans : 19th JAN, 2021. Gifu, Japan This bird is endemic to Japan and has 5 subspecies. Some field guides treat them as 3 taxa. Each subspecies has different plumage color and distribution within Japan. The bird in the photo is ssp. scintillans , which is known for the white edges on the feathers over the whole body. The male Copper Pheasant has a very long tail, reaching up to 1 m, and has a bright copper-red color as the name suggests. It is very

Japanese Quail: 10th APR 2020, Osaka, Japan The Japanese Quail is a very familiar bird in Japan, and everyone knows it. However, not many people have actually seen a wild one. In Japan, people usually have a chance to see it during migration. If you hear its loud and unique call, “ko-kyo-kururu!” along riverbanks or in farmland, try to look around carefully. The call is so loud that I was once woken up by it when camping in grassland. The bird is very cautious, and even short

Izu Trush: May 2013, Miyake Is., Japan It’s not widely known, but Japan’s capital, Tokyo, extends far to the south through a long chain of volcanic islands. The northern part of this chain is called the Izu Islands, home to several bird species and subspecies found nowhere else. Among them, one of the most iconic is the Izu Thrush . It inhabits only certain islands in the Izu group, as well as some of the Tokara Islands far to the west. How did this bird end up split between

Styan's Grasshopper Warbler, May 2013, Miyake Is., Japan This bird is quite a specialist species, but for those it appeals to, it really captivates. Before you say it’s plain or dull, first check its range in a field guide. Globally, it lives only in a very small part of the Far East! See, now you can’t call it plain anymore, and it starts to look fascinating. To see it intentionally in Japan, you can visit the limited breeding areas where it arrives from early May. If you ha

Eastern Marsh Harrier, Mar 2022, Shimane, Japan This raptor lives in the eastern part of the Eurasian continent, including Japan. In Japan, it is especially easy to see in winter, living in reed beds and farmland. Its distinctive V-shaped flight while searching for prey is truly impressive. Males and females have different plumage, and males also show various color variations.

Saunders's Gull, Mar 2020, Tokyo, Japan This species has a different ecology from other birds that gather at fishing ports. Look closely at its shape—you will notice its long wings extending beyond the body. Among gulls, it has a particularly elegant proportion. This makes sense, as the species feeds on mudflats. When the tide goes out and the mudflats are exposed, it floats and flies continuously, catching small animals such as crabs to eat. In winter, it is relatively easy

Hooded Crane, Feb 2021, Kagoshima, Japan In southwestern Japan, in the Kyushu region, several species of cranes migrate from the Eurasian continent to spend the winter. The Hooded Crane is slightly smaller and has a distinctive dark red patch on its forehead. In the morning, it flies out from its roost, and seeing a V-shaped flock soaring through the orange sky at sunrise is quite a spectacle. In this area, you can see Hooded Cranes along with White-naped Cranes, Common Crane

Steller's Sea Eagle, March 2020, Hokkaido The Steller's Sea Eagle is a dream bird for birdwatchers around the world and lives only in the high-latitude regions of the Far East. In Japan, Hokkaido in winter is the most accessible place to observe this species. Seeing this magnificent eagle soaring over the icy seas with drifting ice is an experience worth having at least once in a lifetime. The eagle also appears at fishing ports, so it is not difficult to see, but the most en

Lidth's Jay , Mar 2023, Amami Is. This is a species of Jay endemic to Amami Ōshima in Japan, renowned for its exceptional beauty. Under soft light, the contrast between its reddish-purple and bluish-purple two-tone colors is truly stunning. At first glance it may seem flashy, but in the dark forest it is surprisingly inconspicuous. The “Lidth” in its English and scientific names honors the Dutch zoologist Theodoor Gerard van Lidth de Jeude. On Amami Ōshima, it inhabits only d

Spectacled Guillemot, JUL 2023, Hokkaido The Japanese name “Keimahuri” comes from the Ainu language of Hokkaido and means “red feet.” In summer, they breed on rocky coasts along Hokkaido. Watching a pair call to each other is very impressive, and their high-pitched, beautiful voices have earned them the nickname “Canary of the Sea.” Their summer plumage is especially striking, and, true to their English name, the white ring around their eyes looks like they are wearing glass

Japan’s Masked Songbird of Autumn As the intense heat of summer fades and the crisp, clear autumn skies  emerge, one bird's distinctive...

Pintail Snipe Juvenile (September 2026, Okinawa) In Japan, snipe species can be observed primarily in rice fields during spring and...

Japanese Waxwing (Feb. 21, 2021) The Japanese Waxwing, or Hirenjaku, is a beautiful passerine bird a bit larger than a starling. It's...

Okinawa Robin, 8th APR 2023, Okinawa Is. It is an endemic species found only on Okinawa Island. It was previously known as the Ryukyu Robin, but it has since been split and is now treated as a separate species. The difference from the Ryukyu Robin is that it has no black and its underside is gray. Its orange upperparts appear vividly striking in bright light and are very beautiful, but in darker areas they are surprisingly inconspicuous. Spring marks the beginning of the bree

Falcated Duck, 02 Feb 2024, Chiba It is one of the most beautiful species among the ducks that winter in Japan. This species is usually difficult to observe up close, as it is most often found on large rivers and lakes. However, there is an excellent spot in Tokyo where you can see it from close range! The beautiful “Napoleon hat”-shaped crest feathers shine a deep green in soft light, looking their most striking. The long feathers trailing behind—the ones that inspired its