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...

Eastern Marsh Harrier, Mar 2022, Shimane, Japan This raptor lives in the eastern part of the Eurasian continent, including Japan. In...

Saunders's Gull, Mar 2020, Tokyo, Japan This species has a different ecology from other birds that gather at fishing ports. Look closely...

Hooded Crane, Feb 2021, Kagoshima, Japan In southwestern Japan, in the Kyushu region, several species of cranes migrate from the Eurasian...

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...

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...

Spectacled Guillemot, JUL 2023, Hokkaido The Japanese name “Keimahuri” comes from the Ainu language of Hokkaido and means “red feet.” In...

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...

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...