Birds of Our Observations
Let yourself be inspired by our fascinating observations from the past years and discover the diverse world of nature. Here, we regularly present a compilation of our latest discoveries and observations.
If you are looking for a specific bird, you can find it using the search field:
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
Terek Sandpiper - migratory bird, wader, unmistakable character. What sets it apart, where it lives, and why you can encounter it in Japan.
Little Bittern (Botaurus minutus)
Portrait of the Little Bittern: Europe’s smallest heron, perfectly camouflaged among reeds, a summer visitor for breeding, with fascinating insights into its appearance, hunting, and nesting.
Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
The Japanese Cormorant (*Phalacrocorax capillatus*) is a familiar coastal bird in Japan. A skilled diver, colony breeder, and participant in traditional Ukai fishing…
Willow tit (Poecile montanus)
The Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) is a quiet but skilled forest dweller. Known for carving its own nesting cavities, it thrives in damp, old-growth woodlands across Japan…
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
The Oriental Turtle Dove (*Streptopelia orientalis*) is a calm, well-camouflaged dove common across Japan. Found in woodlands, towns, and parks—quiet but unmistakable…
Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
The Japanese Wagtail (*Motacilla grandis*) is a black-and-white native of Japan. Elegant and active, it thrives along rivers, rice fields, and city canals year-round…
Chinese bamboo partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus)
The Chinese Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus) lives hidden yet vocal – discover everything about its appearance, behavior, habitat, and conservation status…
Pacific swift (Apus pacificus)
As an acrobatic summer visitor to Japan, the Pacific Swift (*Apus pacificus*) spends nearly its entire life in the air, catching insects with astonishing agility…
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus)
The Chinese Hwamei (*Garrulax canorus*), also known as the Melodious Laughingthrush, is a shy but vocal bird. Rarely seen, often heard across gardens and bamboo groves in Japan…
Japanese Tit (Parus minor)
The Japanese Tit (*Parus minor*) is a common and charismatic bird across Japan’s forests and gardens. Easy to spot, hard to ignore, and full of character…
Pelagic cormorant (Urile pelagicus)
The Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus) is a slender coastal seabird found along Japan’s rocky shores. A solitary diver, striking in posture and plumage…
Brown dipper (Cinclus pallasii)
The Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) is a unique aquatic songbird found in Japan’s mountain streams — subtle in color, but remarkable in behavior…
Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
The Little Egret is an elegant wader with white feathers and yellow feet. In Japan, it is widespread, adaptable, and not endangered…
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) is a striking coastal bird with a yellow beak and black tail band – common but sensitive in population.
Common scoter (Melanitta nigra)
The Common Scoter (*Melanitta nigra*) is a black-feathered winter visitor to Japan's coasts. Learn all about its appearance, lifestyle, and distribution…
Oriental greenfinch (Chloris sinica)
The Oriental Greenfinch (Chloris sinica) is an olive-green resident bird with a grey crown, living year-round in Japan's gardens and forests…
Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
The great spotted woodpecker is a true all-rounder: loud, colorful, and skilled with its beak. Here you’ll learn everything about its appearance, behavior, diet, and way of life…
Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
Small, brightly colored, and a true treetop specialist – the Firecrest is hard to miss. Learn all about its appearance, song, and behavior here…
Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum)
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is Europe's smallest owl, but don’t let its size fool you—it is a skilled hunter with piercing eyes and remarkable adaptability. This tiny predator thrives in old-growth forests with plenty of deadwood…
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Few shorebirds are as commonly seen during migration as the Dunlin (Calidris alpina). Its spectacular flocks fly in perfect synchrony, rapidly changing direction in a mesmerizing…