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:
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.
Asia Nuthatch (Eurasian nuthatch)
The Japanese Nuthatch is a blue-gray resident bird that climbs upside down and inhabits Japan's old forests. Everything about its behavior, breeding, and diet…
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…
Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata)
The Eurasian Curlew is the largest wading bird in Europe, known for its slim and elegant appearance and its long, curved beak. It blends perfectly into wet meadows and moorlands, making it a master of camouflage. Not only is it fascinating to look at, but its melancholic, flute-like calls are also...
White-bellied green pigeon (Treron sieboldii)
The white-bellied green pigeon (Treron sieboldii), scientifically known as Treron sieboldii, belongs to the pigeon family. The Japanese name "Aobato" is derived from the green coloring of the body and the sound of its call during the breeding season, which sounds like "Ao-Ao." It was previously also referred to as "Yamabato" (Mountain Pigeon). This species of pigeon possesses a number of fascinating
Black paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata)
The black paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata), also known as Sankōchō in Japan, is a striking migratory bird from the flycatcher family. It is characterized by a long, distinctive tail, which in males can be up to twice the length of the head-body length.
Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra)
Pacific reef herons (Egretta sacra) are small herons that inhabit rocky coastlines. They grow up to 63 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 90 to 110 cm, and weigh around 400 grams. There are two color morphs: white and dark gray. Both morphs have yellow-green bills and legs.
Blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius)
The Blue rock thrush, also known as Monticola solitarius, is a fascinating bird belonging to the order of passerines. With a length of about 20 centimeters, it is slightly smaller than the Starling, but its striking coloration and elusive behavior make it an interesting sight.
Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
The mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) belongs to the family of waterfowl (Anatidae) and the genus Aix. Originally from East Asia, there are also feral park populations in Europe that have arisen from escaped captive birds. While the duck species has been highly popular as ornamental poultry for centuries, populations in its original range are declining, and
Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a small passerine bird from the family of long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae), named after its long tail, which allows it to balance precisely while searching for food on fine branches. It prefers light forests, forest edges, and parks with dense undergrowth as
Brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis)
The Orphean Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) is native to East Asia. It is extremely common within the northern part of its range and can be found from southern Sakhalin to the northern Philippines. Measuring about 28 cm in length, Orphean Bulbuls are gray-brown with brown cheeks and a long tail. Although they prefer wooded areas, they easily adapt to urban and rural environments, and their loud, squeaky calls are familiar in most areas of Japan.
Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
The Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) is a small pas serine bird found in temperate Asia, known as "Jōbitaki" in Japan. The species was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1776. The Daurian redstart is approximately 14 to 15 cm long and weighs between 11 and 20 g. Like all redstarts, there is a strong sexual dimorphism. Males have a gray crown and neck with a light forehead
Ural Owl (japonica)
The Japanese Ural Owl (Strix uralensis japonica) is a subspecies of the Ural Owl and belongs to the family of owls, also known as EZO Owl. It is native to Japan and mainly inhabits mountain forests and deciduous forests at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters. The Japanese owl species is a medium-sized owl with a body length of about 50 to 60 centimeters and