Japan Birds

from Pheasants 
to Pittas

noting those during 
Focus On Nature Tours
with an (*)

1994 thru 2015

during the months of 
January, February, April, May, June,
July, October, November, and December

Part 1 of a List of Japan Birds with some photos,
compiled by Armas Hill, the leader of FONT tours in Japan

Upper right photo:  RED-CROWNED CRANES in Hokkaido, as seen during the FONT Winter Tours
(The RED-CROWNED CRANE is also known as the JAPANESE CRANE)  


Link:

Part #2 of this List of Japan Birds: Minivets to Buntings

There have been 24 FONT Fall & Winter birding & nature tours in Japan: FW
There have been 13 FONT Spring & Summer birding & nature tours in Japan: SS

During our 37 FONT tours in Japan, 397 species of birds have cumulatively been found. 

In the following list, Japanese bird names follow English names.


Codes:

(i):  an introduced species in Japan

(t): a globally threatened or rare species, designated by Birdlife International.
  (t1): critical
  (t2): endangered
  (t3): vulnerable
(nt): considered a near-threatened species globally

(JAr):       rare in Japan
(JArs):     rare in Japan in spring/summer
(JArw):    rare in Japan in winter

(JAe):      Japanese endemic
(JAeb):    Japanese endemic breeder
(JAneb):  Japanese near-endemic breeder

FW: Seen during FONT Fall & Winter Japanese birding tours.
SS: Seen during FONT Spring & Summer Japanese birding tours.

In the list that follows, relating to birds during FONT tours, the Japanese islands & the months are noted.
HN:    on Honshu
HI:     on Hegura Island (Hegura-jima) in the Sea of Japan off Honshu. (Hegura Island visited during our Spring tours) 
HK:    on Hokkaido
KY:    on Kyushu
AM:   on Amami 
OK:    on Okinawa
NS:    in the southern Japanese islands of Nansei Shoto (other than Amami & Okinawa). 

(p):    following the 2-letter island code, indicates also during an offshore pelagic trip
(po):  following the 2-letter island code. indicates only during an offshore pelagic trip
 
(ph):  species with a photo in this FONT web-site 



Links to Bird Groupings in this List:

Waterfowl    Loons (or Divers)    Seabirds    Grebes    Storks, Ibises, Spoonbills     

Bitterns, Herons, Egrets     Boobies, Cormorants     Raptors     Rails, Crakes, Allies     

Cranes     Shorebirds     Skuas, Gulls, Terns     Alcids     Pigeons & Doves     Cuckoos     

Owls & Nightjar     Swifts     Kingfishers, Dollarbird, Hoopoe     Woodpeckers     Pittas 


Other Links:

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in Japan     Upcoming FONT Tours Elsewhere

FONT Past Tour Highlights     Photo Galleries & Narratives from past FONT tours

Birds during Previous FONT Japan tours on various islands: 

Hokkaido     Honshu  (over 300 species)     Hegura Island  (with some photos)

the Island of Amami     the island of Okinawa


Rare Birds of Japan, including those during FONT Tours  (with some photos)

Japanese Mammals  (with some photos)     Japanese Butterflies  (with some photos)

Directory of Photos in this Website

List of Japan Birds, noting those during Focus On Nature Tours (Part #1):

1. Copper Pheasant   (Yamadori = mountain bird)  (nt) (JAe) (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may  KY:jan,may,dec
   Syrmaticus soemmerringii
   Syrmaticus s. subrufus  (subspecies on Honshu)
   Syrmaticus s. ijimae  (subspecies on Kyushu)
   
   
   
   Copper Pheasants have been seen during FONT tours in Honshu & Kyushu
    
   
2. Green Pheasant  (Kiji)  (JAe) (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may,jun,oct  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec 
   Phasianus versicolor
   Phasianus v. tohkaidi  (subspecies on Honshu)
   Phasianus v. tanensis  (subspecies on Kyushu)
   
   The Green Pheasant has been considered conspecific with the Common Pheasant, native to Eurasia, Phasianus colchicus.
     
   
3. Common (or Ring-necked) Pheasant  (i)  ______
   Phasianus colchicus
   
   In Japan, Phasianus colchicus is only in Hokkaido.
   
   
4. Hazel Grouse  (Ezo-raicho = Hokkaido ptarmigan)  ______
   Tetrastes bonasia vicinitas
   
   
5. Rock Ptarmigan  (Raicho = thunder bird)  (ph)  ______
   Lagopus muta japonica 
   
   
6. Japanese Quail  (Uzura) ______
   Coturnix japonica  (monotypic)
   
   
7. Barred Buttonquail  (Mifu-uzura)  ______
   Turnix suscitator okinavensis  
   
   
8. Chinese Bamboo Partridge  (Kojukei = small ribbon fowl, and imitative of its call-note)  (i) (*) ______ FW  KY:jan,feb,may,dec
   Bambusicola t. thoracica
   
   
   WATERFOWL
   
   
9. Lesser Whistling Duck  (Ryukyu-gamo)  (JAr)  ______
   Dendrocygna javanica
   
   Now an accidental visitor in Japan, the Lesser Whistling Duck was formerly a resident.
   
   
10. Mute Swan  (Kobu-hakucho = wen swan)  (i) (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,may,jun,dec  HK:jun,dec  KY:jan,nov
    Cygnus olor  (monotypic)
    
    
11. Black Swan  (i)  ______  FW  HN:jan
    Cygnus atratus
    
    
12. Whooper Swan  (O-hakucho = big white bird)  (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,nov  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec
    Cygnus cygnus  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    Whooper Swans photographed in Hokkaido 
    during a FONT Winter Tour in Japan
    (photo by Alan Brady)
      
    
13. "Bewick's" Tundra Swan  (Ko-hakucho = smaller white bird)  (*)  ______ FW  HN:jan  HK:nov  KY:jan,feb,nov  
    Cygnus columbianus bewickii
    
    The "Bewick's" Tundra Swan is conspecific with the "Whistling" Tundra Swan of North America.
    
    
14. Trumpeter Swan  (JAr)  ______
    Cygnus buccinators  (monotypic)
    
    The Trumpeter Swan has wintered in northern Japan.
    
    
15. Greylag Goose  (Haiiro-gan = ash-colored, or gray goose)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HK:may,dec
    Anser anser rubrirostris
    
    
16. Greater White-fronted Goose  (Ma-gan = true goose)  (*) ______ FW   HN:jan,nov  HK:nov,dec  KY:jan
    Anser albifrons frontalis
    
    
17. Bean Goose  (Hishikui = eater of water chestnuts)  (*) ______ FW  HN:jan,feb,nov  HK:nov  KY:jan
    Anser fabalis middendorffii:  Taiga Bean Goose
    Anser fabalis serrirostris:  Tundra Bean Goose
    
    
18. Snow Goose  (Haku-gan = white goose)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN:jan,nov
    Anser (formerly Chen) caerulescens hyperboreus
    
    
19. Swan Goose  (Sakatsura = tipsy-faced goose)  (t2) (JAr)  ______
    Anser cygnoides  (monotypic)
    
    
20. Lesser White-fronted Goose  (Karigane = strong-voiced goose)  (t3) (JAr)  ______
    Anser erythropus  (monotypic)
    
    
21. Emperor Goose  (Mikado-gan)  (nt) (JAr)  ______
    Anser  (formerly Chen) canagicus  (monotypic)
    
    In Asia, the Emperor Goose is extremely rare south of Kamchatka. It has occurred as an accidental in Japan.  
    
    
22. Bar-headed Goose  (Indo-gan)  (JAr)  ______
    Anser indicus  (monotypic) 
    
    The Bar-headed Goose, that breeds at high altitudes in central Asia, has occurred as a straggler in Japan.
    
    
23. "Black" Brant (or Brent Goose)  (Koku-gan = black goose)  (*) ______ FW  HK:jan,nov
    Branta bernicla nigricans
    
    
24. (Greater) Canada Goose  (Shijukara-gan = titmouse goose)  (JAr)  ______
    Branta canadensis 
    
    A very large, apparently wild goose in Hokkaido in 2006 was seemingly Branta canadensis parvipes.  
    
    
25. Cackling (or Lesser Canada) Goose  (JAr)  ______
    Branta hutchinsii minima  (Cackling Goose)
    Branta hutchinsii leucopareia  (Aleutian Goose)
    
    The "Aleutian Goose" formerly bred in northeast Russia. In Alaska, with the eradication of foxes at its breeding grounds, its population has been increasing.
    In Japan, it has been a very rare, but now increasing, visitor from October to April.
    
    
26. Common Shelduck   (Tsukushi-gamo = duck of ancient Kyushu)  (*) ______ FW   KY:jan,feb  AM:jan
    Tadorna tadorna  (monotypic)
    
    
27. Ruddy Shelduck  (Aka-tsukushi-gamo)  (JAr)  ______
    Tadorna feruginea  (monotypic)
    
    
28. Crested Shelduck  (Kanmuri-tsukushi)  ______  (now presumed globally extinct)  
    Tadorna cristata  
    
    The last reliable sighting of the Crested Shelduck was of 1 male and 2 females on an island off eastern Russia in May 1964.  
    
    
29. Mandarin Duck  (Oshidori)  (nt) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HK:jun  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  OK:nov  
    Aix galericulata   (monotypic)
    
    Regarding the MANDARIN DUCK, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
    
    
    
    A Pair of Mandarin Ducks photographed during a FONT tour in Japan
    
    
30. Cotton Pygmy Goose  (Nankinoshi)  (JAr)  ______  (also called Cotton Teal)
    Nettapus c. coromandelianus
    
    
31. Eurasian Wigeon  (incl green-faced form)  (Hidori-gamo = red bird duck)  (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,nov,dec  
    Anas penelope  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    A Eurasian Wigeon, photographed during FONT's 
    January/February 2009 Tour in Japan
    (photo by Karl Frafjord)
    
    
32. American Wigeon  (Amerika-hidori)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW  HN:jan,feb  HK:dec  KY:feb
    Anas americana  (monotypic)
    
    
33. Falcated Duck  (Yoshi-gamo = marsh-reed duck)  (nt) (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,may,nov  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,nov,dec
    Anas falcata  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    The Falcated Duck is one of the attractive Asian species of waterfowl
    seen during FONT tours in Japan.
      
    
34. Baikal Teal  (Tomoe-gamo = resembling a "tomoe")  (t3) (*) (ph) ______ FW  HN:jan,feb,nov  KY:jan
    Anas formosa  (monotypic)
    
    A tomae is a Japanese abstract shape described as a swirl that resembles a comma or the usual form of a macatoma.
    It is a common design element in Japanese family emblems and corporate logos. 
    
    
    
    The now-rare Baikal Teal has been seen during FONT Winter Tours
    in Honshu & Kyushu
    
    
35. Eurasian Teal  (Ko-gamo = little duck)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan  OK:jan,feb,nov  
    Anas c. crecca 
    
    The Eurasian Teal has been considered conspecific with the Green-winged Teal of North America.
    
    
    
    Eurasian Teal
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
      
    
36. Garganey  (Shimaaji = striped teal, also "tasty duck")  (*) ______ SS   HN:apr,may
    Anas querquedula  (monotypic)
    
    
37. Gadwall  (Okayoshi-gamo = upland reed duck)  (*) (ph) ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,dec  HK:jun,dec  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:jan  OK:jan
    Anas s. strepera
    
    
38. Mallard  (Ma-gamo = true duck)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  AM:jan,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb
    Anas p. platyrhynchos
    
    
39. Eastern Spot-billed Duck  (Karu-gamo = light-weight duck)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,jul,nov,dec  OK:may,nov 
    Anas zonorhyncha
    
    
    
    Eastern Spot-billed Ducks photographed during the Jan/Feb 2009 FONT Japan Tour
    (photo by Karl Frafjord)
    
    
40. Northern Pintail  (Onaga-gamo = long-tailed duck)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HK:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  KY:jan,nov,dec  AM:feb,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may
    Anas acuta  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    A Pair of Northern Pintails in flight
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
    
    
41. Northern Shoveler  (Hashibiro-gamo = broad-billed duck)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,dec  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,dec  AM:jan,dec  OK:feb,nov
    Anas clypeata  (monotypic)
    
    
42. Philippine Duck  (Akanodo-karugmo)  (JAr)  ______
    Anas luzonica
    
    
43. Red-crested Pochard  (Akahashi-hajiro)  (JAr) (*) ______ FW  HN:feb
    Netta rufina  (monotypic)
    
    
44. Common Pochard  (Hoshi-hajiro = star white-wing)  (*) (ph) ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HK:jan,feb  KY:jan,dec  OK:jan
    Aythya ferina  (monotypic)
    
    
45. Baer's Pochard  (Aka-hajiro = red scaup)  (t1) (JAr) (*) ______ FW  HN:jan
    Aythya baeri  (monotypic)
    
    
46. Ring-necked Duck  (Kubiwa-kinkuro)  (JAr) (*) (ph) ______ FW  HN:jan
    Aythya collaris  (monotypic)
    
    
47. Tufted Duck  (Kinkuro-hajiro = golden black scaup)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,dec  OK:jan
    Aythya fuligula  (monotypic)
    
    
48. Greater Scaup  (Suzu-gamo = bell duck, from the whistle of the wings)  (*) ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec  KY:nov,dec
    Aythya marila mariloides
    
    
49. Lesser Scaup  (Ko-suzu-gamo)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
    Aythya affinis  (monotypic)
    
    
50. Redhead  (Amerika-hoshi-hajiro)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
    Aythya americana  (monotypic)
    
    
51. Ferruginous Duck  (Mejiro-gamo)  (nt)  (JAr)  ______
    Aythya nyoca  (monotypic) 
    
    The Ferruginous Duck is also called the White-eyed Pochard. 
    
    
52. Steller's Eider  (Ko-kewata-gamo = small quilt duck)   (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______
    Polysticta stelleri  (monotypic)
    
    
53. Harlequin Duck  (Shinori-gamo = aurora duck)  (*) (ph) ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,may,dec  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec
    Histrionicus histrionicus (pacificus)  (now  monotypic, with pacificus merged) (the single member of its genus) 
    
    
    
    Harlequin Ducks are usually seen in large numbers 
    during late-fall & winter FONT Japan tours in Hokkaido.
    Here, in this photo, two males.
    (photo by James Greenwood)
     
    
54. Long-tailed Duck  (Kori-gamo = ice duck)  (t3) (*) (ph)  ______ FW   HK:jan,feb,nov,dec 
    Clangula hyemalis  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
    
    The Long-tailed Duck was called Oldsquaw in North America. 
    
    
    
    The Long-tailed Ducks is yet another attractive species of waterfowl
    seen nicely during late-fall & winter FONT Japan tours in Hokkaido.
    (photo by Kim Steininger) 
    
    
55. Black Scoter  (Kuro-gamo = black duck)  (nt) (*) (ph) ______  SS,FW  HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may  HK:jan,feb,apr,jun,nov,dec
    Melanitta americana
    
    The Black Scoter was considered conspecific with the Common Scoter of Europe, Melanitta nigra.
    
    
56. Asian White-winged Scoter  (Birodo-kinkuro = velvet gold-back)  (*) ______ FW  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec
    Melanitta stejnegeri  
    
    The Asian White-winged Scoter was conspecific with the American White-winged Scoter, Melanitta deglandi, and previously was so with the Velvet Scoter of Europe, Melanitta fusca.
     
    
57. Surf Scoter  (Aranami-kinkuro)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
    Melanitta perspicillata
    
    
58. Bufflehead  (Hime-hajiro = princess or dainty scaup)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW  HK:jan
    Bucephala albeola  (monotypic)
    
    
59. Common Goldeneye  (Hojiro-gamo = white-cheeked duck)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW  HN:jan,feb  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan
    Bucephala c. clangula
    
    
    
    A female Common Goldeneye
    
    
60. Smew  (Miko-aisa = son of god merganser)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,dec  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan
    Mergellus (formerly Mergus) albellus  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus) 
    
    
61. Red-breasted Merganser  (Umi-aisa = sea merganser)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan
    Mergus serrator  (monotypic)
    
    
62. Scaly-sided (or Chinese) Merganser  (Korai-aisa)  (t3) (JAp) (*)  ______  FW  HN:jan
    Mergus squamatus  (monotypic)
    
    Regarding the SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
    
    
63. Common Merganser (or Goosander)  (Kawa-aisa = river merganser)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec
    Mergus m. merganser  
    
    
    LOONS
    
    
64. Yellow-billed Loon (or White-billed Diver)  (Hashijiro-abi = white-billed loon)  (JAr) (*)  ______ FW  HN(po);jan  HK:jan
    Gavia adamsii  (monotypic)
    
    
65. Red-throated Loon (or Red-throated Diver)  (Abi)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN:jan  HK:jan,nov
    Gavia stellata  (monotypic)
    
    
66. Pacific Loon (or Pacific Diver)  (Shiroeri-ohamu)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec
    Gavia pacifica  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    A Pacific Loon
    
    
67. Arctic Loon (or Black-throated Diver)  (Ohamu)  (*)  ______ FW  HN(p):jan,apr  HK:jan,nov
    Gavia arctica viridigularis
    
    
    SEABIRDS
    
    
68. Black-footed Albatross  (Kuroashi-ahodori = black-footed fool bird)  (t3) (*)  ______  SS,FW  HN(po):jan,apr,may.jun,nov
    Phoebastria (formerly Diomedea) nigripes
    
    
69. Laysan Albatross  (Ko-ahodori = small fool bird)  (nt) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN(po):jan.feb,may,jun,nov,dec
    Phoebastria (formerly Diomedea) immutabilis
    
    
    
    Laysan Albatross
    (photo courtesy of Cameron Rutt)
    
    
70. Short-tailed (or Steller's) Albatross  (Ahodori = fool bird)  (t2) (JAeb) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN(po):jan,apr,may
    Phoebastria (formerly Diomedea) albatrus
    
    Regarding the SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
    
    
    
    Short-tailed Albatross
    (photo courtesy of Cameron Rutt)
    
    
71. Wandering Albatross  (Watori-ahodori)  (t3) (JAr) (ph)  ______
    Diomedea exullans
    
    2 Wandering Albatrosses were captured near the Senkaku Islands in November 1970.  
    
    
72. Northern Fulmar  (Furuma-kamome = fulmar gull)  (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW  HN(po):jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec
    Fulmarus glacialis rodgersii
    
    
73. Bonin Petrel  (Shirohara-mizunagidori = white-bellied shearwater)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW  HN(po):jan,nov
    Pterodroma hypoleuca
    
    
    
    Bonin Petrel
    (photo courtesy of Cameron Rutt)
    
    
74. White-necked Petrel  (t3) (JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma cervicalis  (monotypic)
    
    From its breeding grounds northeast of New Zealand, the White-necked Petrel migrates to warmer waters of the northern Pacific Ocean.
    It is rare in Japanese subtropical waters, particularly off the Ogasawara Islands, from mid-July to late November.
    
    
75. Black-winged Petrel  (JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma nigripennis  (monotypic)
    
    The Black-winged Petrel is a migrant to the northwestern Pacific Ocean, from June to November.
    It has only been recorded in offshore Japanese Pacific waters, off Hokkaido, infrequently and after a typhoon, but it should be looked for off northeastern and eastern Japan during the summer.
    
    
76. Kermadec Petrel  (JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma n. neglecta
    
    The Kermadec Petrel is a scarce migrant to the northern Pacific Ocean from is breeding grounds on oceanic islands across the southwestern and central Pacific Ocean.
    It has been found in very small numbers in deep waters east of Japan, from Honshu north to Hokkaido, most often in September.
    
    
77. Stejneger's Petrel  (Hime-shirohara mizunagadori = dainty white-bellied shearwater) (t3) JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma longirostris  (monotypic)
    
    Although the Stejneger's Petrel is rarely recorded in waters off the Japanese coast, from northern Honshu to Okinawa, it occurs in very large numbers not that far to the east.
    The species is a migrant to the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is most likely to be found in offshore Japanese waters from May to October. 
    
    
78. Providence Petrel  (t3) (JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma solandri  (monotypic)
    
    The Providence Petrel is a migrant to the northern Pacific Ocean from its breeding grounds off eastern Australia.
    It has been encountered in very small numbers in deep waters east of Japan, north to Hokkaido and the southern Kuril Islands, from June to October.
    
    
79. Mottled Petrel  (JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma inexpectata  (monotypic)
    
    From its breeding grounds off New Zealand, the Mottled Petrel is a common migrant to deeper waters of the northern Pacific Ocean north into the Bering Sea, where it occurs in the summer.
    It is rare in Japanese offshore Pacific waters, but common between Kamchatka (eastern Siberia) and the Commander Islands, and even more common from there east to the Aleutian Islands.
    
    
80. Hawaiian Petrel  (t3) (JAr) (ph)  ______
    Pterodroma sandwichensis  (monotypic)
    
    The Hawaiian Petrel has strayed to Japanese Pacific waters off Honshu on a few occasions.
    
    
81. Juan Fernandez Petrel  (t3) (JAr)  ______
    Pterodroma externa  (monotypic)
    
    The Juan Fernandez Petrel breeds off western South America, and migrates, outside its breeding season, to the northern Pacific Ocean.
    It has been a post-typhoon accidental to Japanese Pacific waters.   
    
    
82. Bulwer's Petrel  (Anadori = hollow bird)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS  NS(po):may
    Bulweria bulwerii  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    Bulwer's Petrels have been seen from ferries during FONT Tours
    in Southern Japan in the Spring
    
    
83. Streaked Shearwater  (O-mizunagidori = large bird that mows water)  (JAneb) (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN(po):jan,apr,may,jun.nov,dec  HI:may  KY(po):may,jul  AM(po):may  NS(po):may
    Calonectris leucomelas  (monotypic)
    
    
84. Wedge-tailed Shearwater  (Onaga-mizunagadori = long-tailed shearwater)  ______  
    Puffinus pacificus  
    
    The Wedge-tailed Shearwater breeds in Japan in the Ogasawara & Izo Islands from late March to early October.  
    
    
85. Buller's Shearwater  (Minami-onaga-mizunagidori)  (t3) (JAr) (*) ______ SS  HN(po):may,jun
    Puffinus bulleri  (monotypic)  (The scientific name of the Buller's Shearwater may be changed to Ardenna bulleri.)
    
    
86. Bannerman's Shearwater  (Seguro-mizunagidori)  (JAeb)  ______
    Puffinus bannermani
    
    The Bannerman's Shearwater is an endemic breeder on the Ogasawara Islands. It was considered part of the Audubon's Shearwater (That species is now restricted to the Atlantic Ocean.)  
    Other names have been Baillon's Shearwater and Tropical Shearwater.
    
    
87. Byran's Shearwater  ______  
    Puffinus bryani
    
    Byran's Shearwater was described in 2011, from a specimen that had been collected in 1963 on Midway Atoll, northwest of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
    At that time, that small shearwater was thought to be a Little Shearwater.
    Later, a second specimen was tagged and recorded on Midway in 1990.
    
    In February of 2012, DNA tests on 6 specimens of Puffinus bryani found in the Ogasawara Islands of Japan, alive and dead between 1997 and 2011, determined the birds to be Bryan's Shearwaters. It is assumed that the species still survives in the uninhabited Japanese Ogasawara Islands.   
    
    
88. Flesh-footed Shearwater  (Akaashi-mizunagidori = reddish footed shearwaer)  (*) ______ SS,FW   HN(po):may,jun,nov  AM(po):may  NS(po):may
    Puffinus carneipes  (monotypic)
    
    
89. Sooty Shearwater  (Haiiro-mizunagidori = gray shearwater)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS   HN(p):apr,may,jun  NS(po):may
    Puffinus griseus  (monotypic)
    
    
90. Short-tailed Shearwater  (Hashiboso-mizunagidori = slender-billed shearwater)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,apr,may,jun,nov,dec  HK(po):apr  AM(po):may  NS(po):may
    Puffinus tenuirostris  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    A Short-tailed Shearwater photographed during a FONT tour
    (photo by Marie Gardner)
    
    
91. Kiritimati Shearwater  (Mizunagadori = shearwater)  (JAr)  ______
    Puffinus nativitatus
    
    Puffinus nativitatus has also been called the Christmas Island Shearwater, or the Christmas Shearwater.
    It breeds in the central Pacific in Hawaii from Kiritimati to Marqueasa, and has occurred rarely off the Pacific coast of Honshu, particularly in the area of Sagami Bay, usually with Puffinus tenuirostris, the Short-tailed Shearwater. 
    
    
92. Tristram's (or Sooty) Storm Petrel  (Oston-umitsubame = Owston's sea-swallow)  (nt) (*)  ______ SS,FW  HN(po):jan,may,dec
    Oceanodroma tristrami  (monotypic)
    
    The Tristram's Storm Petrel breeds on Toroshima in the Izu Islands and on Kita-Iwajima in the Bonin Islands.
    It nests in the winter, with the birds arriving on the islands mostly in December, sometimes earlier. Eggs are laid in January, and the birds leave the nesting sites by early April.
    Then they move north and occur off the Pacific coast of Japan.  
    
    
93. Swinhoe's Storm Petrel  (Hime-kuro-umitsubame)  (nt) (*)  ______ SS  NS(po):may
    Oceanodroma monorhis  (monotypic)
    
    
94. Fork-tailed (or Grey) Storm Petrel  (Haiiro-umitsubame = gray sea swallow)  (*) ______ FW  HN(po):jan,feb,nov,dec 
    Oceanodroma f. furcata
    
    
95. Leach's Storm Petrel  (Koshijiro-umitsubame = white-rumped petrel)  ______
    Oceanodroma leucorhoa
    
    
96. Band-rumped Storm Petrel  (Kuro-koshijiro-umitsubame = black white-rumped petrel)  ______
    Oceanodroma castro
    
    
97. Matsudaira's Storm Petrel  (Kuro-umitsubame = black petrel)  ______
    Oceandroma matsudairae 
    
    The Matsudaira's Storm Petrel is a breeder on the Ogasawara and Izo Islands, occurring mostly from mid-January to mid-June.
    
    
98. Wilson's Storm Petrel  (Ashinaga-umitsubame)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
    Oceanites oceanicus
    
    
    GREBES
    
    
99. Little Grebe (or "Dabchick")  (Kaitsuburi)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,may,nov  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb
    Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei
    
    
    
    A Little Grebe, at the moat of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo 
    
    
100. Black-necked Grebe (or Eared Grebe) (Hajiro-kaitsuburi = white-winged grebe)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW   HN:jan,feb,oct,nov  KY:jan
     Podiceps n. nigricollis
     
     
101. Horned Grebe (or Slavonian Grebe) (Mimi-kaitsuburi = horned grebe)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW  HN:jan,feb,oct  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:feb 
     Podiceps a. auritus
     
     
     
     A Horned Grebe in non-breeding plumage
     (photo by Kim Steininger)
     
     
102. Red-necked Grebe  (Akaeri-kaitsuburi = red-necked grebe)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,apr  HK:jan,nov
     Podiceps grisegena holboellii
     
     
103. Great Crested Grebe  (Kanmuri-kaitsuburi - crested grebe)  (*)  ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov  HI:apr  HK:nov  KY:jan,nov
     Podiceps c. cristatus
     
     
     STORKS, IBISES, SPOONBILLS
     
     
104. Oriental Stork  (Konotori)  (t2) (JAr) (*)  ______ FW  KY:jan,feb
     Ciconia boyciana  (monotypic)
     
     
105. Black Stork  (Nabeko = pot stork)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Ciconia nigra  (monotypic)
     
     
106. Crested Ibis  (Toki = a pale color, "toki-ro")  (t1) (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Nipponia nippon  (monotypic)    
     
     Regarding the CRESTED IBIS, go to: RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
     
     
     
     Crested Ibis
     
     
107. Black-headed Ibis  (Kuro-toki = black ibis)  (nt) (JAr)  ______
     Threskiornis melanocephalus 
     
     
108. Eurasian Spoonbill  (Herasagi = spatula heron)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:jan  OK:feb,nov
     Platalea l. leucorodia
     
     
     
     A Eurasian Spoonbill in flight
     
     
109. Black-faced Spoonbill  (Kurotsura-herasagi = black-faced spatula heron)  (t1) (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN:jan  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:dec  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Platalea minor  (monotypic)
     
     Regarding the BLACK-FACED SPOONBILL, go to:   RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
     
     
     
     Every year, some Black-faced Spoonbills winter in Japan.
     During our FONT Japan tours in the winter, we've seen 
     this very rare species usually on the southern Japanese islands 
     (Kyushu, Amami, & Okinawa), but in January 2007 we saw it, 
     for the first time, on Honshu. 
     
     
     
     
     
     BITTERNS, HERONS, EGRETS
     
     
110. Eurasian Bittern  (Sankano-goi = house in the mountains bittern)  (*)  ______ FW  HN:jan
     Botaurus s. stellaris
     
     
111. Black-crowned Night Heron  (Goi-sagi = heron of the fifth imperial rank)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may,jun,jul,dec  HI:apr,may  KY:jan,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,may,nov
     Nycticorax n. nycticorax
     
     
112. Rufous Night Heron  (Hashibuto-goi)  ______  (now extinct in Japan)
     Nycticorax caledonicus manillensis
     
     When it was in Japan, the Rufous Night Heron was only in the Ogasawara Islands. It was first discovered in Japan in 1827, and apparently became extinct there by 1889. The species occurs in the Philippines.
     
     
113. Japanese Night Heron  (Mizo-goi = ditch bittern)  (t2)  ______
     Gorsachius goisagi  (monotypic)
     
     
114. Malayan Night Heron  (Zuguro-mizogoi)  ______
     Gorsachius melanolophus  (monotypic)
     
     
115. Eastern Cattle Egret  (Ama-sagi = orang-utang heron)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,may  HI:may  KY:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  AM:jan,may,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul  NS:may
     Bubulcus coromandus
     
     The Eastern Cattle Egret is in eastern Asia. The Western Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis, is in Africa, parts of Europe, and the Americas.
     
     
116. Little Egret  (Ko-sagi = small heron)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Egretta g. garzetta
     
     
     
     Little Egret
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
117. Chinese (or Swinhoe's) Egret  (Kara-shira-sagi)  (t2) (JAr) (*) _______ SS   HN:may  HI:may
     Egretta  eulophotes  (monotypic)
     
      
118. Intermediate Egret  (Chu-sagi = middle-sized heron)  (*) ______  SS,FW   HN:apr,may,nov  HI:may  KY:jan,may,jul,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov  NS:may
     Mesophoyx (formerly Egretta) i. intermedia
     
     
119. Great Egret  (Dai-sagi = great heron)  (*) (ph)   ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  AM:jan,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Ardea a. alba  (was Casmerodius a. alba)
     
     
120. Grey Heron  (Ao-sagi = blue heron)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,jul,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov.dec  AM:jan,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Ardea cinerea jouyi
     
     
     
     Grey Heron
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
121. Purple Heron  (Murasaki-sagi = purple heron)  (JAr) (*)  ______ SS   HI:may
     Ardea purpurea manilensis
     
     
122. Striated Heron  (Sasa-goi = "sasa" in bamboo grass)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:may,jun  HI:may  KY:jan,may,nov  AM:jan,nov  OK:feb,may,nov,
     Butorides striatus amurensis
     
     
123. Pacific (or Eastern) Reef Heron  (Kuro-sagi = black heron)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:may  HI:may  KY:feb  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul 
     Egretta s. sacra
     
     
124. Chinese Pond Heron  (Akagashira-sagi = red-headed heron)  (JAr) (*)  ______  SS   HI:may
     Ardeola bacchus  (monotypic)
     
     
125. Cinnamon (or Chestnut) Bittern  (Ryukyu-yoshi-goi)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   AM:jul  OK:jan,feb,may,nov
     Ixobrychus cinnamomeus  (monotypic)
     
      
126. Yellow (or Chinese Little) Bittern  (Yoshi-goi = reed bittern)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   AM:jul,nov  OK:nov
     Ixobrychus sinensis  (now monotypic)
     
      
127. Schrenck's Bittern  (O-yoshi-goi = greater reed bittern)  (JAr)  ______
     Ixobrychus eurhythmus  (monotypic)
     
     
128. Black Bittern  (Takasago-kuro-sagi)  (JAr)  ______
     Dupetor flavicollis
     
     
     TROPICBIRDS, FRIGATEBIRD
     
     
129. Red-tailed Tropicbird  (Akao-nettaicho = red-tailed tropicbird)  ______
     Phaethon rubricauda melanornynchus
     
     
130. White-tailed Tropicbird  (Shirao-nettaicho = white-tailed tropicbird) (ph)  ______
     Phaethon lepturus dorotheae
     
     
131. Lesser Frigatebird  (Ko-gunkandori = warship bird) (JAr)   ______
     Fregata a. ariel
     
     
     PELICANS
     
     
132. Great White Pelican  (Momo-iro-perikan) (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Pelecanus onocrotalus  (monotypic)
     
     
133. Dalmatian Pelican  (Garancho = cathedral bird)  (JAr)  ______
     Pelecanus crispus  (monotypic)
     
     
     BOOBIES, CORMORANTS
     
     
134. Brown Booby  (Katsuodori = bonito bird)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   KY:jan  AM:feb,nov  NS(po):may
     Sula leucogaster plotus
     
     
135. Masked Booby  (Aotsura-katsuodori)  ______
     Sula dactylatra personata
     
     
136. Red-footed Booby  (Akaashi-katsuodori)  (ph)  ______
     Sula sula rubripes
     
     
137. Great Cormorant  (Kawa-u = river cormorant)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  KY:jan
     Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae (often considered synonymous with P. c. sinensis)
     
     
138. Temminck's (or Japanese) Cormorant  (Umi-u = sea cormorant)  (JAneb) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb  NS:jan
     Phalacrocorax capillatus  (monotypic) 
     
     
     
     Temminck's, or Japanese Cormorant, photographed in Kyoto in 2015
     (photo by James Greenwood)  
     
     
139. Pelagic Shag (or Cormorant)  (Hime-u = dainty cormorant)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec  
     Phalacrocorax p. pelagicus
     
     
140. Red-faced Shag (or Cormorant)  (Chishima-ugarasu = Kurile cormorant-crow)  (JAr) (*)  ______ FW   HK:jan
     Phalacrocorax urile  (monotypic)
     
     
     RAPTORS
     
     
141. Osprey  (Misago)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may,oct  HI:may  KY:jan,feb,may,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul  NS:jan
     Pandion h. haliaetus  (the single member of its genus) 
     
     
142. Oriental Honey Buzzard  (Hachikuma = bee bear)  (*)  ______ SS   HI:may
     Pernis orientalis  (monotypic)
     
     
143. Black-eared Kite  (Tobi)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan
     Milvus (migrans) lineatus
     
     The Black-eared Kite has been part of the Black Kite of western Eurasia & Africa.
       
     
144. White-tailed Eagle  (Ojiro-washi = white-tailed eagle)  (nt) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HN:jan  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec
     Haliaeetus a. albicilla 
     
     Another name for the White-tailed Eagle has been the White-tailed Sea Eagle.
     
     
     
     White-tailed Eagles have been seen during FONT tours 
     in Honshu in the winter, and in Hokkaido in the winter & spring.
     The upper photo here is an adult bird. The lower photo, of an immature,
     was taken during the FONT Japan tour in January/February 2009. 
     (photo below by Karl Frafjord)
     
     
      
     
     
145. Steller's Sea Eagle  (O-washi = great eagle)  (t3) (*) (ph)  ______ FW   HN:jan  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  
     Haliaeetus p. pelagicus 
     
     The Steller's Sea Eagle has also been called Steller's Fish Eagle.
     A morph, at one time called H. p. niger, all-black except for a white tail, in Korea & adjacent Siberia, may now be extinct.  
     
     Regarding the STELLER'S SEA EAGLE, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN   
     
     
     
     The presence of the Steller's Sea Eagle is a wonderful aspect of the Hokkaido winter.
     During that season, the species occurs there in large numbers, having come from its
     breeding grounds in Siberia. 
     
     The Steller's Sea-Eagle is only in Japan in the winter, Nearly all of them winter in Hokkaido, 
     but we have seen the species rarely during that season in Honshu by Lake Biwa.  
     (Both of these photos were taken during FONT winter tours in Japan.)
     
     
     
     
     
146. Hen Harrier  (Haiiro-chuhi = gray harrier)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,oct  HI:may  HK:jan,nov  KY:jan,feb
     Circus cyaneus  (now said to be monotypic)
     
     
147. Northern Harrier  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Circus hudsonius  (now said to be monotypic)
     
     The Northern Harrier, of North America, has been considered conspecific with the Hen Harrier of Eurasia.     
     
     
148. Eastern Marsh Harrier  (Chuhi)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may  HI:may
     Circus spilonotus  (now said to be monotypic) 
     
     The Eastern Marsh Harrier has been considered by some as conspecific with the Western Marsh Harrier of Europe, and was the called the Northern Marsh Harrier.
     
     
149. Pied Harrier  (Madara-chuchi)  (JAr)  ______
     Circus melanoleucos  (monotypic)
     
     The Pied Harrier has bred rarely in Japan. Normally it breeds in northeast mainland Russia.  
     
     
150. Northern Goshawk  (O-taka = great hawk)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr  HK;jan,dec  OK:jan
     Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae
     Accipiter gentilis albidus:  a very pale, mainly white race of eastern Siberia has occurred as a vagrant in northern Japan.
     
     
151. Eurasian Sparrowhawk  (Hai-taka = ashy hawk)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,may,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,jun,nov  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:jan  OK:jan
     Accipiter nisus nisosimilis
     
     
152. Japanese Sparrowhawk  (Tsumi, the male; Essai, the female)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HI:may  KY:may  AM:jan,feb,may,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,nov
     Accipiter gularis iwasakii  (subspecies on the islands of Amami & Okinawa)
     Accipiter g. gularis  (subspecies on the main Japanese islands of Honshu & Kyushu)
     
     
153. Chinese Sparrowhawk  (Akahara-daka)  ______   
     Accipiter soloensis  (monotypic)
     
     The Chinese Sparrowhawk has also been known as the Horfield's Sparrowhawk or the Chinese Goshawk.
     It occurs as a migrant in Kyushu & Nansei Shoto in May & Sep/Oct.  
     
     Only relatively recently has it been noticed that the Chinese Sparrowhawk migrates in rather large numbers in western Japan, Now most of the routing of the species in its migration is known. 
     Normally, in the fall, the species flies south through the Korean Peninsula, across to Tsushima Island, and then it arrives on the northwestern coast of Nagasaki, where Mount Hiyamizu is a good spot to see the bird, before it continues south along the Nagasaki coastline.     
     
     
154. Eastern Buzzard  (Nosuri)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,dec
     Buteo j. japonicus  (subspecies in most of Japan)
     Buteo japonicus toyoshimai  (endemic subspecies in the Ogasawara Islands)     
     
     The Eastern Buzzard has been part of the Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo.
     
     
155. Rough-legged Buzzard  (Kaeshi-nosuri = hair-legged buzzard)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec 
     Buteo lagopus menzbieri
     Buteo lapopus kamatschatensis
     
     The Rough-legged Buzzard is called the Rough-legged Hawk in the New World.
     
     
156. Upland Buzzard  (O-nosuri= great buzzard)  (JAr)  ______
     Buteo hemilasius  (monotypic)
     
     
157. Grey-faced Buzzard  (Sashiba. "Frog Hawk")  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:nov  HI:may  AM:jan,feb,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Butastur indicus  (monotypic)
     
     
158. Greater Spotted Eagle  (Karafuto-washi)  (JAr) (*)  ______ FW  KY:jan
     Aquila clanga  (monotypic)
     
     
159. Golden Eagle  (Inu-washi = dog eagle)  ______
     Aquila chrysaetos japonica
     
     
160. Imperial Eagle  (Katashiro-washi = white-shouldered eagle)  (JAr)  ______
     Aquila heliaca
     
     
161. Mountain Hawk-Eagle  (Kuma-taka = bear hawk)  (*) ______ FW   HN:jan  HK:dec  KY:jan,feb,dec
     Spizaetus nipalensis orientalis  (this subspecies of Japan rather distinct from populations on mainland Asia)
     
     
162. Ryukyu Serpent Eagle  (Kanmuri-washi)  ______
     Spilornis perplexus
     
     The Ryukyu Serpent Eagle was part of the Crested Serpent Eagle.
     
     
163. Eurasian Kestrel  (Chogenbo)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,may,oct,dec  HI:may  HK:jan  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,jul,nov
     Falco tinnunculus interstinctus
     
     
164. Lesser Kestrel  (Hime-chogenbo)  (JAr)  ______
     Falco naumanni
     
     
165. Merlin  (Ko-chogenbo = small kestrel)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN:feb  HK:jan  KY:jan
     Falco columbarius pacificus
     
     
166. Northern Hobby  (Chigo-hayabusa = child falcon)  (*) ______ SS, FW   HN:jan,may,nov(p)  HI:may  KY:jan,jul  AM:jan
     Falco s. subbuteo
     
     
167. Amur Falcon  (Akaashi-chogenbo)  (JAr) (*)  ______  SS   HI:may
     Falco amurensis
     
     Another name for the Amur Falcon has been the Eastern Red-footed Falcon.
     
     During a FONT tour on Hegura island, on May 17, 2010, an Amur Falcon was seen, first circling overhead, and then flying out over the sea to the north and where the species breeds in far-eastern Russia and northeastern China.
     The interesting thought, when watching that bird fly, was thinking about how far it travels. Its wintering area is very far away from where it breeds, and very far from where we were on Hegura. The Amur Falcon winters in SOUTHERN AFRICA, migrating via India. Wow! 
     
     
168. Peregrine Falcon  (Hayabusa)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,may,oct,dec  HI:may  HK:feb  KY:jan,feb,nov  AM:jan,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Falco peregrinus japonensis
     
     
169. Gyrfalcon  (Shiro-hayabusa = white falcon)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW   HN(po):jan  HK:jan,feb
     Falco rusticolus  (monotypic, but with a variation in color)
     
     
     RAILS, CRAKES, & ALLIES
     
     
170. Swinhoe's (or Asian Yellow) Rail  (Shima-kuina = striped rail)  (*)  ______ FW   AM:dec
     Coturnicops exquisitus  (monotypic)  
     
     
171. Eastern Water Rail  (Kuina)  (*)  ______ FW  KY:jan
     Rallus indicus
     
     The Eastern Water Rail was considered a race of the Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus.
     
     
172. Slaty-legged Crake  (O-kuina)  ______
     Rallina eurizonoides sepiaria
     
     The Slaty-legged Crake has also been called the Banded Crake.
     
     
173. Okinawa Rail  (Yambaru-kuina)  (t2) (JAe) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Gallirallus okinawae  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     An Okinawa Rail photographed during a FONT tour.
     The species is endemic to northern Okinawa.  
     
     
174. Ruddy-breasted Crake  (Hi-kuina = red rail)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan  HI:may  KY:jan,nov  AM:jul  OK:jan,may
     Porzana fusca erythrothorax
     
     
175. Baillon's Crake  (Hime-kuina = princess or dainty rail)  (*)  ______ FW   AM:jan,nov  OK:jan
     Porzana p. pusilla
     
     
176. White-breasted Waterhen  (Shirohara-kuina = white-bellied rail)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   AM:jan  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Amaurornis p. phoenicurus
     
     
177. Common Moorhen  (Ban)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,dec  HI:may  KY:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Gallinula chloropus indica
     
     
178. Watercock  (Tsuru-kuina = crane-rail)  (*)   ______  SP   AM:jul
     Gallicrex cinerea  (monotypic)
     
     
179. Eurasian Coot  (O-ban = great moorhen)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov  HI:may  HK:jan  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:jan,feb,nov
     Fulica a. atra
     
     
     CRANES
     
     
180. Common Crane  (Kuro-zuru = black crane)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW   KY:jan,feb,nov,dec
     Grus grus lilfordi
     
     
181. Hooded Crane  (Nabe-zuru = pot crane)  (t3) (*) (ph)  ______  FW   KY:jan,feb,nov,dec
     Grus monachus  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     Hooded Cranes (front left & right), & a Sandhill Crane (front center)
     with White-naped Cranes in the background.
     Photographed during a FONT Winter Tour in Kyushu, Japan.
     
     
     
182. Sandhill Crane  (Kanada-zuru)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW   KY:jan,feb,nov,dec
     Grus c. canadensis
     
     
183. White-naped Crane  (Mana-zuru = "mana" is fresh fish offered to deity, hence crane to be so offered)  (t3) (*) (ph)  ______  FW   KY:jan,feb,nov,dec
     Grus vipio  (monotypic)
     
     Historically, the White-naped Crane bred in Hokkaido.
     
     
     
     White-naped Cranes photographed during a FONT tour in Kyushu 
     
     
184. Red-crowned (or Japanese) Crane  (Tancho = red-poll)  (t2) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HK:jan,feb,jun,nov,dec  KY:feb  
     Grus japonensis  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     
     
     Two photos above of Red-crowned Cranes,
     taken during FONT Winter Tours in Hokkaido
     
     
185. Siberian Crane   (Sodeguro-zuru = black-sleeved crane)  (t1) (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW   KY:jan,feb
     Grus leucogeranus
     
     Regarding the SIBERIAN CRANE, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
     
     
     
     
     
     Two photos of Siberian Cranes taken during FONT Japan Winter Tours in Kyushu,
     the upper photo in 2000; the lower photo in 2004
       
     
186. Demoiselle Crane  (Aneha-zuru = older sister feathered crane)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW   KY:jan,feb
     Grus (formerly Anthropoides) virgo  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     A Demoiselle Crane, with Hooded Cranes, in Kyushu 
     during a FONT Winter Tour in Japan in 2000
     (photo by Trevor Ford)
     
     
     SHOREBIRDS
     
     
187. Pheasant-tailed Jacana  (Renkaku)  (JAr) (*)  ______ FW   OK:nov
     Hydrophasianus chirurgus  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
     
     
188. Greater Painted Snipe  (Tama-shigi = jewel snipe)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   KY:jan  OK:jan,feb,may
     Rostratula b. benghalensis  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
189. Eurasian Oystercatcher  (Miyakodori = bird of the capital city)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN:apr  KY:jan
     Haematopus ostralegus osculans
     
     
190. Black-winged Stilt  (Seitaka-shigi = tall snipe)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HN:jan,apr,may,oct,dec  KY:jan  AM:jul  OK:may 
     Himantopus h. himantopus 
     
     
     
     Black-winged Stilts photographed during a FONT tour in Japan
     (photo by Paul West)
     
     
191. Pied Avocet  (Sorihashi-seitaka-shigi)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW   KY:jan  OK:jan
     Recurvirostra avosetta  (monotypic)
     
     
192. Oriental Pratincole  (Tsubame-chidori = swallow plover)  (*)  ______ SS   AM:may
     Glareola maldivarum  (monotypic)
     
     
193. Long-billed Plover  (Ikaru-chidori = grosbeak plover)  (nt) (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,may,jun,oct  KY:jan,nov  AM:jan,feb
     Charadrius placidus japonicus
     
     
194. Little Ringed Plover  (Ko-chidori = little plover)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun  HI:apr  HK:may  KY:jan,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,nov
     Charadrius dubius curonicus
     
     
195. Common Ringed Plover  (Hajiro-ko-chidori = white-winged small plover)  (JArw) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,may,dec  HI:may  KY:jan  AM:dec
     Charadrius hiaticula tundrae
     
     
196. Kentish Plover  (Shiro-chidori = white plover)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,dec  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb
     Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus 
     
     The Kentish Plover was considered conspecific with the Snowy Plover of North America & South America. 
     
     
197. Lesser Sand Plover  (Medai-chidori = large-eyed plover)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:apr,may  HI:may  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb  
     Charadrius mongolus stegmanni  
     
     The Lesser Sand Plover has been called the Mongolian Plover.
     
     
     
     Lesser Sand Plover
     
     
198. Greater Sand Plover  (O-medai-chidori = great large-eyed plover)  (JAr) (*)   ______ SS,FW   AM:jan,may
     Charadrius l. leschenaultii
     
     
199. Eurasian Dotterel  (Kobashi-chidorui = small-billed plover)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Charadrius morinellus  (monotypic)
     
     
200. Oriental Plover  (O-chidori = large plover)  (JAr)  ______
     Charadrius veredus  (monotypic)
     
     
201. Pacific Golden Plover  (Munaguro = black breast)  (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may  HI:may  HK:jun   KY:jan  AM:jan,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,nov
     Pluvialis fulva  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     Pacific Golden Plover
     (photo courtesy of Cameron Rutt)
     
     
202. American Golden Plover  (Amerika-munaguro)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Pluvialis dominica  (monotypic)
     
     
203. Grey (or Black-bellied) Plover  (Daizen)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may,dec  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:jan,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may
     Pluvialis s. squatarola
     
     
204. Grey-headed Lapwing  (Keri)  (nt) (*)  ______  SS,FW  HN:jan,feb,may,jun,nov  KY:dec  OK:feb
     Vanellus cinereus  (monotypic)
     
     
205. Northern Lapwing  (Tageri = paddy lapwing)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN:jan,feb  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan  OK:jan
     Vanellus vanellus  (monotypic)
     
     
206. Great Knot  (Oba-shigi = tail-feather snipe)  (t3) (*)  ______ SS   HN:apr,may
     Calidris tenuirostris  (monotypic)
     
     
207. Red Knot  (Ko-oba-shigi = little tail feather snipe)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ SS  HN:may  HI:may  AM:may
     Calidris canutus rogersi
     
     
208. Temminck's Stint  (Ojiro-tonen = white-tailed stint)  (*)  ______ FW   KY:jan,nov,dec  OK:feb
     Calidris temminckii  (monotypic)
     
     
209. Red-necked Stint  (Tonen = stint, translates to "this year")  (JArw) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:apr,may,dec  HI:may  KY:jan  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb
     Calidris ruficollis  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     A Red-necked Stint in Japan
     in non-breeding plumage
     
     
210. Little Stint  (Yoroppa-tonen)  (JAr) (*)  ______  SS   AM:may 
     Calidris minuta  (monotypic)
     
     
211. Long-toed Stint  (Hibari-shigi = lark sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW   HI:may  OK:jan,feb  
     Calidris subminuta  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     A Long-toed Stint in the spring
     
     
212. Sanderling  (Miyubi-shigi = three-toed sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN(p):jan,apr,may,dec  HI:may  KY:jan,nov  AM:jan,may,nov
     Calidris alba rubida
     
     
213. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper  (Uzura-shigi = quail sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS  HN:may  AM:may  
     Calidris acuminata  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Japan.
     This species has been seen during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring.
     
     
214. Curlew Sandpiper  (Saruhama-shigi = monkey-beach sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS  HN:may  AM:may
     Calidris ferruginea  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     Curlew Sandpiper
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
215. Dunlin  (Hama-shigi = beach sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may,dec  HK:jan,feb  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb 
     Calidris alpina sakhalina  (other subspecies also occur in Japan: C. a. arcticola from Alaska, and C. a. kistchinskii & C. a. actites, both of these from further north in east Asia)  
     
     
216. Pectoral Sandpiper  (Amerika-uzura-shigi = American quail sandpiper)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Calidris melanotos  (monotypic)
     
     
217. Rock Sandpiper  (Chishima-shigi)  (JAr)  ______
     Calidris ptilocnemis quarta (including kurilensis)
     
     
218. Western Sandpiper  (Hime-hama-shigi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Calidris mauri  (monotypic)
     
     The Western Sandpiper occurs in Japan during both spring and autumn passages, but mostly from August to October.
     
     
219. Least Sandpiper  (Amerika-hibari-shigi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Calidris minutilla  (monotypic)
     
     
220. White-rumped Sandpiper  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Calidris fiscicollis  (monotypic) 
     
     The White-rumped Sandpiper has occurred as an accidental species in Japan. 
     
     
221. Baird's Sandpiper  (Hime-uzura-shigi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Calidris bairdii  (monotypic)
     
     
222. Stilt Sandpiper  (Ashinage-shigi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Calidris (formerly Micropalama) himantopus 
     
     
223. Spoon-billed Sandpiper  (Hera-shigi = spatula sandpiper)  (t3) (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW  AM:nov
     Eurynorhynchus pygmeus  (monotypic) 
     
     The now very rare Spoon-billed Sandpiper has been a rare migrant along the Asian Pacific coast from Kamchatka to Taiwan.
     
     In Japan, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper was seen during 1 FONT tour on the southern island of Amami.
     
     Regarding the SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN      
     
     
     
     A Spoon-billed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage. 
     
     
224. Broad-billed Sandpiper  (Kirai = pair of gimlets)  (*)   ______ SS   HN:may
     Limicola falcinellus sibirica  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
225. Ruddy Turnstone  (Kyojo-shigi = city-girl sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:apr,may  HI:may  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may  NS:may
     Arenaria i. interpres 
     
     
226. Ruff / Reeve  (Erimaki-shigi = muffler snipe)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW   KY:jan  OK:jan,nov
     Philomachus pugnax  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
     
     
227. Buff-breasted Sandpiper  (Komon-shigi = dotted sandpiper)  (nt) (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Tryngites subruficollis  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
     
     
228. Eurasian Woodcock  (Yama-shigi = mountain snipe)  (*)  ______ FW  HN:jan  AM:dec  OK:jan,nov
     Scolopax rusticola  (monotypic)
     
     
229. Amami Woodcock  (Amami-yama-shigi)  (t3) (JAe) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   AM:jan,feb,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Scolopax mira  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     An Amami Woodcock, as seen during numerous FONT tours on the island of Amami.
     The species has also been seen, though less often, during FONT tours in Okinawa. 
      
     
230. Latham's (or Japanese) Snipe  (Oji-shigi = large ground snipe)  (nt) (JAneb) (*)  ______  SS  HI:may  HK:jun
     Gallinago hardwickii  (monotypic)
     
     
231. Common Snipe  (Ta-shigi = paddy snipe)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may  HI:apr,may  KY:jan,nov  AM:jan,may  OK:jan,feb,nov 
     Gallinago g. gallinago
     
     The Common Snipe has been conspecific with the Wilson's Snipe of North America, Gallinago delicata.  
     
     
232. Solitary Snipe  (Ao-shigi = green sandpiper)  (*)   ______ FW   HN:jan,oct  AM:feb
     Gallinago solitaria japonica
     
      
233. Pin-tailed Snipe  (Hario-shigi)  (JAr) (*)  ______ FW  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Gallinago stenura  (monotypic)
     
     
234. Swinhoe's Snipe  (Chuji-shigi = medium-sized ground snipe)  (JAr) (*)  ______ FW  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Gallinago megola  (monotypic)
     
     
235. Jack Snipe  (Ko-shigi = little snipe)  (JAr) (*)  ______ SS  HI:apr
     Lymnocryptes minimus  (monotypic, with nipponensis merged) (the single member of its genus) 
     
     
236. Long-billed Dowitcher  (Ohasi-shigi = big-billed snipe)  (JAr)  ______
     Limnodromus scolopaceus  (monotypic)
     
     
237. Short-billed Dowitcher  (JAr)  ______
     Limnodromus griseus caurinus (presumably)  (the subspecies that breeds in southern Alaska)
     
     The Short-billed Dowitcher has occurred as an accidental in Japan.  
     
     
238. Asian Dowitcher  (Shiberia-ohasi-shigi)  (nt) (JAr)  ______
     Limnodromus semipalmatus  (monotypic)
     
     
239. Spotted Redshank  (Tsuru-shigi = crane sandpiper)  (JArw) (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:may  OK:jan
     Tringa erythropus  (monotypic)
     
     
240. Common Redshank  (Akaashi-shigi = red-legged sandpiper)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ SP,FW   HN:may  AM:may  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Tringa totanus eurhinus  
     
     
241. Common Greenshank  (Aoashi-shigi = green-legged sandpiper)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may  HI:may  KY:jan,nov  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Tringa nebularia  (monotypic)
     
     
242. Nordmann's Greenshank  (Karafuto-aoashi-shigi)  (t2) (JAr)  ______  (another name is Spotted Greenshank)
     Tringa guttifer  (monotypic)
     
     
243. Marsh Sandpiper  (Ko-aoasi-shigi = small green-legged sandpiper)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   AM:feb,may  OK:jan,may,nov 
     Tringa stagnatilis  (monotypic)
     
     
244. Green Sandpiper  (Kusa-shigi = grass sandpiper)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,apr,may  HI:apr,may  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,nov 
     Tringa ochropus  (monotypic)
     
     
245. Wood Sandpiper  (Takabu-shigi = hawk-patterned sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HI:may  KY:may  AM:jul  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov
     Tringa glareola  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     Wood Sandpiper
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
246. Greater Yellowlegs  (O-kiashi-shigi)  (JAr)  ______
     Tringa melanoleuca  (monotypic)
     
     
247. Lesser Yellowlegs  (Ko-kiashi-shigi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Tringa flavipes  (monotypic)
     
     
248. Terek Sandpiper  (Sorihashi-shigi = upward curve-billed sandpiper)  (*)  ______  SS   HN:may  HI:may  HK:jun  AM:may  OK:may,jul
     Xenus cinereus  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
     
     
249. Grey-tailed (or Polynesian) Tattler  (Kiashi-shigi = yellow-legged sandpiper)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:may  HI:may  HK:jun  KY:may  AM:jan,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov  NS:jan,may  
     Heteroscelus brevipes  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     Grey-tailed Tattler
     (photo courtesy of Cameron Rutt)
     
     
250. Wandering Tattler  (Meriken-kiashi-shigi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Heteroscelus incanus
     
     
251. Common Sandpiper  (Iso-shigi = beach sandpiper)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,dec  HI:apr,may  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may  NS:may
     Actitis hypoleucos  (monotypic)
     
     
252. Eastern Black-tailed Godwit  (Oguro-shigi = black-tailed sandpiper)  (*)  ______ SS  HI:may  OK:may
     Limosa melanuroides
     
     
253. Bar-tailed Godwit  (O-sorihashi-shigi = large up-curve billed snipe)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN:apr,may  AM:may  OK:jan,feb,may  
     Limosa lapponica baueri 
     
      
     
     Bar-tailed Godwits photographed during a FONT tour in Japan
     (photo by Paul West)
     
      
254. Eurasian Curlew  (Daishaku-shigi + "shaku" is a wooden dipper with a long curved handle)  (*)  ______  SS,FW  HN:may,dec  KY:jan  AM:jan  OK:jan,feb
     Numenius arquata orientalis
     
     
255. Eastern Curlew  (Horoku-shigi = clay-pipe snipe)  (t3) (*)  ______ SS,FW  HN:apr,may  OK:jan,feb
     Numenius madagascariensis  (monotypic)
     
     The Eastern Curlew has been called the Far Eastern Curlew.
       
     
256. "Eurasian" Whimbrel  (Chushaku-shigi = middle-sized curlew)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:apr,may  HI:may  AM:may  OK:jan,may,jul,nov  
     Numenius phaeopus variegatus
     
     
257. Little Curlew  (Koshaku-shigi = small curlew)  (JAr)  ______
     Numenius minutus  (monotypic)
     
     
258. Bristle-thighed Curlew  (Harimomo-chushaku = needle-thighed curlew)  (nt) (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Numenius tahitiensis  (monotypic)
     
     
259. Slender-billed Curlew  (t1) (JAr)  ______
     Numenius tenuirostris  (monotypic)
     
     The now extremely rare, possibly extinct Slender-billed Curlew strayed on occasion to Japan in the early 20th Century.
     It has been (or was) a central Asian species that wintered in northern Africa.   
     
     
260. Red-necked Phalarope  (Haiiro-hireashi-shigi = red-necked web-footed snipe)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan.may,jun,nov  HI:may
     Phalaropus lobatus  (monotypic)
     
     
261. Red (or Grey) Phalarope  (Haiiro-hireashi-shigi = gray web-footed snipe)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS   HN(po):apr,may,jun
     Phalaropus fulicarius  (monotypic)
     
     
262. Wilson's Phalarope  (JAr)  ______
     Phalaropus tricolor  (monotypic)
     
     The Wilson's Phalarope, an American bird, has strayed to Japan.
     
     
     SKUAS, GULLS, TERNS
     
     
263. Parasitic Jaeger (or Arctic Skua)  (Kuro-tozokukamome = black thief gull)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS   HN(po):apr
     Stercorarius parasiticus  (monotypic)
     
     
264. Pomarine Jaeger (or Pomarine Skua)  (Tozokukamome = thief gull)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW   HN(po):jan,apr,nov,dec
     Stercorarius pomarinus  (monotypic)
     
     
265. Long-tailed Jaeger  (or Long-tailed Skua)  (Shirohara-tozokukamome = white-bellied thief gull)  (ph)  ______
     Stercorarius longicaudus
     
     
266. South Polar Skua  (O-tozokukamo = great thief gull)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS  HN(po):jun 
     Catharacta (or Stercorarius) maccormicki  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     The South Polar Skua is among the many pelagic species 
     seen during our spring Japan tours, when we've been 
     on the ferry offshore from northern Honshu.
     
     
267. Pallas's (or Great Black-headed) Gull  (*)  (O-zuguro-kamone)  (*) ______ FW   KY:jan
     Ichthyaetus (formerly Larus) ichthyaetus  (monotypic)
     
     
268. Saunder's Gull  (t3) (*)  (Zuguro-kamome = black-headed gull)  (t3) (*)  ______ FW   KY:jan,feb  AM:jan,nov  OK:jan,feb,nov
     Saundersilarus (formerly Larus) saundersi  (monotypic)
     
     
269. Relict Gull  (Gobi-zukin-kamome)  (t3) (JAr)  ______
     Ichthyaetus relictus  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus) 
     
     
270. Black-headed Gull  (*) (ph)  (Yuri-kamome = lily gull)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,oct,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:nov  OK:jan,feb
     Chroicocephalus (formerly Larus) ridibundus  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     
     
     Black-headed Gulls are seen during FONT Japan Tours
     in the winter (above), and in the spring (below).
     (photos by Armas Hill)
      
     
271. Brown-headed Gull  (JAr)  ______
     Chroicocephalus (formerly Larus) brunnicephalus  (monotypic)
     
     
272. Bonaparte's Gull  (Bonaparuto-kamone)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Chroicocephalus (formerly Larus) philadelphia  (monotypic)
     
     
273. Franklin's Gull  (Amerika-zuguro-kamome)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Leucophaesus (formerly Larus) pipixcam  (monotypic)
     
     
274. Black-tailed (or Japanese) Gull  (Umineko = sea cat)  (JAneb) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,jul,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,nov  KY:jan,feb,dec  AM:jan,feb  OK:jan,feb  NS:jan   
     Larus crassirostris  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     Black-tailed Gull
     (photo by James Scheib)
     
     
275. "Kamchatka Gull"  (Kamome)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,dec  HK:jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb
     Larus canus kamtschatschensis
     
     The "Kamchatka Gull" is part of the Common Gull of Eurasia, that's called the Mew Gull in North America.  
     
     
276. Vega Gull  (Seguro-kamome)  (*) (ph)  _______  SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK(p):jan,feb,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  AM:jan  
     Larus (argentatus) vegae  (monotypic)
     
     The Vega Gull is considered by some distinct from the Herring Gull of Europe, Larus argentatus, and the American Herring Gull, Larus a. smithsonianus.  
     
     
     
     
     
     Upper photo: a first-year Vega Gull
     Lower photo: an adult Vega Gull (left) & an adult Slaty-backed Gull (right)
     
     
277. "Heuglin's" Gull  (*)  ______ FW   KY:feb,dec
     Larus heuglini
     
     The "Heuglin's" Gull has been part of the Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, and by some considered part of the Lesser Black-backed Gull.
     
     
278. "Mongolian" Gull  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN:apr  KY:jan,feb,nov,dec  
     Larus mongolicus
     
     The "Mongolian" Gull has been part of the "Caspian" or "Pontic" Gull, of the Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans.
     
     
279. Thayer's Gull  (Kanada-kamome)  (*)  ______  FW   HN:feb  HK:nov
     Larus thayeri  (monotypic)
     
     The Thayer's Gull is a somewhat controversial species that has been considered as a race of the "American" Herring Gull, or the Iceland Gull with which it hybridizes.   
     
     
280. Slaty-backed Gull  (O-seguro-kamome = large black-backed gull)  (*)  (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN(po):jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  HI:may  HK(p):Jan,feb,jun,nov,dec   KY:jan,feb,dec   
     Larus schistisagus  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     A first-year Slaty-backed Gull
     
     
281. Glaucous-winged Gull  (Washi-kamome = eagle gull)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,may,nov,dec  HI:may  HK:jan,feb,nov
     Larus glaucescens  (monotypic)
     
     
282. Glaucous Gull  (Shiro-kamome = white gull)  (*) (ph) ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,jun,dec  HK(p):jan,feb,apr,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan
     Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus
     Larus hyperboreus barrovianus:  a smaller subspecies of North America that occurs rarely in Japan in the winter.
     
     
283. Iceland Gull  (Aisurando-kamome)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW   HK:jan
     Larus glaucoides kumlieni
     
     
284. California Gull  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Larus californicus  (subspecies of this vagrant in Japan is uncertain)
     
     
285. Ring-billed Gull  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Larus delawarensis  (monotypic)
     
     
286. Little Gull  (Hime-kamome)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Hydrocoloeus  (formerly Larus) minutus  (monotypic)
     
     
287. Sabine's Gull  (Kubiwa-kamome = ring-necked gull)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Xema sabini  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
     
     
288. Ross' Gull  (Hime-kubiwa-kamone)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______ FW  HN:dec
     Rhodostethia rosea  (monotypic) 
     
     
     
     This 1st-winter Ross's Gull, a rarity on Honshu,
     was seen in Tokyo during one of our Japan winter tours.    
     
     
289. Ivory Gull  (Zoge-kamome = ivory gull)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Pagophila eburnea  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus) 
     
     
290. Black-legged Kittiwake  (Mitsuyubi-kamome = three-toed gull)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,nov,dec  HK:jan,jun,nov
     Rissa tridactyla  (now monotypic, with pollicaris merged)
     
     
291. Red-legged Kittiwake  (Akaashi-mitsuyubi-kamome)  (t3) (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Rissa brevirostris  (monotypic)
     
     
292. Gull-billed Tern  (Hashibuto-ajisashi)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW  OK:nov
     Gelochelidon (formerly Sterna) n. nilotica
     
     
293. Roseate Tern  (Beni-ajisashi)  (nt) (*) (ph)  ______ SS  AM:may,jul  OK:may
     Sterna dougallii bangsi
     
     
294. Black-naped Tern  (Eriguro-ajisashi = black-naped tern)  (*)  ______ SS  OK:may,jul
     Sterna s. sumatrana
     
     
295. Common Tern  (Ajisashi = horse-mackerel tosser)  (*)  ______ SS   HN:may  HK:jun  KY:may
     Sterna hirundo longipennis
     
     
296. Arctic Tern  (Kyoku-ajisashi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Sterna paradisaea  (monotypic)
     
     The Arctic Tern is a common nester on the Kamchatka Peninsula north of Japan. Most leave there in migration going on to the eastern Pacific, where it is fairly common in the late summer. It is rare in the western Pacific south of the Kamchatka Peninsula. 
     The Arctic Tern has occurred as a vagrant in Japan, mostly in July & August.
     
     
297. Aleutian Tern  (Koshijiro-ajisashi = white-rumped tern)  (JAr)  ______
     Onychoprion (formerly Sterna) aleuticus  (monotypic)
     
     
298. Grey-backed (or Spectacled) Tern  (Nanyo-mamijiro-ajisashi)  (JAr)  ______
     Onychoprion (formerly Sterna) lunatus  (monotypic)
     
     
299. Bridled Tern  (Mamijiro-ajisashi = white eye-browed tern)  (ph) ______
     Onychoprion a. anaethetus
     
     
300. Sooty Tern  (Seguro-ajisashi = black-backed tern)  (ph)  ______
     Onychoprion fuscatus nubilosa  (in southern Nansei Shoto)
     Onychoprion fuscatus oahuensis  (on Ogasawara Is.)
     
     
301. Little Tern  (Ko-ajisashi = little tern)  (*)  ______  SS  HN:apr,may,jun  AM:may  OK:may,jul  NS:may
     Sternula (formerly Sterna) albifrons sinensis
     
     The Little Tern is closely related to the Least Tern of North America.
     
     
302. Greater Crested Tern  (O-ajisashi = great tern)  ______
     Thalasseus bergii cristatus
     
     
303. Lesser Crested Tern  (JAr)  ______
     Thalasseus bengalensis torresii
     
     
304. Caspian Tern  (O-ajisashi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Hydroprogne (formerly Sterna) caspia  (monotypic)
     
     
305. Whiskered Tern  (Kurohara-ajisashi = black-bellied tern)  (*)  ______  SP,FW   KY:may  AM(po):may  OK:jan,nov
     Chlidonias hybridus javanica
     
     
306. White-winged Tern  (Hajiro-kurohara-ajisashi = white-winged black-bellied tern)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Chlidonias leucopterus  (monotypic)
     
     
307. Black Tern  (Hasiguro-kurohara-ajisashi)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Chlidonias n. niger 
     
     
308. Brown Noddy  (Hime-kuro-ajisashi = black tern)  ______
     Anous stolidus pileatus
     
     
309. Black Noddy  (Hime-kuro-ajisashi)  (JAr) ______
     Anous minutus marcusi
     
     
310. Blue Noddy  (Hairo-ajisashi)  (JAr)  ______  (has been called Grey, or Blue-grey, Noddy)
     Procelsterna cerulea saxatilis 
     
     
311. White Tern  (Shiro-ajisashi = white tern)  ______  (has been called Fairy Tern)
     Gygus alba candida
     
     
     ALCIDS
     
     
312. Common Murre (or Guillemot)  (Umigarasu = sea crow)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN(po):jan,feb,apr,may,dec  HK(p):jan,feb,apr,may
     Uria aalge inornata
     
     
     
     Common Murre - sometimes during FONT winter tours
     many murres are seen from the ferry between Honshu & Hokkaido  
     (photo by Kim Steininger)
     
     
313. Thick-billed Murre (or Brunnich's Guillemot)  (Hashibuto-umigarasu = thick-billed sea crow)  (*) (ph)  ______ FW   HN(po):jan  HK(p):jan,feb
     Uria lomvia arra
     
     
     
     Thick-billed Murre - another species seen during FONT winter tours
     between Honshu & Hokkaido, and offshore from Hokkaido  
     (photo by Alan Brady)  
     
     
314. Spectacled Guillemot  (Keimafuri)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN(po):jan  HK:jan,feb,jun,nov   
     Cepphus carbo  (monotypic)
     
     
315. Pigeon Guillemot  (Umibato = sea pigeon)  (*)  ______  FW   HN(po):jan,dec  HK:jan
     Cepphus columba snowi
     
     
316. Long-billed Murrelet  (Madara-umisuzume = mottled sea sparrow)  (nt) (*)  ______ FW   HN(po):jan  HK:feb
     Brachyramphus perdix  (monotypic)
     
     
317. Ancient Murrelet  (Umisuzume = sea sparrow)  (*)  ______  SS,FW  HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,dec  HI:may  HK(p):jan,feb,apr,nov  KY:feb  
     Synthliboramphus a. antiquus  (the other subspecies, S. a, microrhynchos, at Commander Is. in northeast Asia) 
     
     
318. Japanese Murrelet  (Kanmuri-umisuzume = crested sea sparrow)  (t3) (JAe) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  HN(p):apr,may,dec  KY:feb
     Synthliboramphus wumizusume  (monotypic)
     
     Another English name for the Japanese Murrelet is the Crested Murrelet. In the Japanese name, the word "umisuzume" means "sea sparrow".    
     
     Regarding the JAPANESE MURRELET, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN
     
     
     
     Japanese Murrelet
     This threatened species has been seen during the ferry trips to & from Hegura Island,
     in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Honshu, during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring   
     
     
319. Crested Auklet  (Etorofu-umisuzume = Iturup sea sparrow)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN(po):jan,apr  HK(po):jan,apr
     Aethia cristatella  (monotypic)
     
     
320. Whiskered Auklet  (Shirahige-umisuzume)  (JAr)  ______
     Aethia pygmaea  (monotypic)
     
     
321. Least Auklet  (Ko-umisuzume = small sea sparrow)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW   HN(po):jan,feb  HK(p):jan,feb
     Aethia pusilla  (monotypic)
     
     
322. Parakeet Auklet  (Umiomu = sea parrot)  (JAr)  ______  
     Cyclorrhynchus psittacula  (monotypic)
     
     
323. Rhinoceros Auklet  (Utou)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN(po):jan,apr,may,jun,nov  HI:may  HK:apr,jun,nov
     Cerorhinca monocerata  (monotypic, and the single member of its genus) 
     
     
324. Horned Puffin  (Tsunomedori = horn-eye bird)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW  HN(po):jan  HK(po):apr
     Fratercula corniculata  (monotypic)
     
     
325. Tufted Puffin  (Etopirika: from 2 Ainu words: eto = nose & pirica = pretty)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN(po):jan  HK(po):jan
     Fratercula (formerly Lunda) cirrhata  (monotypic)
     
     
     PIGEONS & DOVES
     
     
326. Common (or Feral) Pigeon  (Dobato)  (i) (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,jul,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov  NS:may
     Columba l. livia
     
     
327. Black Wood Pigeon  (Karasu-bato = crow pigeon)  (nt) (JAneb) (*)  ______  SS,FW   HI:may  AM:jan,feb,may,jul  OK:jan,feb,may,nov
     Columba j. janthina
     
     
328. Bonin Woodpigeon  (Ogasawara-karasu-bato)  ______  (now globally extinct)
     Columba versicolor
     
     
329. Ryukyu Woodpigeon  (Ryukyu-karasu-bato)  ______  (now globally extinct)
     Columba jouyi
     
     
330. Oriental Turtle Dove  (Kiji-bato = pheasant dove)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   HN(p):jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  HI:apr,may  HK:feb,may,jun  KY:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul,nov 
     Streotopelia orientalis
     Streotopelia o. orientalis  (subspecies on Hokkaido, Honshu, & Kyushu)
     Streotopelia o. stimpsoni  (subspecies on Amami & Okinawa)
     
     
331. Red Turtle Dove  (Beni-bato = ruddy dove)  (JA)  ______
     Streptopelia tranquebarica humilis
     
     
332. White-bellied Green Pigeon  (Ao-bato = green pigeon)  (nt) (*)  ______  SS,FW  HN:may,nov(p)  HK:jun  KY:feb,may  OK:jan
     Treron (formerly Sphenurus) s. sieboldii
     
     
333. Ryukyu Green Pigeon  (Zuaka-ao-bato)  (nt) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul  NS:jan 
     Treron (formerly Sphenurus) riukiuensis   
     Treron riukiuensis permagnus  (subspecies on Okinawa)
     Treron riukiuensis medioximus  (subspecies on other Japanese islands in Nansei Shoto) 
     
     The Ryukyu Green Pigeon was known as the Whistling Green Pigeon when it was conspecific with the Taiwan Green Pigeon, Treron formosae.
     It has also rather inappropriately been called the Red-capped Green Pigeon. 
     
     
     
     A Ryukyu Green Pigeon photographed during a FONT tour in Amami
      
     
334. Emerald Dove  (Kin-bato)  ______
     Chalcophaps i. indica
     
     
335. Rose-ringed (or Ring-necked) Parakeet  (Wakake-honsei-inko)  (i) (*)  ______ SS  HN:jun
     Psittacula krameri manillensis
     
     
     CUCKOOS
     
     
336. Eurasian Cuckoo  (Kakko: from the voice)  (*)  ______ SS  HN:may,jun  HI:may  HK:jun  KY:may  
     Cuculus canorus telephonus
     
     The Eurasian Cuckoo has been called the Common Cuckoo.
     
     
337. Oriental Cuckoo  (Tsutsu-dori = piping bird)  (*)  ______ SS  HN:may  HI:may  HK;jun  KY:may    
     Cuculus optatus  (formerly C. saturatus)  (monotypic)
     
     The Oriental Cuckoo was conspecific with the Himalayan Cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus. Another name has been Horshield's Cuckoo.
     
     
338. Lesser Cuckoo  (Hototo-gisu: from the voice)  (*)  ______ SS  HN:may,jun  HI:may  KY:may  OK:may  
     Cuculus poliocephalus  (monotypic)
     
     For the Lesser Cuckoo, a former alternate name of Little Cuckoo was inappropriate as there is a bird in South America with that common English name.
     
     
339. Northern Hawk-Cuckoo  (Juichi: from the voice, but means "eleven")  (*)  ______ SS   HN:may  KY:may   
     Cuculus hyperythrus  (monotypic)
     
     The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo was part of the Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo.
     
     
340. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo  (Kanmuri-kakko)  (JAr)  ______
     Clamator coromandus  (monotypic)
     
     
341. Asian Koel  (JAr)  ______
     Eudynamys scolopaceus chinensis
     
     The Asian Koel, of China, has occurred as a vagrant in southern Japan, mostly in Yonaguni, the Yaeyama Islands, but also in Kyushu.   
     
     
     OWLS
     
     
342. Eastern Grass Owl  (JAr)  ______
     Tyto longimembris pithecops
     
     The Eastern Grass Owl was part of the Grass Owl, Tyto capensis.  
     
     
343. Blakiston's Fish Owl  (Shima-fukuro = island owl)  (t2) (*) (ph)  ______  FW   HK:jan,feb,nov,dec
     Bubo b. blakistoni  (now genus Bubo rather than Ketupa)
     
     Regarding the BLAKISTON'S FISH OWL, go to:  RARE BIRDS OF JAPAN   
     
     
     
     The big & rare Blakiston's Fish Owl has been seen 
     during FONT Japan Tours in Hokkaido in the Late-Fall & Winter
     
     Below, more photos of the Blakiston's Fish Owl.
     
     
     
     
     
      
     
     
     
344. Eurasian Eagle Owl  (Washi-mimizuku = eagle eared-owl)  (JAr)  ______
     Bubo bubo borrisowi 
     
     
345. Snowy Owl  (Shiro-fukuro = white owl)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Bubo (formerly Nyctea) scandiaca  (monotypic)
     
     
346. Japanese Scops Owl  (O-konoha-zuku = large tree-leaf owl)  (*)  ______ FW   HN:nov  HI:may  HK:jan  KY:may  OK:jan 
     Otus s. semitorques
     Otus semitorques pryeri:  resident on Nansei Shoto (Okinawa to Iriomote) & on Izu Islands. See note below.    
     
     The Japanese Scops Owl has been considered by some as part of the Collared Scops Owl of mainland Asia, Otus lettia.
     
     Otus semitorques pryeri may be a separate species. It is smaller and redder than O. s. semitorques, lacking toe feathers and has redder eyes. 
     Otus s. semitorques is perhaps only a summer visitor in Hokkaido. 
     Otus semitorques ussuriensis occurs in Hokkaido in the winter from further north.  
     
     All three of the above subspecies have been seen during FONT tours. 
     
     
347. Oriental Scops Owl  (Konoha-zuku = tree-leaf owl)  (*)  ______  SS  AM:may,dec  OK:may  
     Otus sunia japonicus
     
     The Oriental Scops Owl was, at one time, treated as a subspecies of the Common Scops Owl, Otus scops.
     
     
348. Elegant (or Ryukyu) Scops-Owl  (Ryukyu-konoha-zuku)  (nt) (JAneb) (*) ______ SS,FW   AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,nov  
     Otus e. elegans  (other subspecies are on islands off Taiwan and the Philippines)
     
     The Elegant, or Ryukyu, Scops Owl was, until recently, considered part of the Celebes, or Sulawesi, Scops Owl of southeast Asian islands, Otus manadensis. 
     Prior to that, it was considered part of the Oriental Scops Owl, and, at one time, treated as a subspecies of the Common Scops Owl, Otus scops.    
     
     
349. Japanese Hawk-Owl  (or Northern Boobook)  (Aoba-zuku = green-leaf owl)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jun  HI:may  AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  OK:jan,may,nov
     Ninox japonica japonica  (subspecies a summer visitor to Japan, southern Korea, & eastern China)
     Ninox japonica totogo  (subspecies a resident in the Ryukyu Islands, also in Taiwan, & Lanyu Is.)
     
     Some say that the above 2 subspecies should be split as full species from the following:
     
     Ninox japonica florensis  (subspecies a summer visitor to far-eastern Russia, northern Korea, northeastern & central China)
     
     The traditional, and wide-ranging Brown (or Oriental) Hawk-Owl has been an extremely polytypic species, having at least 10 subspecies in 3 groups:
     
     The Brown Hawk-Owl, Ninox scutulata, in southern & southeastern Asia, in India, southern China, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and other places.
     
     The Chocolate Boobook, Ninox randi, in the Philippines and other southeast Asian archipelagos.  
     
     The Japanese Hawk-Owl, or Northern Boobook, Ninox japonica, referred to with the 3 subspecies above.
     
     A vagrant Ninox japonica was found once in the area of the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea off northwestern Australia.     
     
     
350. Ural Owl  (Fukuro)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan  HK:jan,feb  KY:jan,may
     Strix uralensis 
     Strix u. japonica  (subspecies on Hokkaido; on that island formerly S. u. hondoensis)
     Strix u. fuscescens  (subspecies on Kyushu)
     
     
351. Northerrn Long-eared Owl  (Torafu-zuku = tiger striped owl)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   AM:jan,feb,may
     Asio o. otus
     
     
352. Short-eared Owl  (Komini-zuku = small eared owl)  (*) (ph)  ______  FW  HN(p):jan,nov  HK:jan
     Asio f. flammeus
     
     
353. Tengmalm's Owl  (Kinme-fukuro = golden-eyed owl)  (JAr) (ph)   ______  
     Aegolius funereus sibiricus
     
     The Tengmalm's Owl is called the Boreal Owl in North America. In Japan, it is a scarce resident in Hokkaido. 
     
     
354. Grey Nightjar  (Yotaka = night hawk)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS   HN:may  HI:may  KY:may   
     Caprimulgus jotaka
     
     The Gray Nightjar was part of the Jungle Nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus. 
     
     
     
     A Grey Nightjar photographed during a FONT Japan Tour in May
     on Hegura Island
     
     
     SWIFTS
     
     
355. White-throated (or Northern) Needletail  (Hario-amatsubame = needle-tailed rain-swallow)  (*)  ______ SS   OK:may
     Hirundapus c. caudacutus
     
     
356. House Swift  (Hime-amatsubame)  (*)  ______ SS,FW   KY:jan,feb,jul,nov  AM:may,dec
     Apus nipalensis subfurcatus
     
     
357. Pacific Swift  (Amatsu-bame = rain swallow)  (*)  ______ SS   HN:apr,may,jun  HI:may  HK:jun  OK:may,jul  
     Apus p. pacificus  
     
     Another name for the Pacific Swift is the Asian White-rumped Swift. 
     
     
358. Common Swift  (JAr)  ______
     Apus apus pekinensis
     
     
     KINGFISHERS
     
     
359. Ruddy Kingfisher  (Aka-shobin = red kingfisher)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS   HI:may  KY:may,jul  AM:may,jul  OK:may,jul 
     Halcyon coromanda
     Halcyon c. major  (subspecies on Kyushu)
     Halcyon c. bangsi  (subspecies on Amami & Okinawa)
     
     
     
     Ruddy Kingfishers have been seen during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring
     in Kyushu, Amami, & Okinawa (and once on Hegura Island)
     
     
360. Black-capped Kingfisher  (Yama-shobin = mountain kingfisher)  (JAr) (*) (ph)  ______  SS   HI:may
     Halcyon pileata  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     A Black-capped Kingfisher on Hegura Island during a FONT tour 
     
     
361. White-throated Kingfisher  (JAr)  ______
     Halcyon smyrnensis fokiensis (or fusca)
     
     
362. Collared Kingfisher  (Nanyo-shobin)  (JAr)  ______
     Todiramphus chloris
     
     There are totally about 50 subspecies of Todiramphus chloris.
     
     
363. Common Kingfisher  (Kawa-semi  = river kingfisher)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,nov,dec  HI:may  KY:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,jul
     Alcedo atthis bengalensis
     
     
     
     The Common Kingfisher is a brilliant jewel
     (photo by Paul West)
     
     
364. Crested Kingfisher  (Yama-semi = mountain kingfisher)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may  HK:may  KY:jan,feb,may,nov,dec 
     Ceryle lugubris
     Ceryle l. pallida  (subspecies on Hokkaido)
     Ceryle l. lugubris  (subspecies on Honshu & Kyushu)
     
     The Crested Kingfisher was called the Greater Pied Kingfisher.
     
     
365. Oriental Dollarbird  (Bupposo)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS  HI:may  KY:may,jul  
     Eurystomus orientalis calonyx
     
     The Oriental Dollarbird is closely related to the Broad-billed Roller.
     
     
     
     An Oriental Dollarbird on Hegura Island during a FONT tour 
     
     
366. Eurasian Hoopoe  (Yatsugashira = eight-headed bird)  (JAr) (*)  ______  SS   HI:apr,may
     Upupa e. epops  (as U. e. saturata now merged)
     
     
     WOODPECKERS
     
     
367. Eurasian Wryneck  (Arisui = ant-sucker)  ______
     Jynx torquilla  (monotypic)
     
     
368. Japanese Green Woodpecker  (Ao-gera = green woodpecker)  (JAe) (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun  KY:jan,may,jul,nov
     Picus awokera
     Picus a. awokera  (subspecies on Honshu)
     Picus a. horii  (subspecies on Kyushu)
     (birds are larger & lighter in the north, smaller & darker in the south) 
     
     
     
     Japanese Green Woodpecker,
     one of the country's endemic birds 
     
     
369. Grey-headed Woodpecker  (Yama-gera = mountain woodpecker)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HK:jan.may,jun,nov
     Picus canus jessoensis
     
     
370. Black Woodpecker  (Kuma-gera = bear woodpecker)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HK:jan,feb,jun
     Dryocopus m. martius
     
     
371. Okinawa (or Pryer's) Woodpecker  (Noguchi-gera)  (t1) (JAe) (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   OK:jan,feb,may,jul
     Dendrocopos (formerly Sapheopipo) noguchii  (monotypic)
     
     
     
     The Okinawa, or Pryer's, Woodpecker, one of the (if not the) rarest of woodpeckers.
     
     
372. Amami (or Owston's) Woodpecker  (O-aka-gera)  (JAe) (*)  ______  SS,FW   AM:jan,feb,may,jul,nov,dec  
     Dendrocopos (formerly Picoides) (leucotos) owstoni
     
     The Amami (or "Owston's") Woodpecker, endemic to Amami Island, has been considered a race of the White-backed Woodpecker - the largest and darkest race of that wide-ranging species across the Palearctic.
     So distinctive is the bird on Amami, however, that it may be a full species.  
     
     
373. White-backed Woodpecker  (O-aka-gera = great red woodpecker)  (*)  ______  SS,FW   HK:jan,may,jun  KY:may
     Dendrocopos (formerly Picoides) leucotos 
     Dendrocopos leucotos subcirrus  (subspecies on Hokkaido & the southern Kurile Is.)
     Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri  (subspecies in northern & central Honshu & Sado Is.)
     Dendrocopos leucotos namiyei  (subspecies in w. Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, & Oki I.)
     
     
374. Great Spotted Woodpecker  (Aka-gera = red woodpecker)  (*) (ph)  ______ SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:may,dec
     Dendrocopos (formerly Picoides) major japonicus
     
     
     
     The Japanese race of the Great Spotted Woodpecker,
     a widespread species across Eurasia
      
     
375. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  (Ko-aka-gera = small red woodpecker)  (*)  ______  FW  HK:jan,nov
     Dryobates (formerly Dendrocopos; prior to that Picoides) minor amurensis
     
     
376. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker  (Ko-gera = little woodpecker)  (*) (ph)  ______  SS,FW   HN:jan,feb,apr,may,jun,oct,nov,dec  HK:jan,feb,may,jun,nov,dec  KY:jan,may,nov,dec  AM:jan,feb,may,nov,dec  OK:jan,feb,may,nov  
     Yungipicus (formerly Dendrocopos; prior to that Picoides) kizuki
     Yungipicus k. ijimae  (subspecies on Hokkaido)
     Yungipicus k. seebohmi  (subspecies on Honshu)
     Yungipicus k. amamii  (subspecies on Amami)
     Yungipicus k. kizuki  (subspecies on Kyushu & Okinawa)
     
     
     
     A Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker photographed during a FONT tour
     (photo by Paul West)
     
     
377. Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker  (Yeso-miyubi-gera = Hokkaido three-toed woodpecker)  (JAr) (ph)  ______
     Picoides tridactylus inouyei  (subspecies on Hokkaido, seems to be nearing extinction)
     
     
378. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker  (JAr)  ______
     Hypopicus hyperythrus subrufinus
     
     
379. White-bellied Woodpecker  (Kitataki = tree tapper)  ______   (has also been called Tristram's Woodpecker)  
     Dryocopus javensis richardsi
     
     The White-bellied Woodpecker is now extinct on Tsushima Island, off the west coast of Kyushu, Japan. It still exists in Korea and elsewhere in Asia.
     
     
     PITTAS
     
     
380. Fairy Pitta  (Yairocho = eight-colored bird)  (t3) (*)  ______  SS   KY:may,jul  
     Pitta nympha  (monotypic)
     
     The Fairy Pitta was, at one time, by some, considered conspecific with the Blue-winged Pitta, Pitta brachyura.  
     
     
381. Hooded Pitta  (Zuguro-yairocho)  (JAr)  ______ 
     Pitta sordida cucullata
     
     The Hooded Pitta has occurred as an accidental visitor in southern Nansei Shoto.
     
     
     
     To Top of Page