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PO
Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
or 302/529-1876; Fax: 302/529-1085 |
Japan
Birds
during FONT Birding
& Nature Tours
1994 thru 2009
(during the months of
January, February,
April, May, June, July,
November, & December)
The following list compiled by Armas Hill,
the leader of FONT tours in Japan
Photo at upper right: RED-CROWNED CRANES in Hokkaido, as seen during the FONT
Winter Tours
(The RED-CROWNED CRANE also known as the JAPANESE CRANE)
There have been 21 FONT Fall
& Winter birding & nature tours in Japan: FW.
There have been 12 FONT Spring & Summer birding & nature tours in Japan: SP.
During our 33 FONT tours in Japan, 390 species of birds have cumulatively been found.
In the following list, Japanese bird
names follow English names.
Codes:
(i): introduced species
(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.
SP: Seen during FONT Spring & Summer Japanese birding tours.
HI: seen
on Hegura Island (Hegura-jima) in the Sea of Japan off Honshu, (o):
on Hegura Island only. (Hegura Island
visited during Spring tours)
NS: seen in the Nansei Shoto (Amami
& Okinawa). From Okinawa south these islands known as the Ryukyus. (o):
in Nansei Shoto only
A booklet is available from Focus On Nature Tours
listing all the birds that have been found during over a decade of FONT tours in Japan,
with more information than given here, noting, for example, the Japanese islands where, and the months
when, sightings have occurred. Please e-mail us if you'd like to receive a copy.
Links:
Upcoming Japan Birding & Nature Tours
Over
300 species of Birds during FONT Tours on Honshu (with photos)
Birds
of Hegura Island (with photos)
Birds
during FONT tours on the Island of Amami
Birds
during FONT tours on the island of Okinawa
Rare
Birds during our Japan Tours
A
List
of Japanese Mammals (with photos)
A
List
of Japanese Butterflies (with photos)
Directory
of Photos in this Website, in this list & others

List of Birds during
FONT Tours in Japan:
- Chinese Bamboo Partridge
(i) (Kojukei) ______ FW
Bambusicola t. thoracica
- Copper Pheasant (nt) (JAe) (Yamadori) ______ SP,FW
Syrmaticus soemmerringii
Syrmaticus s. subrufus
(on Honshu)
Syrmaticus s. ijimae (on Kyushu)

Copper Pheasants have been seen during FONT tours in Honshu & Kyushu
- Green Pheasant (JAe) (Kiji) ______ SP,FW (has
been considered conspecific with the Common Pheasant
native to Eurasia, Phasianus colchicus)
Phasianus versicolor
Phasianus v. tohkaidi (on Honshu)
Phasianus v. tanensis (on Kyushu)
- Mute Swan (i) (Kobu-hakucho) ______ SP,FW
Cygnus olor
(monotypic)
- Whooper Swan (O-hakucho) ______ SP,FW
Cygnus cygnus (monotypic)
Whooper Swans photographed in Hokkaido
during a FONT Winter Tour in Japan
(photo by Alan Brady)
- "Bewick's" Tundra Swan (Ko-hakucho) ______ FW (considered
conspecific with "Whistling" Tundra Swan of North
America)
Cygnus columbianus bewickii
- Greylag Goose (JAr) (Haiiro-gan)
______
SP,FW
Anser anser rubrirostris
- Greater White-fronted
Goose (Ma-gan) ______ FW
Anser albifrons frontalis
- "Tundra" Bean Goose (Hishikui) ______ FW
Anser fabalis middendorffii
- Snow Goose (JAr) (Haku-gan) ______ FW
Anser caerulescens hyperboreus
- "Black" Brant Goose (Koku-gan) ______ FW
Branta bernicla orientalis
- Common Shelduck (Tsukushi-gamo) ______ FW NS
Tadorna tadorna (monotypic)
- Mandarin Duck (nt) (Oshidori) ______ SP,FW NS
Aix galericulata (monotypic)

A Pair of Mandarin Ducks photographed during a FONT tour in Japan
- Eurasian Wigeon (incl
green-faced form) (Hidori-gamo) ______ SP,FW NS
Anas penelope
(monotypic)

A Eurasian Wigeon, photographed during FONT's
January/February 2009 Tour in Japan
(photo by Karl Frafjord)
- American Wigeon (JAr) (Amerika-hidori) ______ FW
Anas americana (monotypic)
- Falcated Duck (Yoshi-gamo) ______ FW
Anas falcata (monotypic)

The Falcated Duck is one of the attractive Asian species of waterfowl
seen during FONT tours in Japan.
- Baikal Teal (t3) (Tomoe-gamo) ______ FW
Anas formosa (monotypic)

The now-rare Baikal Teal has been seen during FONT Winter Tours
in Honshu & Kyushu
- Eurasian Teal (Ko-gamo) ______ SP,FW NS (was
considered
conspecific with Green-winged Teal of North America, Anas
carolinensis)
Anas c. crecca
- Garganey (Shimaaji) ______ SP
Anas querquedula (monotypic)
- Gadwall (Okayoshi-gamo) ______ SP,FW NS
Anas s. strepera
- Mallard (Ma-gamo) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Anas p. platyrhynchos
- Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Karu-gamo) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Anas zonorhyncha

Eastern Spot-billed Ducks photographed
during the Jan/Feb 2009 FONT Japan Tour
(photo by
Karl Frafjord)
- Northern Pintail (Onaga-gamo) ______ SP,FW NS
Anas acuta (monotypic)

A Pair of Northern Pintails in flight
(photo by Howard Eskin)
- Northern Shoveler (Hashibiro-gamo) ______ SP,FW NS
Anas clypeata
(monotypic)
- Red-crested Pochard (JAr) (Akahashi-hajiro)
______ FW
Netta rufina
(monotypic)
- Common Pochard
(Hoshi-hajiro) ______ SP,FW
Aythya ferina
(monotypic)
- Baer's Pochard (t3) (JAr) (Aka-hajiro) ______ FW
Aythya baeri (monotypic)
- Ring-necked Duck (JAr)
(Kubiwa-kinkuro) ______ FW
Aythya collaris (monotypic)
- Tufted Duck (Kinkuro-hajiro) ______ SP,FW NS
Aythya fuligula (monotypic)
- Greater Scaup (Suzu-gamo) ______ SP,FW
Aythya marila mariloides
- Harlequin Duck (Shinori-gamo) ______ SP,FW
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.
(photo by Howard Eskin)
- Long-tailed Duck (Kori-gamo) ______ FW (has been called
Oldsquaw in North America)
Clangula hyemalis (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

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)
- American Scoter (Kuro-gamo) ______ SP,FW (was
considered
conspecific with the Black Scoter of Europe, Melanitta
nigra)
Melanitta americana
- "Stejneger's" White-winged Scoter
(Birodo-kinkuro)
______
FW
(considered conspecific with the White-winged Scoter of
North America, Melanitta deglandi, and
was formerly so with the Velvet Scoter of
Europe, Melanitta fusca)
Melanitta (deglandi) stejnegeri
- Bufflehead (JAr) (Hime-hajiro)
______
FW
Bucephala albeola (monotypic)
- Common Goldeneye (Hojiro-gamo) ______ FW
Bucephala c. clangula
- Smew (Miko-aisa) ______ SP,FW
Mergellus
(formerly Mergus) albellus (monotypic, and the single
member of its genus)
- Red-breasted Merganser (Umi-aisa) ______ SP, FW HI
Mergus serrator
(monotypic)
- Scaly-sided (or Chinese)
Merganser (t3) (JAr) (Korai-aisa) ______ FW
Mergus squamatus
(monotypic)
- Common Merganser (or Goosander)
(Kawa-aisa)
______
SP,FW
Mergus m. merganser
- Yellow-billed Loon (or White-billed
Diver)
(JAr) (Hashijiro-abi) ______ FW
Gavia adamsii (monotypic)
Red-throated Loon (or Red-throated
Diver) (Abi) ______
FW
Gavia stellata (monotypic)
Pacific Loon (or Pacific
Diver)
(Shiroeri-ohamu) ______ SP,FW
Gavia pacifica (monotypic)

A Pacific Loon
Black-throated Loon (or Black-throated
Diver; has also been called Arctic Loon) (Ohamu) ______ FW
Gavia arctica viridigularis
Black-footed Albatross (t3) (Kuroashi-ahodori) ______ SP,FW
Phoebastria
(formerly Diomedea) nigripes
Laysan Albatross (Ko-ahodori) ______ SP,FW
Phoebastria
(formerly Diomedea)
immutabilis
Short-tailed (or Steller's) Albatross (t2) (JAeb)
(Ahodori) ______ SP,FW
Phoebastria
(formerly Diomedea)
albatrus
Northern Fulmar (Furuma-kamome) ______ SP,FW
Fulmarus glacialis rodgersii
Bonin Petrel (Shirohara-mizunagidori)
______ FW
Pterodroma hypoleuca
Bulwer's Petrel
(Anadori)
______ SP NS(o)
Bulweria bulwerii (monotypic)

Bulwer's Petrels have been seen from ferries
during FONT Tours
in Southern Japan in the Spring
Streaked Shearwater (neb) (O-mizunagidori) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Calonectris leucomelas
(monotypic)
Buller's Shearwater (JAr)
(Minami-onaga-mizunagidori) ______
SP
Puffinus bulleri
(monotypic)
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Akaashi-mizunagidori) ______ SP,FW NS
Puffinus carneipes
(monotypic)
Sooty Shearwater
(Haiiro-mizunagidori) ______ SP
NS
Puffinus griseus
(monotypic)
Short-tailed Shearwater (Hashiboso-mizunagidori) ______ SP,FW NS
Puffinus tenuirostris (monotypic)

A Short-tailed Shearwater photographed during a FONT tour
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Tristram's (or Sooty) Storm-Petrel (nt)
(O-suton-umitsubame) ______
SP
Oceanodroma tristrami (monotypic)
Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (nt) (Hime-kuro-umitsubame) ______
SP NS(o)
Oceanodroma monorhis (monotypic)
Fork-tailed (or Grey) Storm-Petrel (Haiiro-umitsubame)
______
FW
Oceanodroma f. furcata
Little Grebe (or "Dabchick")
(Kaitsuburi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei
Black-necked Grebe (or
Eared
Grebe) (Hajiro-kaitsuburi) ______ FW
Podiceps n. nigricollis
Horned Grebe (or Slavonian
Grebe) (Mimi-kaitsuburi) ______ FW
Podiceps a. auritus

A Horned Grebe in non-breeding plumage
(photo by Kim Steininger)
Red-necked Grebe (Akaeri-kaitsuburi) ______ SP,FW
Podiceps grisegena holboellii
Great Crested Grebe (Kanmuri-kaitsuburi) ______ SP,FW HI
Podiceps c. cristatus
Oriental Stork (t2) (JAr)
(Konotori) ______
FW
Ciconia boyciana
(monotypic)
Eurasian Spoonbill (JAr)
(Herasagi) ______ FW NS
Platalea l. leucorodia

A Eurasian Spoonbill in flight
Black-faced Spoonbill (t1) (JAr) (Kurotsura-herasagi) ______ FW NS
Platalea minor (monotypic)

Rare Black-faced Spoonbills have been seen over the years
during FONT Winter Tours in Honshu, Kyushu, Amami, & Okinawa
Eurasian Bittern (Sankano-goi) ______ FW
Botaurus s. stellaris
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Goi-sagi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Nycticorax n. nycticorax
"Eastern" Cattle Egret (Ama-sagi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Bublucus ibis coromandus (the single member of its genus)
Little Egret (Ko-sagi) ______ SP,FW NS
Egretta g. garzetta
Chinese (or Swinhoe's)
Egret (t2) (JAr)
(Kara-shira-sagi) _______ SP
HI
Egretta eulophotes (monotypic)
Yellow-billed (or
Intermediate) Egret (Chu-sagi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Egretta i. intermedia
Great Egret (Dai-sagi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Ardea a. alba
Grey Heron (Ao-sagi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Ardea cinerea jouyi

Grey Heron
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Purple Heron (JAr) (Murasaki-sagi)
______ SP HI
Ardea purpurea manilensis
Striated Heron (Sasa-goi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Butorides striatus amurensis
Pacific (or Eastern) Reef-Heron
(Kuro-sagi) ______
SP,FW HI
NS
Egretta s. sacra
Chinese Pond Heron (JAr) (Akagashira-sagi)
______ SP HI
Ardeola bacchus (monotypic)
Cinnamon (or Chestnut) Bittern (Ryukyu-yoshi-goi) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (monotypic)
Yellow (or Chinese Little)
Bittern (Yoshi-goi) ______ FW NS(o)
Ixobrychus sinensis (now monotypic)
Brown Booby (Katsuodori) ______ SP,FW NS
Sula leucogaster plotus
Great Cormorant (Kawa-u) ______ SP,FW
Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae (often considered synonymous with P.
c. sinensis)
Japanese (or Temminck's)
Cormorant (JAneb) (Umi-u) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Phalacrocorax capillatus (monotypic)
Pelagic Shag (or Cormorant) (Hime-u) ______ SP,FW HI
Phalacrocorax p. pelagicus
Red-faced Shag (or Cormorant) (JAr) (Chishima-ugarasu)
______
FW
Phalacrocorax urile (monotypic)
Osprey (Misago) ______ SP,FW
HI NS
Pandion h. haliaetus (the single member of its genus)
Crested Honey Buzzard
(Hachikuma)
______ SP
HI(o)
Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis
Black (-eared) Kite (Tobi) ______ SP,FW HI NS (part of the widespread Black Kite, Milvus
migrans, across Eurasia
& Africa)
Milvus migrans lineatus
White-tailed Eagle (nt) (Ojiro-washi) ______ SP,FW (has also been called
White-tailed Fish Eagle)
Haliaeetus a. albicilla

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)
Steller's Sea Eagle (t3) (O-washi) ______ FW (has also been called
Steller's Fish Eagle) (A morph, at one time called H. p. niger, all-black
except for the white tail, in Korea & adjacent Siberia, may now well
be extinct.)
Haliaeetus p. pelagicus

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. (photo during a FONT tour)
Northern Hen Harrier
(Haiiro-chuhi) ______ SP,FW HI (has
been called Hen Harrier in Europe)
Circus c. cyaneus
Eastern Marsh Harrier (Chuhi) ______ SP,FW HI (has
been considered by some as conspecific with the Western Marsh Harrier of Europe, and
was then called
Northern Marsh Harrier)
Circus spilonotus
Northern Goshawk (O-taka) ______ SP,FW NS
Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae
Eurasian
Sparrowhawk (Hai-taka) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Accipiter nisus nisosimilis
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Tsumi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Accipiter gularis iwasakii
Common Buzzard (Nosuri) ______ SP,FW
Buteo buteo japonicus
Roughleg (has been called either
Rough-legged Hawk or Rough-legged
Buzzard) (Kaeshi-nosuri) ______ FW
Buteo lagopus menzbieri
Grey-faced Buzzard (Sashiba) ______ SP,FW
HI NS
Butastur indicus (monotypic)
Greater Spotted Eagle (JAr) (Karafuto-washi) ______ FW
Aquila clanga (monotypic)
Mountain Hawk-Eagle
(Kuma-taka) ______ FW
Spizaetus nipalensis orientalis (this subspecies of Japan
rather distinct from populations on mainland Asia)
Common Kestrel (Chogenbo) ______ SP,FW NS
Falco tinnunculus interstinctus
Merlin (Ko-chogenbo) ______ FW
Falco columbarius pacificus
Eurasian Hobby
(Chigo-hayabusa) ______ SP, FW HI
Falco s. subbuteo
Peregrine Falcon (Hayabusa) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Falco peregrinus japonensis
Gyrfalcon (Shiro-hayabusa)
______ FW
Falco rusticolus (monotypic, but with a
variation in color)
Swinhoe's (or Asian Yellow)
Rail (Shima-kuina) ______ FW
NS(o)
Coturnicops exquisitus (monotypic)
Water Rail (Kuina) ______ FW
Rallus aquaticus indicus
Okinawa Rail (t2) (JAe) (Yambaru-kuina) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Gallirallus okinawae (monotypic)

An Okinawa Rail photographed during a FONT tour.
The species is endemic to northern Okinawa.
Ruddy-breasted Crake (Hi-kuina) ______ SP,FW NS
Porzana fusca erythrothorax
Baillon's Crake (Hime-kuina) ______ FW NS(o)
Porzana p. pusilla
White-breasted Waterhen (Shirohara-kuina) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Amaurornis p. phoenicurus
Common Moorhen (Ban) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Gallinula chloropus indica
Watercock (Tsuru-kuina)
______ SP NS
Gallicrex cinerea
Eurasian Coot (O-ban) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Fulica a. atra|
Common Crane (JAr) (Kuro-zuru) ______ FW
Grus grus lilfordi
Hooded Crane (t3) (Nabe-zuru) ______ FW (in photo below)
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.
Sandhill Crane (JAr) (Kanada-zuru) ______ FW (in photo above)
Grus c. canadensis
White-naped Crane (t3) (Mana-zuru) ______ FW
Grus vipio (monotypic)

White-naped Cranes photographed during a FONT tour in Kyushu
Red-crowned (or Japanese) Crane (t2)
(Tancho) ______ SP,FW
Grus japonensis (monotypic)


Two photos above of Red-crowned Cranes,
taken during FONT Winter Tours in Hokkaido
Siberian Crane (t1) (JAr) (Sodeguro-zuru) ______ FW
Grus leucogeranus


Two photos of Siberian Cranes taken during FONT Japan Winter Tours in
Kyushu,
the upper photo in 2000; the lower photo in 2004
Demoiselle Crane
(JAr) (Aneha-zuru)
______ FW
Anthropoides virgo (monotypic)

A Demoiselle Crane, with Hooded Cranes, in Kyushu
during a FONT Winter Tour in Japan in 2000
(photo by Trevor Ford)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (JAr) (Renkaku)
______ FW NS(o)
Hydrophasianus chirurgus (the single member
of its genus)
Greater Painted Snipe
(Tama-shigi) ______ SP,FW NS
Rostratula b. benghalensis (the single member of its genus)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (JAr)
(Miyakodori) ______
SP,FW
Haematopus ostralegus
osculans
Black-winged Stilt (Seitaka-shigi) ______ SP,FW
NS
Himantopus h. himantopus
Pied Avocet (JAr) (Sorihashi-seitaka-shigi)
______ FW NS
Recurvirostra avosetta (monotypic)
Oriental Pratincole (Tsubame-chidori) ______
SP NS(o)
Glareola maldivarum (monotypic)
Long-billed Plover (nt)
(Ikaru-chidori) ______ SP,FW NS
Charadrius placidus japonicus
Little Ringed Plover
(Ko-chidori) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Charadrius dubius curonicus
Common Ringed Plover (JArw)
(Hajiro-ko-chidori) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Charadrius hiaticula tundrae
Kentish Plover
(Shiro-chidori) ______ SP,FW
NS (Eurasian birds were considered conspecific with those in North
America & South America called the Snowy Plover)
Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus
Lesser Sand Plover (has been called
Mongolian Plover) (Medai-chidori) ______ SP,FW
HI NS
Charadrius mongolus stegmanni
Greater Sand Plover (JAr) (O-medai-chidori) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Charadrius l. leschenaultii
Pacific Golden
Plover (Munaguro) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Pluvialis fulva (monotypic)
Grey (or Black-bellied) Plover (Daizen) ______ SP,FW NS
Pluvialis s. squatarola
Grey-headed Lapwing (nt) (Keri) ______ SP,FW NS
Vanellus cinereus (monotypic)
Northern Lapwing (Tageri) ______ FW NS
Vanellus vanellus (monotypic)
Great Knot (Oba-shigi)
______
SP
Calidris tenuirostris (monotypic)
Red Knot (JAr) (Ko-oba-shigi)
______
SP
Calidris canutus rogersi
Temminck's Stint (Ojiro-tonen) ______ FW NS
Calidris temminckii (monotypic)
Red-necked Stint (JArw) (Tonen) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Calidris ruficollis (monotypic)

A Red-necked Stint in Japan
in non-breeding plumage
Little Stint (JAr) (Yoroppa-tonen) ______
SP NS(o)
Calidris minuta (monotypic)
Long-toed Stint (Hibari-shigi)
______
FW HI NS
Calidris subminuta (monotypic)
Sanderling (Miyubi-shigi)
______ SP,FW NS
Calidris alba rubida
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Uzura-shigi)
______ SP NS
Calidris acuminata
(monotypic)

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Japan.
This species has been seen during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring.
Curlew Sandpiper
(Saruhama-shigi) ______
SP NS
Calidris ferruginea (monotypic)

Curlew Sandpiper
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Dunlin (Hama-shigi) ______ SP,FW NS
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)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Kirai)
______
SP
Limicola falcinellus sibirica (the single
member of its genus)
Ruddy Turnstone (Kyojo-shigi) ______ SP,FW HI
NS
Arenaria i. interpres
Ruff / Reeve (Erimaki-shigi) ______
FW NS
Philomachus pugnax (monotypic, and the
single member of its genus)
Eurasian Woodcock (Yama-shigi) ______ FW NS
Scolopax rusticola (monotypic)
Amami Woodcock (t3) (JAe) (Amami-yama-shigi) ______ FW NS(o)
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.
Latham's (or Japanese) Snipe (nt) (JAneb)
(Oji-shigi) ______
SP HI
Gallinago hardwickii (monotypic)
Common Snipe (Ta-shigi) ______ SP,FW HI NS (has been considered conspecific with Wilson's Snipe of North America, Gallinago delicata)
Gallinago g. gallinago
Solitary Snipe (Ao-shigi)
______ FW
Gallinago solitaria japonica
Pin-tailed Snipe (JAr) (Hario-shigi) ______ FW NS(o)
Gallinago stenura (monotypic)
Swinhoe's Snipe (JAr) (Chuji-shigi) ______ FW NS(o)
Gallinago megola (monotypic)
Jack Snipe
(JAr) (Ko-shigi)
______
SP HI(o)
Lymnocryptes minimus
(monotypic, with nipponensis merged) (the single member of its
genus)
Spotted Redshank (JArw) (Tsuru-shigi) ______ FW
NS(o)
Tringa erythropus (monotypic)
Common Redshank (JAr) (Akaashi-shigi) ______ SP,FW
NS
Tringa totanus eurhinus
Common Greenshank (Aoashi-shigi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Tringa nebularia (monotypic)
Marsh Sandpiper (Ko-aoasi-shigi) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Tringa stagnatilis
(monotypic)
Green Sandpiper (Kusa-shigi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Tringa ochropus (monotypic)
Wood Sandpiper (Takabu-shigi) ______ SP,FW
HI NS
Tringa glareola (monotypic)

Wood Sandpiper
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Terek Sandpiper
(Sorihashi-shigi) ______ SP HI
NS
Xenus cinereus (monotypic, and the single
member of its genus)
Grey-tailed (or Polynesian)
Tattler (Kiashi-shigi) ______ SP,FW HI
NS
Heteroscelus brevipes (monotypic)
Common Sandpiper (Iso-shigi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Actitis hypoleucos (monotypic)
Black-tailed Godwit (Oguro-shigi) ______
SP HI NS
Limosa limosa melanuroides
Bar-tailed Godwit (O-sorihashi-shigi) ______ SP,FW
NS
Limosa lapponica baueri
Eurasian Curlew (Daishaku-shigi) ______ SP,FW
NS
Numenius arquata orientalis
Eastern Curlew (nt)
(Horoku-shigi) ______
SP,FW NS (has been called
Far Eastern Curlew)
Numenius madagascariensis (monotypic)
"Eurasian" Whimbrel (Chushaku-shigi) ______ SP,FW
HI NS
Numenius phaeopus variegatus
Red-necked Phalarope (Haiiro-hireashi-shigi) ______
SP,FW
Phalaropus lobatus (monotypic)
Red (or Grey) Phalarope (Haiiro-hireashi-shigi)
______
SP
Phalaropus fulicarius (monotypic)
Parasitic Jaeger (or Arctic Skua) (Kuro-tozokukamome)
______
SP
Stercorarius parasiticus (monotypic)
Pomarine Skua (or Pomarine Jaeger) (Tozokukamome) ______ FW
Stercorarius pomarinus (monotypic)
South Polar Skua (O-tozokukamo)
______
SP
Catharacta
(or
Stercorarius)
maccormicki (monotypic)
Great Black-headed (or
Pallas') Gull (O-zuguro-kamone) ______
FW
Larus ichthyaetus (monotypic)
Saunder's Gull (t3) (Zuguro-kamome) ______ FW
NS
Larus saundersi (monotypic)
Common Black-headed Gull (Yuri-kamome) ______ SP,FW NS
Larus ridibundus (monotypic)


Common Black-headed Gulls are seen during FONT Japan Tours
in the winter
(above), and in the spring
(below).
(photos by Armas Hill)
Black-tailed (or Japanese)
Gull (JAneb) (Umineko) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Larus crassirostris (monotypic)
"Kamchatka Gull" (Kamome) ______ SP,FW
(part of the Mew Gull, of North America, that's been called
the Common Gull Europe)
Larus canus kamtschatschensis
Vega Gull (Seguro-kamome) _______ SP,FW HI NS (considered
by some distinct from Herring Gull of Europe, Larus
argentatus, and the American Herring Gull, Larus
a. smithsonianus)
Larus (argentatus) vegae


Upper photo: a first-year Vega Gull
Lower photo: an adult Vega Gull (left) & an adult Slaty-backed Gull
(right)
"Heuglin's" Lesser Black-backed
Gull ______ FW
(in PG2)
Larus fuscus heuglini
"Mongolian" Yellow-legged Gull ______ SP,FW
(part of the "Caspian (or Pontic) Gull"
- of the Yellow-legged Gull; previously part of Herring Gull)
Larus cachinnans mongolicus
Thayer's Gull (Kanada-kamome)
______
FW
Larus thayeri (monotypic)
Slaty-backed Gull (O-seguro-kamome) ______ SP,FW HI
Larus schistisagus
(monotypic)

A first-year Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull (Washi-kamome) ______ SP,FW HI
Larus glaucescens (monotypic)
Glaucous Gull (Shiro-kamome) ______ SP,FW
Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus
Iceland Gull (JAr) (Aisurando-kamome)
______ FW
Larus glaucoides kumlieni
Ross' Gull (JAr) (Hime-kubiwa-kamone)
______
FW
Rhodostethia rosea (monotypic, and the single member of its
genus)
Black-legged Kittiwake (Mitsuyubi-kamome) ______ SP,FW
Rissa tridactyla (now monotypic, with pollicaris merged)
Gull-billed Tern (Hashibuto-ajisashi) ______ FW NS(o)
Sterna (formerly Gelocica) n. nilotica
Roseate Tern (nt)
(Beni-ajisashi) ______
SP NS(o)
Sterna dougallii bangsi
Black-naped Tern (Eriguro-ajisashi)
______ SP NS(o)
Sterna s. sumatrana
Common Tern
(Ajisashi) ______
SP
Sterna hirundo longipennis
Little Tern (Ko-ajisashi)
______
SP NS
(closely related to Least
Tern of North America)
Sternula (formerly Sterna) albifrons sinensis
Whiskered Tern (Kurohara-ajisashi) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Chlidonias hybridus javanica
Common Murre (or Guillemot)
(Umigarasu) ______ SP,FW
Uria aalge inornata
Thick-billed Murre (or Brunnich's
Guillemot) (Hashibuto-umigarasu) ______ FW
Uria lomvia arra
Spectacled Guillemot (Keimafuri)
______
SP,FW
Cepphus carbo (monotypic)
Pigeon Guillemot
(Umibato) ______ FW
Cepphus columba snowi
Long-billed Murrelet (Madara-umisuzume)
______ FW
Brachyramphus perdix (monotypic)
Ancient Murrelet (Umisuzume) ______ SP,FW
(the Japanese word "umisuzume"
translates to "sea sparrow")
Synthliboramphus a. antiquus
(the other subspecies, S. a, microrhynchos, at Commander Is. in northeast
Asia)
Japanese Murrelet (t3) (JAe) (Kanmuri-umisuzume)
______
SP,FW
Synthliboramphus wumizusume (monotypic)

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
Crested Auklet (Etorofu-umisuzume) ______ SP,FW
Aethia cristatella (monotypic)
Least Auklet (Ko-umisuzume) ______ FW
Aethia pusilla (monotypic)
Rhinoceros Auklet (Utou) ______ SP,FW
Cerorhinca monocerata (monotypic, and the single member of its
genus)
Horned Puffin
(Tsunomedori) ______ SP
Fratercula corniculata (monotypic)
Tufted Puffin (JAr) (Etopirika) ______ FW
Fratercula (formerly Lunda) cirrhata (monotypic)
Common (or Feral) Pigeon (i) (Dobato) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Columba l. livia
Japanese (or Black) Wood-Pigeon (nt)
(JAneb)
(Karasu-bato)
______ SP,FW HI
NS
Columba j. janthina
Oriental Turtle Dove
(Kiji-bato) ______ SP,FW HI
NS
Streotopelia orientalis
Streotopelia o. orientalis
(on Hokkaido, Honshu, & Kyushu)
Streotopelia o. stimpsoni (on Amami & Okinawa)
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (nt)
(Ao-bato) ______
SP,FW
Treron
(formerly
Sphenurus)
s. sieboldii
Whistling Green Pigeon (nt) (Zuaka-ao-bato) ______ SP,FW
NS(o) (has also rather inappropriately been called Red-capped
Green Pigeon)
Treron (formerly Sphenurus) formosae permagus

A Whistling Green Pigeon photographed during a FONT tour in Amami
Rose-ringed (or
Ring-necked) Parakeet (i)
(Wakake-honsei-inko)
______ SP
Psittacula krameri
Common Cuckoo (Kakko)
______
SP HI
Cuculus canorus telephonus
Oriental Cuckoo (Tsutsudori)
______
SP HI
Cuculus optatus (monotypic)
Lesser Cuckoo (an formerly alternate name
of Little Cuckoo inappropriate as there is a bird with that name in South
America) (Hototo-gisu) ______
SP HI NS
Cuculus poliocephalus (monotypic)
Northern (formerly Horsfield's
or Hodgson's) Hawk-Cuckoo
(Juichi) ______ SP
Cuculus (fugax) hyperythrus (monotypic)
Blakiston's Fish Owl (t2) (Shima-fukuro) ______ FW
Bubo b. blakistoni (genus Bubo rather than Ketupa)

The big & rare Blakiston's Fish Owl has been seen
during every FONT Japan Tour in Hokkaido in the Late-Fall & Winter
Japanese Scops-Owl
(O-konoha-zuku) ______ FW HI NS (formerly considered part of Collared Scops-Owl of mainland Asia, Otus lettia)
Otus semitorques pryeri
Oriental Scops-Owl (Konoha-zuku) ______
SP NS(o) (was at one treated as
a subspecies of the Common Scops-Owl, Otus
scops)
Otus sunia japonicus
Elegant (or Ryukyu) Scops-Owl (nt) (neb)
(Ryukyu-konoha-zuku)
______ SP,FW NS(o) (recently considered part of Celebes (or
Sulawesi)
Scops-Owl of se Asian islands, Otus
manadensis - prior to that, considered part of Oriental
Scops-Owl, and at one time, treated as a subspecies of the Common
Scops-Owl,
Otus scops)
Otus e. elegans (other subspecies
are on islands off Taiwan and the Philippines)
Brown (or Oriental) Hawk-Owl (Aoba-zuku) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Ninox scutulata japonica
Ural Owl (Fukuro) ______ FW
Strix uralensis
Strix u. japonica (on Hokkaido)
(on that island formerly S. u. hondoensis)
Strix u. fuscescens (on Kyushu)
Long-eared Owl (Torafu-zuku)
______
SP,FW NS(o)
Asio o. otus
Short-eared Owl (Komini-zuku) ______ FW
Asio f. flammeus
Grey Nightjar (Yotaka) ______
SP HI (formerly called Jungle Nightjar)
Caprimulgus indicus jotaka
White-throated (or Northern) Needletail
(Hario-amatsubame) ______
SP NS(o)
Hirundapus c. caudacutus
House Swift (Hime-amatsubame) ______ SP,FW NS
Apus nipalensis subfurcatus
Fork-tailed Swift
(Amatsu-bame) ______
SP HI NS
(has also been called
Pacific, or White-rumped, Swift)
Apus p. pacificus
Ruddy Kingfisher (Aka-shobin) ______
SP HI NS
Halcyon coromanda
Halcyon c. major
(on Kyushu)
Halcyon c. bangsi
(on Amami & Okinawa)

Ruddy Kingfishers have been seen during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring
in Kyushu, Amami, & Okinawa
Black-capped Kingfisher (JAr) (Yama-shobin)
______ SP HI(o)
Halcyon pileata (monotypic)
Common Kingfisher (Kawasemi)
______
SP,FW NS
Alcedo atthis bengalensis
Crested
Kingfisher (Yamasemi) ______ SP,FW (was called Greater Pied Kingfisher)
Ceryle lugubris
Ceryle l. pallida (on Hokkaido)
Ceryle l. lugubris (on Honshu & Kyushu)
Oriental Dollarbird (Bupposo) ______
SP HI(o)
(closely related
to the Broad-billed Roller of Africa)
Eurystomus orientalis calonyx
Eurasian Hoopoe (JAr) (Yatsugashira) ______ SP HI(o)
Upupa e. epops (as U. e. saturata now merged)
Japanese Green Woodpecker (JAe) (Ao-gera) ______ SP,FW
Picus awokera
Picus a. awokera (on
Honshu)
Picus a. horii (on
Kyushu)
(birds are larger & lighter
in the north, smaller & darker in the south)

Japanese Green Woodpecker,
one of the country's endemic birds
Grey-headed
Woodpecker (Yama-gera) ______ SP,FW
Picus canus jessoensis
Black Woodpecker (Kuma-gera) ______ SP,FW
Dryocopus m. martius
Okinawa (or Pryer's) Woodpecker
(t1) (JAe) (Noguchi-gera) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Sapheopipo noguchii

The Okinawa Woodpecker, one of the
(if not the) rarest of woodpeckers.
Amami (or Owston's) Woodpecker (JAe)
(O-aka-gera) ______ SP,FW NS(o) (has
been considered a race of the White-backed Woodpecker)
Dendrocopos (formerly
Picoides)
(leucotos) owstoni
White-backed Woodpecker (O-aka-gera) ______ SP,FW
Dendrocopos (formerly
Picoides)
leucotos subcirrus
(this subspecies
endemic to Hokkaido)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Aka-gera) ______ SP,FW
Dendrocopos (formerly Picoides) major japonicus

The Japanese race of the Great Spotted Woodpecker,
a widespread species across Eurasia
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Ko-aka-gera) ______ FW
Dendrocopos
(formerly Picoides) minor amurensis
Japanese Pygmy
Woodpecker (Ko-gera) ______ SP,FW NS
Dendrocopos (formerly Picoides) kizuki
Dendrocopos k. ijimae (on Hokkaido)
Dendrocopos k. seebohmi (on Honshu)
Dendrocopos k. amamii (on Amami)
Dendrocopos k. kizuki
(on Kyushu & Okinawa)
Fairy Pitta (t3) (Yairocho) ______
SP (at one time, by some, considered conspecific with
Blue-winged Pitta, Pitta brachyura)
Pitta nympha (monotypic)
Greater Short-toed Lark (JAr)
(Hime-kotenshi)
______
SP
HI(o)
Calandrella cinerea longipennis
Eurasian Skylark (Hibari) ______ SP,FW HI
Alauda arvensis japonica ("Japanese
Skylark") (a resident in much of Japan)
Alauda arvensis pekinensis (HI)
(A. a. pekinensis & A. a. lonnbergi
are subspecies from mainland Asia that have occurred in Japan)
Barn Swallow (Tsubame) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Hirundo rustica
(2 subspecies recorded in
Japan: Hirundo r. gutturalis (mostly),
and Hirundo r. saturata)
Pacific Swallow (Ryukyu-tsubame) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Hirundo tahitica namiyae
Red-rumped Swallow
(Koshiaka-tsubame) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Cecropis
(formerly Hirundo)
daurica japonica
Sand Martin (or Bank Swallow) (Shodo-tsubame)
______
SP HI
Riparia riparia iijimae
Asian House Martin (Iwa-tsubame) ______ SP,FW
NS (was considered conspecific
with the Common House Martin
of Europe, Delichon urbica)
Delichon d. dasypus
Richard's Pipit (JAr) (Mamijiro-tahibari)
______ SP HI(o)
Anthus novaeseelandiae
Olive-backed Pipit (Binzui) ______ SP,FW HI NS (has been called Indian Tree Pipit)
Anthus h. hodgsoni (Anthus h. yunnanensis also occurs)

An Olive-backed PIpit, photographed during the
FONT January/February 2009 Tour in Japan
(photo by Karl Frafjord)
Tree Pipit
(Yoroppa-binzui) ______ SP
HI
Anthus trivialis haringtoni (probably this subspecies)
Red-throated Pipit (Muneaka-tahibari) ______ FW NS
Anthus c. cervinus
"Siberian" Buff-bellied Pipit
(Tahibari) ______ SP,FW HI NS (was
part of the Water Pipit of Eurasia, but now considered conspecific with
the Buff-bellied (or American) Pipit of North America, or
possibly it is a distinct species)
Anthus (rubescens) japonicus
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (JAr) (Tsumenaga-sekirei)
______ SP HI(o)
Motacilla tschutschensis simillima
Grey Wagtail (Ki-sekirei) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Motacilla cinerea robusta
White Wagtail (Hojiro / Haku-sekirei) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Motacilla alba
Motacilla a. lugens (throughout Japan; has been called Black-backed Wagtail)
Motacilla a. leucopsis (on Kyushu & Okinawa) NS
Motacilla a. ocularis (on Hegura Is.) HI(o)
Japanese Wagtail (JAe) (Seguro-sekirei) ______ SP,FW NS
Motacilla grandis
Brown-eared Bulbul (JAneb) (Hiyodori)
______
SP,FW NS
Microscelis
(formerly
Hypsipetes)
amaurotis
Microscelis a. amaurotis (on
Hokkaido, Honshu, & Kyushu)
Microscelis a. ogawae (on Amami)
Microscelis a. pryeri (on Okinawa)
(other subspecies occur on other, smaller, Japanese
islands & in Taiwan)

Brown-eared Bulbul, photographed during the FONT Jan/Feb 2009 tour in Japan
(photo by Karl Frafjord)
Light-vented Bulbul (Shirogashira) ______ FW
NS(o)
Pycnonotus
sinensis orii
Ashy Minivet (Sanshokui) ______
SP HI
Pericrocotus divaricatus (monotypic, with
tegimae split)
Ryukyu Minivet (JAe) (Ryukyu-sanshokui) ______ FW NS
(was considered conspecific with the Ashy
Minivet)
Pericrocotus tegimae

Ryukyu Minivets have been seen during FONT Japan Tours
in Kyushu, Amami, & Okinawa
Japanese Waxwing (nt) (Hi-renjaku) ______ SP,FW NS (not
a Japanese breeder)
Bombycilla japonica (monotypic)
Bohemian Waxwing
(Ki-renjaku) ______ SP,FW NS
Bombycilla garrulus (centralasiae)
Brown (or Pallas') Dipper
(Kawagarasu) ______ SP,FW
Cinclus p. pallasii
Northern (or Winter) Wren (Misosazai) ______ SP,FW
Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus
Japanese Accentor (JAe) (Kaya-kuguri)
______
SP,FW
Prunella rubida fervida (on Hokkaido)
Japanese Robin (JAneb)
(Komadori) ______
SP HI
Erithacus a. akahige
Ryukyu Robin (nt)
(Akahige) ______ FW NS(o)
Erithacus komadori
Erithacus k. komadori (on
Amami)
Erithacus k. namiyei (on Okinawa)
(From the Japanese names for
the Japanese & Ryukyu Robins, notice that
the
scientific names for the 2 species were erroneously applied.)

Ryukyu Robin, seen during FONT Japan Tours in Amami & Okinawa
Rufous-tailed (or Swinhoe's) Robin (Shima-goma)
______ SP HI(o)
Luscinia sibilans (monotypic)
Siberian Rubythroat (No-goma)
______
SP,FW HI NS
Luscinia calliope camtschhatkensis
Bluethroat (JArw) (Ogawa-komadori) ______ SP,FW
HI,NS
Luscinia s. svecicus
Siberian Blue Robin
(Ko-ruri)
______ SP HI
Luscinia cyane bachaiensis
Daurian Redstart
(Jo-bitaki) ______ FW SP HI NS
Phoenicurus a. auroreus
Black Redstart (JAr) (Kuro-jo-bitaki) ______ SP HI(o)
Phoenicurus ochruros
phoenicuroides
Eurasian Stone Chat (No-bitaki)
______
SP HI
Saxicola torquatus stejnegeri ("Siberian
Stone Chat")
Red-flanked Bluetail (has also been
called Siberian Bluechat, or Orange-flanked
Bush-Robin) (Ruri-bitaki) _____ SP,FW HI NS
Tarsiger c. cyanurus
Desert Wheatear (JAr) (note
following list)
(Sabaku-hitaki)
______
FW
Oenanthe d. deserti
Pied Wheatear (JAr) ( )
______ SP HI(o)
Oenanthe pleschanka
Isabelline Wheater (JAr) ( ) ______
SP HI(o)
Oenanthe isabellina
Blue Rock Thrush (Iso-hiyodori) ______ SP,FW HI NS (a
subspecies of the Blue Rock Thrush, with a reddish belly)
Monticola solitarius philippensis
White-throated Rock Thrush (JAr) (Hima-isohiyo)
______ SP HI(o)
Monticola gularis (monotypic)
White's (Ground)
Thrush (was considered conspecific with the Scaly (Ground) Thrush of
southeast Asia) (Tora-tsugumi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Zoothera aurera toratugumi
Amami Thrush (t1) (JAe) (O-tora-tsugumi) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Zoothera amami (monotypic)
Siberian (Ground) Thrush (Mamijiro)
______ SP HI
(in PG2)
Zoothera sibirica davisoni
Brown-headed Thrush (JAneb) (has
been called Brown Thrush) (Akahara) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Turdus c. chrysolaus
Pale Thrush
(Shirohara) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Turdus pallidus (monotypic)
Eye-browed (or Grey-headed)
Thrush (Mamichajinai) ______ SP,FW HI
Turdus obscurus (monotypic)
Dusky Thrush (JArs)
(Tsugumi) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Turdus eunomus (monotypic)
Naumann's Thrush (JAr) ______ SP,FW
HI (was considered conspecific
with the Dusky Thrush)
Turdus naumanni (monotypic)
Japanese (Grey) Thrush (This species has
been called Grey Thrush, but there's another species with that name in
Africa. This name notwithstanding, the species is not endemic to Japan,
occurring also in China & Korea.) (Kuro-tsugumi)
______
SP,FW HI
NS
Turdus cardis (monotypic)
Asian Stubtail (Yabusame) ______
SP HI
(was called Short-tailed Bush Warbler)
Cettia s. squameiceps
Japanese Bush Warbler
(Uguisu) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Cettia diphone
Cettia d. sakhalinensis (on Honshu & Kyushu, non-breeding, winter)
Cettia d. cantans
(on Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, breeding)
Cettia d. riukiuensis (on Amami & Okinawa)

Japanese Bush Warbler seen and heard during FONT Japan Tours
in the Spring & the Winter
Zitting Cisticola (Sekka) ______ SP,FW NS
(was called Fan-tailed
Warbler, but there's a species so-named in Mexico, totally unrelated;
also, now the cisticolas are not in the same family as the Old World
Warblers)
Cisticola juncidis brunniceps
Lanceolated (Grasshopper) Warbler (Makino-sennyu)
______
SP
Locustella lancolata hendersonii
Gray's Grasshopper Warbler (Ezo-sennyu)
______ SP HI(o)
Locustella fasciolata amnicola
Marsh Grassbird (t3) (O-sekka)
______
SP (has also been called Japanese Marsh
Warbler)
Megalurus p. pryeri
Black-browed (or Schenk's) Reed Warbler
(Ko-yoshikiri) ______
SP HI
Acrocephalus bistrigiceps (monotypic)
Oriental Reed Warbler
(O-yoshikiri) ______
SP HI
(was considered conspecific with the Great Reed Warbler of Europe, Acrocephalus
arundinaceus)
Acrocephalus orientalis
Eastern Crowned Warbler
(Sendai-mushikui) ______
SP HI
Phylloscopus coronatus (monotypic)

The Eastern Crowned Warbler, found during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Ezo-mushikui)
______
SP HI (was
part of the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler)
Phylloscopus borealoides (monotypic)
Ijima's Leaf Warbler (t3) (JAeb)
(Ijima-mushikui) ______ FW NS(o)
(has historically been included
in Eastern & Western Crowned Warblers and in
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler)
Phylloscopus ijimae (monotypic)
Arctic Warbler (Meboso-mushikui) ______ FW HI NS
Phylloscopus b. borealis
(another subspecies, Phylloscopus b. xanthodryas, also occurs in
Japan)
Yellow-browed Warbler (JAr) (Kimayu-mushikui) ______ FW HI NS
Phylloscopus inornatus (monotypic)
Dusky Warbler (JAr) (Muji-sekka)
______
SP HI(o)
Phylloscopus f. fuscatus
Radde's Warbler (JAr) (Karafuto-muji-sekka)
______ SP HI(o)
Phylloscopus schwarzi (monotypic)
Goldcrest (Kikuitadaki)
______
SP,FW
Regulus regulus japonensis
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (O-ruri)
______
SP HI
Cyanoptila c. cyanomelana

The Blue-and-white Flycatcher, seen & heard
during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Ko-same-bitaki)
______
SP HI
Muscicapa d. dauurica
Dark-sided Flycatcher (was called
Siberian Flycatcher; another
name that has been given to this bird, Sooty Flycatcher, inappropriate
as there's a bird so-named in Africa) (Same-bitaki)
______
SP HI
Muscicapa s. sibirica
Gray-streaked
Flycatcher (Ezo-bitaki) ______ SP
HI(o)
Muscicapa griseisticta (monotypic)
Taiga Flycatcher (JAr) (Ojiro-bitaki) ______
SP HI(o) (was part of the Red-breasted Flycatcher,
Muscicapa parva)
Muscicapa albicilla (monotypic)
Mugimaki Flycatcher (JAr) (see
note following list) (Mugimaki) ______ SP,FW HI
Ficedula mugimaki (monotypic)
Narcissus Flycatcher (JAneb) (Ki-bitaki) ______ SP
HI
Ficedula narcissina (monotypic)


Two photos above of Narcissus Flycatchers, one of the nicest birds
to be seen during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring
Ryukyu Flycatcher (t2) (JAe) (Ryukyu Ki-bitaki)
______
SP,FW NS(o)
(was considered as part of the Narcissus Flycatcher)
Ficedula owstoni (monotypic)
Yellow-rumped (or
Tricolored)
Flycatcher (JAr) (Mamijiro-ki-bitaki)
______ SP HI(o)
Ficedula zanthopygia (monotypic)
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher
(nt) (JAneb)
(Sankocho) ______
SP NS HI
(has also been called Black Paradise Flycatcher)
Terpsiphone atrocaudata illex
(on Kyushu & Nansei Shoto islands)
Terpsiphone a.
atrocaudata (on Honshu, & Hegura Island)
Long-tailed Bushtit (Enaga) ______ SP,FW (has been called
Long-tailed Tit)
Aegithalos caudatus
Aegithalos c. japonicus (on Hokkaido)
Aegithalos c. trivirgatus (on Honshu)
Aegithalos c. kiusiuensis (on Kyushu)
(A.c. japonicus
in the Caudatus group, with head & throat white, A.c.
trivirgatus & kiusiuensis in the
Europaeus group, with head having
dark lateral crown stripes)
Marsh Tit (Hashibuto-gara) ______ SP,FW
Poecile (formerly Parus) palustris hensoni
Willow Tit (Ko-gara) ______ SP,FW
Poecile (formerly Parus) montanus restrictus
(Poecile m. sachalinensis, slightly paler, from Sakhalin Island, may occur
on Hokkaido as a vagrant.)
Varied Tit (JAneb)
(Yama-gara) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Poecile (formerly Parus) varius
Poecile v. varius
(on Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu)
Poecile v. amami (on Amami & Okinawa)
(other subspecies occur on various Japanese islands, Poecile v.
yakushimensis also on Amami Is. as a non-breeding visitant)
Coal Tit (Hi-gara) ______ SP,FW HI
Periparus (formerly Parus) ater insularis
Great Tit (Shiju-kara) ______ SP,FW NS
Parus major
Parus m. minor (on Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu)
Parus m. amamiensis (on Amami)
Parus m. okinawae (on Okinawa)
(these 3 subspecies in the
Minor
group)
Eurasian Nuthatch (Goju-kara) ______ SP,FW
Sitta europaea
Sitta e. asiatica (on
Hokkaido, a pale-breasted form)
Sitta e. amurensis (on Honshu)
Sitta e. roseilia (on Kyushu)
(these subspecies in the Europaea group)
Eurasian Treecreeper (Kivashiri) ______ FW
Certhia familiaris
Certhia f. daurica (on Hokkaido)
Certhia f. japonica (on Honshu)
(these 2 subspecies in the northern Familiaris group)
Chinese Penduline Tit (Tsurisu-gara) ______ FW (was considered
conspecific with other Penduline Tits across Eurasia - now 4
species)
Remiz consobrinus
Japanese White-eye
(Mejiro) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Zosterops japonica
Zosterops j. japonica (on Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu)
Zosterops j. loochooensis (on Amami & Okinawa)
(other subspecies occur on various, smaller, Japanese islands)
Bull-headed Shrike
(Mozu) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Lanius b. bucephalus
Brown Shrike (JArw) (Aka-mozu)
______
FW HI NS
Lanius cristatus
Lanius c. lucionensis
(in Okinawa)
Lanius c. superciliosus
(breeds on Hokkaido &
Honshu)
Tiger (or Thick-billed) Shrike (Chigo-mozu)
______ SP HI(o)
Lanius tigrinus (monotypic)
Long-tailed (or Rufous-backed)
Shrike (JAr) (Takaago-mozu)
______
FW
Lanius s. schach
Great Grey Shrike (O-mozu)
______ FW
(has been called Northern Shrike in North America)
Lanius excubitor bianchii
Eurasian Jay (Kakesu) ______ SP,FW
Garrulus glandarius
Garrulus g. brandtii (on Hokkaido)
Garrulus g. japonicus (on Honshu & Kyushu)
(2 other subspecies occur on other Japanese islands)
Lidth's Jay (t3) (JAe) (Ruri-kakesu) ______ SP,FW NS(o)
Garrulus lidthi (monotypic)

A Lidth's Jay photographed during a FONT Tour in Amami.
The species is endemic to that Japanese island,
and one smaller island nearby.
Spotted Nutcracker (Hoshi-garasu)
______
SP
Nucifraga caryocatactes japonica
(in the
Northern
group)
Azure-winged Magpie (Onaga) ______ SP,FW
Cyanopica cyana japonica
Eurasian Magpie (i) (Kasasagi)
______
FW (was
considered conspecific with Black-billed Magpie of
North America,
Pica hudsonia)
Pica pica sericea
Daurian Jackdaw (Kokumaru-garasu) ______ FW
Corvus dauuricus (monotypic)
Rook (Miyama-garasu) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Corvus frugilegus pastinator
Carrion Crow (Hashiboso-garasu) ______ SP,FW HI
Corvus corone orientalis
Large-billed Crow (Hashibuto-garasu) ______ SP,FW HI NS (was
considered conspecific with the Jungle Crow of southern Asia,
Corvus levaillantii)
Corvus macrorhynchos
Corvus m. japonensis (on Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu)
Corvus m. connectens (on Amami & Okinawa)
(1, maybe 2, other subspecies occur on various Japanese
islands)
Northern Raven (JAr) (Watari-garasu) ______ FW
Corvus corax kamtschaticus
Common Starling (JAr) (Hoshi-mukudori) ______ FW NS
Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi

The Common Starling is 1 of 6
species of starlings we've seen during FONT tours in Japan.
Occurring there in the winter, it is a
rarity.
(photo by Doris Potter)
White-cheeked (or Grey)
Starling (Mukudori) ______ SP,FW HI NS (has also been called Ashy Starling)
Sturnus cineraceus (monotypic)
White-shouldered Starling (JAr)
(Kara-mukudori) ______ FW NS (has also been called Grey-backed
Starling, or Myna)
Sturnus sinensis (monotypic)
Red-billed Starling (JAr) (Gin-mukudori) ______ FW NS (has also been called Silky Starling)
Sturnus sericeus (monotypic)
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (nt) (JAeb)
(Ko-mukudori) ______ SP
(has also been called Violet-backed Starling, or
Myna)
Sturnus philippensis (monotypic)
Daurian (or Purple-backed) Starling
(JAr) (Shiberia-mukudori ) ______
SP HI(o)
Sturnus sturninus (monotypic)
Crested Myna (i) (Hakkacho) ______ FW
Acridotheres cristatellus
Black Drongo (JAr) (Ochu)
______ SP (HIo)
Dicrurus macrocercus
(The subspecies in China is D. m. cathoecus; the subspecies endemic to
Taiwan is D. m. harterti.)
Black-naped Oriole (JAr) (Korai-uguisu)
______ SP HI(o)
Oriolus chinensis diffusus
Russet (or Cinnamon) Sparrow (Nyunai-suzume)
______
SP, FW HI
Passer r. rutilans
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Suzume) ______ SP,FW NS
Passer montanus saturatus

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is the common "city sparrow" in Tokyo.
House Sparrows don't occur in Japan.
(photo by Paul West)
Scaly-breasted (or Spotted)
Munia (i)
(Amihara) ______ SP,FW NS(o) (also called Nutmeg Mannikin)
Lonchura punctulata
Brambling (Atori) ______ SP,FW HI
Fringilla montifringilla (monotypic)

A male Brambling photographed during a FONT Japan Tour
in the Spring
(photo by Paul West)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Kawara-hiwa) ______ SP,FW HI
Carduelis sinica
(Carduelis s. minor breeds,
Carduelis s. kawarahiba a winter visitor)
Eurasian Siskin (Ma-hiwa) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Carduelis spinus (monotypic)
Common Redpoll (Beni-hiwa) ______ FW
Carduelis f. flammea
Pine Grosbeak (Ginzan-mashiko)
______
SP
Pinicola enucleator sakhalinensis
Red Crossbill (Isuka) ______ FW (called
Red Crossbill in North America)
Loxia curvirostra japonica
Asian Rosy Finch (Hagi-mashiko) ______ SP,FW HI
Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha

Asian Rosy Finches are seen during FONT Japan Tours
in the Winter
Long-tailed Rosefinch (Beni-mashiko) ______ SP,FW
HI
Uragus sibiricus sanguinolentus

A Long-tailed Rosefinch in Japan in the Winter
Pallas's Rosefinch (JAr)
(O-mashiko) ______
SP,FW
Carpodacus roseus portenkoi

The Pallas's Rosefinch has been seen during FONT Japan Tours
in both the Winter & the Spring, but more so in the Winter
Eurasian Bullfinch
(Uso) ______ SP,FW HI
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Pyrrhula p. rosacea (on Hokkaido)
Pyrrhula p. griseiventris (on Hokkaido &
Honshu, sometimes known as "Grey-bellied Bullfinch")
Japanese Grosbeak (Ikaru) ______ SP,FW HI
Eophona p. personata
Yellow-billed (or Chinese) Grosbeak (JAr)
(Ko-ikaru) ______ SP
HI(o)
Eophona m. migratoria
Hawfinch (Shime) ______ SP,FW HI
Caccothraustes caccothraustes japonicus
Snow Bunting (Yuki-hojiro) ______ FW
Plectrophenax nivalis vlasowae
Grey Bunting (JAneb)
(Kuroji) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Emberiza v. variabilis
Black-faced Bunting (Aoji) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Emberiza spodocephala personata

Black-faced Bunting
Japanese Yellow Bunting (t3) (JAeb)
(Nojiko) ______
SP,FW HI
(has also been called
Siebold's Bunting)
Emberiza sulphurata (monotypic)
Meadow Bunting
(Hijiro) ______ SP,FW HI
Emberiza cioides ciopsis
Yellow-breasted Bunting (Shima-aoji)
______
SP HI
Emberiza aureola ornata

Yellow-breasted Buntings breed on Hokkaido, Japan
in the Spring and Summer
Chestnut Bunting (JAr) (Shima-nojiko)
______ SP HI(o)
Emberiza rutila (monotypic)
Chestnut-eared (or
Grey-headed)
Bunting (Hoaka) ______ FW
Emberiza f. fucata
Rustic Bunting (Kashiradaka) ______ SP,FW HI
Emberiza rustica latifascia
Yellow-throated Bunting (Miyama-hojiro) ______ SP,FW HI NS
Emberiza e. elegans

Yellow-throated Buntings breed on mainland Asia, but in the winter
they occur in Japan.
During that season, they've been seen during FONT tours on Honshu, Kyushu,
& Amami.
The species has also been seen during FONT Japan Tours in the Spring.
Yellow-browed Bunting (JAr) (Kimayu-hojiro) ______
SP HI(o)
Emberiza chrysophrys (monotypic)
Little Bunting (JAr) (Ko-hoaka) ______
SP HI(o)
Emberiza pusilla (monotypic)
Tristram's Bunting (JAr)
(Shirohara-hojiro) ______
SP HI(o)
Emberiza tristrami (monotypic)
Common Reed Bunting (O-jurin) ______ SP,FW HI
Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina
Pallas' Reed Bunting (JAr) (Shiberia-jurin) ______ FW
Emberiza pallasi minor
Japanese Reed Bunting (nt)
(Ko-jurin) ______ SP
(has also been called
Ochre-rumped Bunting)
Emberiza y. yessoensis

A singing Japanese Reed Bunting photographed
during a FONT Japan Tour in the Spring
(photo by Paul West)
Red-billed Leiothrix (i) (Soushicho) ______ SP,FW
Leiothrix lutea
Some Notes:
The Owston's (or Amami)
Woodpecker, endemic to Amami Island, has traditionally been
considered a subspecies 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 well be a full species.
The "Japanese
Skylark" (Alauda japonica) is considered by some a valid
species, by others not. That species, or race (of the Common or
Eurasian Skylark) occurs in Japan throughout the year. There are
two undisputed races of Eurasian Skylark that have been recorded
in Japan.
The "Siberian" Buff-bellied Pipit
(Anthus rubescens japonicus) was historically considered as part of the Water Pipit (of Eurasia) (Anthus
spinoletta). More recently the race in Japan has been included
within the buff-bellied, or American Pipit (that is Anthus rubescens). However it
may be a distinct species (Anthus japonicus).
The Desert Wheatear, a
rarity in Japan, was seen in Tokyo during the January 1998 FONT
tour, present by a small river in the city. It attracted many
Japanese birders (including numerous photographers). Food was put
out for the rather tame bird. Thus, it came in closely to
observers (including us).
The Mugimaki Flycatcher, of
the Asian mainland, is a rare bird in Japan, other than on Hegura and other
offshore islands in the Sea of Japan, where it's a regular migrant, normally in May or October.
In January, the species is
normally found in southern China, Indonesia, and rarely the
Philippines. The breeding range is northern Asia: Manchuria,
southern Siberia, and west to Inner Mongolia. Migration, in the
Spring and the Fall, is normally through eastern and central
China, Korea, and Indochina. The species has been seen in Japan in the Spring
during our tour on Hegira Island in the Sea of Japan.
But more surprisingly, during the FONT 1996 Japan Winter
Birding Tour, on January 28, a pair of Mugimaki Flycatchers were
seen well in southern Kyushu. The male and female, associating
with each other, in a forested area, at a roadside stop, in the
Ebino Plateau. The male was photographed.
The Eurasian Magpie has occurred in Japan
for decades on the island of Kyushu in the area of
Fukuoka. Recently, it has also occurred locally in southwestern Hokkaido.