Birds found during FONT Spring Birding Tours

in Japan

during April, May, June

Japanese bird names follow English names.

List of mammals follows the birds.

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
(r/JA): rare in Japan
(e): Japanese endemic
(eb): endemic breeder
(neb): near-endemic breeder

HK: on the northern island of Hokkaido (p: offshore Pacific pelagic)
HN: on the main island of Honshu (p: offshore Pacific pelagic)  
HI: on Hegura Island (Hegurajima) in the Sea of Japan offshore from Honshu
KY: on the southern island of Kyushu
AM: on Amami Island (Nansei Shoto)
OK: on Okinawa (Nansei Shoto)
NS: elsewhere in Nansei Shoto (p: pelagic trip between Okinawa & Amami)   
 

Available from Focus in Nature Tours is a booklet listing all the 353 species of birds that have been found during FONT tours in Japan, noting the islands where and the months when. E-mail us if you wish a copy. There is no charge.      

Birds:

1. Pacific Loon/Diver (Shiroeri-ohamu) HNp
2. Arctic Loon/Black-throated Diver (Ohamu) HNp 
3. Little Grebe/Dabchick (Kaitsuburi) HK,HN
4. Red-necked Grebe (Akaeri-kaitsuburi) HN
5. Great Crested Grebe (Kanmuri-kaitsuburi) HN HI
6. Black-footed Albatross () HNp
7. Laysan Albatross  HNp
8. Short-tailed/Steller's Albatross (t2) HNp 
9. Northern Fulmar HNp
10. Streaked Shearwater (neb) (O-mizunagidori) HN,HI 
11. Buller's Shearwater HNp
12. Flesh-footed Shearwater  HNp
13. Sooty Shearwater  HNp
14. Short-tailed Shearwater HNp
15. Sooty/Tristram's Storm-Petrel (nt)  HNp
16. Swinhoes's Storm-Petrel (nt)  NSp 
17. Brown Booby  NSp
18. Great Cormorant (Kawa-u)  HN 
19. Japanese/Temminck's Cormorant (neb) (Umi-u) HK,HN,HI
20. Pelagic Cormorant (Hime-u) HK,HN,HI
21. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Goi-sagi) HN,HI
22. Cattle Egret  HN
23. Little Egret (Ko-sagi) HN,HI,KY,AM,OK
24. Intermediate Egret (Chu-sagi) HN,AM,OK,NS
25. Great Egret (Dai-sagi) HN,HI,OK
26. Grey Heron (Ao-sagi) HK,HN,HI,OK,NS
27. Striated Heron () HN
28. Pacific Reef-Heron  OK,NS
29. Cinnamon Bittern OK
30. Mute Swan (i)  HK,HN
31. Greylag Goose HK
32. Mandarin Duck (nt) (Oshidori) HK,HN 
33. Eurasian Wigeon (incl green-faced form) (Hidori-gamo) HK,HN,HI 
34. Common/Green-winged Teal (Ko-gamo) HN
35. Garganey (Shimaaji) HN 
36. Gadwall (Okayoshi-gamo) HN 
37. Mallard (Ma-gamo) HN,KY
38. Spot-billed Duck (Karu-gamo) HK,HN,HI,
39. Northern/Common Pintail (Onaga-gamo) HK,HN,OK
40. Northern Shoveler (Hashibiro-gamo) HN
41. Northern/Common Pochard (Hoshi-hajiro) HN
42. Tufted Duck (Kinkuro-hajiro) HK,HN
43. Greater Scaup (Suzu-gamo) HK,HN
44. Harlequin Duck HK
45. Black Scoter HK,HN
46. Smew (Miko-aisa)
47. Red-breasted Merganser (Umi-aisa) HN 
48. Common Merganser HK
49. Black (-eared) Kite (Tobi) HK,HN,HI,KY
50. White-tailed Eagle (nt) HK
51. Asian/Eastern Marsh Harrier (Chuhi) HN
52. Northern Goshawk (O-taka) HN
53. Northern Sparrowhawk  HN
54. Japanese/Lesser Sparrowhawk  KY
55. Common Buzzard (Nosuri)  HK,HN
56. Grey-faced Buzzard  HN
57. Osprey (Misago) HK,HN,AM
58. Eurasian Kestrel  HN
59. Peregrine Falcon  HN
60. Copper Pheasant (nt) (Yamadori) HN
61. (Japanese) Green Pheasant (Kiji) HN
62. Okinawa Rail (t2)  OK
63. Ruddy (-breasted) Crake  OK
64. White-breasted Waterhen  OK
65. Common Moorhen/Gallinule (Ban)  HN,AM,OK 
66. Eurasian/Common Coot (O-ban) HN
67. Greater Painted-Snipe OK
68. Eurasian/Common Oystercatcher (r/JA) (Miyakodori)  HN 
69. Black-winged Stilt (Seitaka-shigi)  HN
70. Oriental/Indian Pratincole AM
71. Long-billed Plover  HN
72. Little Ringed Plover (Ko-chidori) HK,HN,HI 
73. (Common) Ringed Plover  HK
74. Kentish Plover (considered conspecific with Snowy Plover of NA) (Shiro-chidori) HN,AM
75. Mongolian Plover/Lesser Sandplover (Medai-chidori) HN,AM   
76. Pacific/Asian Golden Plover (Munaguro)  HK,HN
77. Black-bellied/Grey Plover (Daizen) HN
78. Grey-headed Lapwing (nt)  HN
79. Great Knot (Oba-shigi)  HN
80. Red Knot  HN,AM
81. Red-necked Stint (Tonen) HN,AM
82. Little Stint (r/JA)  AM
83. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper  AM
84. Curlew Sandpiper  AM
85. Dunlin (Hama-shigi) HN
86. Broad-billed Sandpiper  HN
87. Sanderling (Miyubi-shigi) HN
88. (Ruddy) Turnstone (Kyojo-shigi)  HN,OK,NS  
89. Latham's/Japanese Snipe (nt)  HK
90. Fantail/Common Snipe (nominate race) (Ta-shigi) HN,HI 
91. Jacksnipe (r/JA) (Ko-shigi) HI
92. Common Redshank  HN,OK
93. Common Greenshank (Aoashi-shigi)  HN,AM
94. Marsh Sandpiper  AM,OK
95. Green Sandpiper (Kusa-shigi)  HN,HI
96. Wood Sandpiper  OK
97. Grey-tailed/Polynesian Tattler  HN,AM,OK
98. Terek Sandpiper  HK,AM,OK
99. Common Sandpiper (Iso-shigi) HK,HN,HI
100. Bar-tailed Godwit (O-sorihashi-shigi)  HN,AM   
101. Black-tailed Godwit  OK
102. Eurasian Curlew  HN
103. Far Eastern/Australian Curlew (nt) (Horoku-shigi)  HN  
104. Whimbrel (Chushaku-shigi)  HN
105. Red-necked Phalarope  HNp
106. Red/Grey Phalarope  HNp
107. Pomarine Jaeger/Skua  HNp
108. Parasitic Jaeger/Arctic Skua (Kuro-tozokukamome)  HNp
109. South Polar Skua  HNp
110. Black-headed Gull (Yuri-kamome) HN,HI 
111. Black-tailed/Japanese Gull (neb) (Umineko) 
112. Kamchatka Gull (has been part of Common/Mew Gull) (Kamome) 
113. Vega (Herring) Gull (Seguro-kamome) HI
114. "Mongolian" (Yellow-legged Gull) (Larus cacinnans mongolicus)
115. Little Tern (Ko-ajisashi)  
116. Japanese Murrelet (t3) (Kanmuri-umisuzume) 
117. Rhinoceros Auklet (Utou)
118. Feral Pigeon (i) (Dobato) HI
119. Rufous/Oriental Turtle Dove (Kiji-bato) HI
120. White-rumped/Fork-tailed Swift (Amatsu-bame)  
121. Eurasian/Common Kingfisher (Kawasemi)
122. Greater Pied/Crested Kingfisher (Yamasemi) 
123. (Eurasian) Hoopoe (r/JA) (Yatsugashira) HI
124. Japanese Green Woodpecker (Ao-gera)
125. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Aka-gera)
126. (Japanese) Pygmy Woodpecker (Ko-gera) 
127. (Greater) Short-toed Lark (r/JA) (Hime-kotenshi) HI 
128. Japanese (formerly part of Eurasian) Skylark (note) (Hibari) HI 
129. Barn Swallow (Tsubame) HI
130. Bank Swallow/Sand Martin (Shodo-tsubame) HI 
131. Asian House Martin (Iwa-tsubame)
132. Olive-backed/Indian Tree Pipit (Binzui) HI
133. Buff-bellied (formerly Water) Pipit (Tahibari) HI 
134. Grey Wagtail (Ki-sekirei) HI
135. Black-backed Wagtail (Hojiro/Haku-sekirei) HI 
136. Japanese Wagtail (Seguro-sekirei)
137. Brown-eared Bulbul (Hiyodori)
138. Japanese Waxwing (Hi-renjaku) 
139. Brown/Pallas' Dipper (Kawagarasu) 
140. Northern/Winter Wren (Misosazai) 
141. Japanese Robin (Komadori) HI
142. Siberian Rubythroat (No-goma) HI 
143. Daurian Redstart (Jo-bitaki) HI
144. Black Redstart (r/JA) (Kuro-jo-bitaki) HI
145. Siberian Stonechat (No-bitaki) HI 
146. Siberian Bluechat/Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Ruri-bitaki) HI
147. Red-bellied Rock Thrush (conspecific w/ Blue Rock Thrush) (Iso-hiyodori) HI 
148. Scaly/White's (Ground) Thrush (Tora-tsugumi) HI 
149. Brown/Red-bellied Thrush (neb) (Akahara) HI
150. Pale Thrush (Shirohara) HI
151. Dusky Thrush (r/JAs) (Tsugumi) HI 
152. "Naumann's Thrush" (r/JA)  HI
153. (Japanese) Grey Thrush (Kuro-tsugumi) HI
154. Asian Stubtail/Short-tailed Bush-Warbler (Yabusame) HI 
155. Japanese Bush-Warbler (Uguisu) HI
156. Zitting Cisticola/Fan-tailed Warbler (Sekka)
157. Japanese Marsh Warbler/Marsh Grassbird (t3) (O-sekka)  
158. Oriental/Eastern Great Reed Warbler (O-yoshikiri) HI  
159. Eastern Crowned (Willow/Leaf-) Warbler (Sendai-mushikui) HI 
160. Sikhalin (formerly Pale-legged) (Willow/Leaf-) Warbler (Ezo-mushikui) HI
161. Blue-and-white Flycatcher (O-ruri) HI
162. Asian Brown Flycatcher (Ko-same-bitaki) HI 
163. Narcissus Flycatcher (neb) (Ki-bitaki) HI
164. Long-tailed Tit (Enaga)
165. Willow Tit (Ko-gara)
166. Varied Tit (neb) (Yama-gara)
167. Coal Tit (Hi-gara) HI
168. Great Tit (Shiju-kara) 
169. Eurasian Nuthatch (Goju-kara)
170. Japanese White-eye (Mejiro) HI 
171. Bull-headed Shrike (Mozu) HI
172. Eurasian Jay (Kakesu)
173. Azure-winged Magpie (Onaga) 
174. Rook (Miyama-garasu) HI
175. Carrion Crow (Hashiboso-garasu) HI 
176. Large-billed/Jungle Crow (Hashibuto-garasu) HI 
177. White-cheeked/Grey Starling (Mukudori) HI
178. Russet/Cinnamon Sparrow (Nyunai-suzume) HI 
179. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Suzume)
180. Brambling (Atori) HI
181. Oriental/Grey-capped Greenfinch (Kawara-hiwa) HI 
182. Eurasian/Spruce Siskin (Ma-hiwa) HI
183. Asian Rosy Finch (Hagi-mashiko) HI
184. Long-tailed Rosefinch (Beni-mashiko) HI 
185. Pallas'/Siberian Rosefinch (r/JA) (O-mashiko)  
186. Eurasian/Common Bullfinch (Uso) HI
187. Japanese/Yellow-billed Grosbeak (Ikaru) 
188. Hawfinch (Shime) HI
189. Black-faced Bunting (Aoji) HI 
190. (Siberian) Meadow Bunting (Hijiro) 
191. Rustic Bunting (Kashiradaka) HI
192. Yellow-throated Bunting (Miyama-hojiro) HI 
193. Reed Bunting (O-jurin) HI
194. Japanese Reed Bunting (Ko-jurin) 

Birds during Pelagic Trip onboard the  Honshu / Hokkaido round-trip ferry immediately following the tour (April 20-21, 2001):
(followed by numbers - some estimated - of individuals seen)

Pacific Diver/Loon  25
Black-footed Albatross  1 (an adult)
Streaked Shearwater  930
Sooty Shearwater  170
Short-tailed Shearwater  50,000
Temminck's Cormorant  13
Pelagic Cormorant  3
Greater Scaup  30
Black Scoter  60
Sanderling  7
Grey/Red Phalarope  320 (many in breeding plumage)
Pomarine Skua/Jaeger  1
Black-headed Gull  6
Black-tailed Gull  450
Common/Kamchatka Gull  6
Herring/Vega Gull  15
Slaty-backed Gull  325
Glaucous Gull  1
Black-legged Kittiwake  14
Little Tern  5
Common Murre/Guillemot  320
Ancient Murrelet  20
Crested Auklet  1
Rhinoceros Auklet  10 
Horned Puffin  4 (between N Honshu & Hokkaido)

Sea-mammals during the pelagic trip:

Northern Fur Seal  65
Harbor/Common Porpoise  6
Pacific White-sided Dolphin  2 

Land Mammals during FONT tour in Japan April 2001

Japanese Serow (Kamoshika) SP
Giant Flying Squirrel (Musasabi) SP
Japanese Squirrel (Nihon-risu) SP,FW
Japanese Macaque (Monkey) (Nihonzaru) SP,FW