Species information Scientific name: Butastur indicusJapanese name: サシバChinese name: 灰面鵟鷹、灰面鷲English name: Grey-faced BuzzardOrigin: Breeds in Russia, China, Korea, and Honshu, Japan. Migrates to Southeast Asia for winter. Ecology and description Grey-faced Buzzard migrates through the Ryukyu Islands from breeding grounds in Honshu, Japan, and other regions, heading to Southeast Asia by early October. Flocks of… Continue reading Grey-faced Buzzard
Category: Birds
Ryukyu Minivet
Species information Scientific name: Pericrocotus tegimaeJapanese name: リュウキュウサンショウクイChinese name: 琉球山椒鳥English name: Ryukyu minivetOrigin: Kanto region to Kyushu, Japan, and Ryukyu Islands Ecology and description The Ryukyu minivet has a grey belly. Males have a blacker head, while females have a greyer head. They are easier to observe during the breeding season in spring. Originally, the… Continue reading Ryukyu Minivet
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
Species information Scientific name: Yungipicus kizukiJapanese name: コゲラChinese name: 小星頭啄木鳥English name: Japanese pygmy woodpeckerOrigin: Japan (including the Ryukyu Islands), Korea, parts of northeastern China. Ecology and description The Japanese pygmy woodpecker is approximately 13-15 cm in length and is a small woodpecker. It sometimes forages in mixed flocks with the Japanese white-eye or other tit… Continue reading Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
Ryukyu Flycatcher
Species Information Scientific name: Ficedula owstoniJapanese name: リュウキュウキビタキChinese name: 琉球姬鶲English name: Ryukyu flycatcherOrigin: Ryukyu Islands (Osumi Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture ~ Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture) Ecology and Description Previously considered a subspecies of the Narcissus flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), it is now regarded as an independent species. Sightings on Okinawajima are rare and infrequent. Field… Continue reading Ryukyu Flycatcher
Okinawa Rail
Species information Scientific name: Hypotaenidia okinawaeJapanese name: ヤンバルクイナChinese name: 沖繩秧雞、山原秧雞English name: Okinawa railOrigin: Northern Okinawajima (endemic) Ecology and description 1. Appearance The Okinawa rail has a total length of approximately 35 cm and weighs about 450 g. The plumage from the crown to the tail is deep olive-green, the face is black, and a white line… Continue reading Okinawa Rail
Amami Woodcock
Scolopax mira Japanese name: アマミヤマシギChinese name: 奄美山鷸English name: Amami WoodcockOrigin: Breeds mainly on Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, and Tokunoshima in the Amami Islands; winter visitor to Okinawajima The Amami Woodcock is a nocturnal member of the woodcock group and a resident bird in the Amami Islands, where it can be seen year-round on Amami Oshima and… Continue reading Amami Woodcock
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticola Japanese name: ヤマシギChinese name: 山鷸English name: Eurasian WoodcockOrigin: Widely distributed across the Eurasian continent. Breeds in temperate regions in summer and migrates south to overwinter. In the Ryukyu Islands, it is a winter visitor. In the Ryukyu Islands, Eurasian Woodcocks that migrate from areas such as Hokkaido can be observed from late September… Continue reading Eurasian Woodcock
Okinawa Robin
Larvivora namiyei Japanese name: ホントウアカヒゲChinese name: 沖繩歌鴝English name: Okinawa RobinOrigin: Northern Okinawajima The Okinawa Robin is an endemic species restricted to the Yambaru region in northern Okinawajima. Males have black feathers from the face to the chest, while females have gray feathers in the same area. They live in the forest understory and feed on… Continue reading Okinawa Robin
Ryukyu Robin
Larvivora komadori Japanese name: アカヒゲChinese name: 琉球歌鴝English name: Ryukyu RobinOrigin: Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Danjo Islands, Tokara Islands (resident or summer visitor) The Ryukyu Robin is distributed across the Ryukyu Islands north of Tokunoshima. In winter, it sometimes migrates southward to overwinter and has been recorded in Okinawajima, Yonagunijima, Taiwan, and even Hong Kong. The population… Continue reading Ryukyu Robin
Amami Jay
Garrulus lidthi Japanese Name: ルリカケスChinese Name: 琉球松鴉English Name: Amami JayOrigin: Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima The Amami Jay, with its striking blue and reddish-brown plumage, is a member of the crow family and a nationally designated natural monument of Japan. It is also the prefectural bird of Kagoshima. In the past, overhunting led to a decline… Continue reading Amami Jay