Species information Scientific name: Columba janthinaJapanese name: カラスバトChinese name: 黑林鴿English name: Black wood pigeonOrigin: China (Shandong Province), Korea, Japan Ecology and description This species has 3 subspecies: Black wood pigeon primarily dwells in the canopy layer, making it difficult to spot and sometimes only detectable by its call. Reference: Wikipedia Field photographs taken during our… Continue reading Black Wood Pigeon
Category: Resident Birds
Slaty-legged Crack
Species information Scientific name: Rallina eurizonoides sepiariaJapanese name: オオクイナChinese name: 灰腳秧雞（琉球亞種）English name: Slaty-legged crackOrigin: This subspecies is found on Okinawajima, Miyakojima, and the Yaeyama Islands. Ecology and description The Ryukyu subspecies of the slaty-legged crack is distributed across several islands in Okinawa, with Miyakojima and Ishigaki being the areas where it’s more commonly observed. Adult… Continue reading Slaty-legged Crack
Yaeyama Crested Serpent Eagle
Species information Scientific name: Spilornis cheela perplexusJapanese name: カンムリワシChinese name: 八重山大冠鷲、琉球蛇鵰English name: Yaeyama crested serpent eagleOrigin: This subspecies is only found on Ishigaki and Iriomote islands Ecology and description Yaeyama crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela perplexus) is a subspecies of the crested serpent eagle, found only on Ishigaki and Iriomote islands. It is rare, with… Continue reading Yaeyama Crested Serpent Eagle
Asian Emerald Dove
Species information Scientific name: Chalcophaps indicaJapanese name: キンバトChinese name: 翠翼鳩English name: Asian emerald doveOrigin: South Asia, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Ryukyu Islands (Miyakojima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatomajima, Yonaguni) Ecology and description The Asian emerald dove is about 25cm long. Males have white feathers from the forehead to above the eye, while females have gray ones. In… Continue reading Asian Emerald Dove
Warbling white-eye (Ryukyu subspecies)
Species information Scientific name: Zosterops japonicus loochooensisJapanese name: リュウキュウメジロChinese name: 日菲繡眼（琉球亞種）、琉球綠繡眼English name: Warbling white-eye (Ryukyu subspecies)Origin: Amami Oshima, Kikaijima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima, Yoronjima, Okinawajima, Agunijima, Yagajijima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Izenajima, Kerama Islands, Kumejima, Miyakojima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni, Hateruma Ecology and description This is one of the subspecies of the Warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus). In the nominate subspecies… Continue reading Warbling white-eye (Ryukyu subspecies)
Ryukyu Northern Boobook
Species information Scientific name: Ninox japonica totogoJapanese name: リュウキュウアオバズクChinese name: 琉球褐鷹鴞、日本褐鷹鴞琉球亞種English name: Ryukyu northern boobookOrigin: Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands Ecology and description The scutellate boobook that was previously recognized in Japan was identified under the scientific name Ninox scutulata. In 2002, this species was reclassified as a distinct species from Ninox scutulata. It is further divided… Continue reading Ryukyu Northern Boobook
Ryukyu Green Pigeon
Species information Scientific name: Treron permagnusJapanese name: リュウキュウアオバトChinese name: 琉球綠鳩English name: Ryukyu green pigeonOrigin: Yakushima, Tanegashima, Tokara Islands, Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands Ecology and description The Ryukyu green pigeon was formerly considered one of the subspecies of the Taiwan green pigeon (Treron formosae), but recent molecular studies support its status as… Continue reading Ryukyu Green Pigeon
Japanese Scops Owl
Species information Scientific name: Otus semitorques pryeriJapanese name: リュウキュウオオコノハズクChinese name: 日本領角鴞（琉球亞種）、北領角鴞（琉球亞種）English name: Japanese scops owlOrigin: Okinawajima, Yakushima. Previously recorded on Ishigaki and Iriomote, but not observed in recent years. Ecology and description The Japanese scops owl (also known as northern scops owl) is distributed in Japan, China, Korea, and Russia. It is divided into 3… Continue reading Japanese Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl
Species information Scientific name: Otus elegans elegansJapanese name: リュウキュウコノハズクChinese name: 琉球角鴞、優雅角鴞琉球亞種English name: Ryukyu scops owlOrigin: Ryukyu Islands Ecology and description The Elegant scops owl (Otus elegans) consists of 4 subspecies: Okinawa scops owl is the most common owl in Okinawa, with a body length of about 20cm. The main difference from the Ryukyu subspecies of… Continue reading Ryukyu Scops Owl
Okinawa Woodpecker
Species information Scientific name: Sapheopipo noguchiiJapanese name: ノグチゲラChinese name: 野口啄木鳥、沖繩啄木鳥English name: Okinawa woodpeckerOrigin: Endemic to Okinawajima Ecology and description Okinawa woodpecker is a woodpecker found only in the Castanopsis forests of northern Okinawa. In dense forests, it feeds on larvae of longhorn beetles and other insects from dead trees but also consumes spiders, small arthropods,… Continue reading Okinawa Woodpecker