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
Category: Resident Birds
Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica Japanese Name: キンバトChinese Name: 翠翼鳩English Name: Emerald DoveOrigin: Widely distributed in Asia, only found in Japan’s Sakishima Islands (Miyako Island to Yonaguni Island) In Japan, this species is a resident bird from Miyako Island southward to Yonaguni Island. Miyako Island is the easiest place in Japan to observe this species. The male has white… Continue reading Emerald Dove
Ryukyu Warbling White-eye
Zosterops japonicus loochooensis Japanese Name: リュウキュウメジロChinese Name: 琉球綠繡眼、日菲繡眼琉球亞種English Name: Ryukyu Warbling White-eyeOrigin: Islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, south of Amami Oshima This subspecies is one of the subspecies of the Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus). Compared to the nominate subspecies found in Japan, which has a brownish color under the wings, the Ryukyu subspecies has a whiter chest.… Continue reading Ryukyu Warbling White-eye
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
Treron permagnus Japanese Name: リュウキュウアオバトChinese Name: 琉球綠鳩English Name: Ryukyu Green PigeonOrigin: Ryukyu Islands The Ryukyu Green Pigeon was once considered a different subspecies of the Taiwan Red-headed Green Pigeon (Treron formosae). However, recent molecular studies support its classification as a distinct species. Unlike the Red-headed Green Pigeon, the Ryukyu Green Pigeon does not have a… 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
Okinawa 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: Okinawa 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 Okinawa 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