Birds of Our Observations
Let yourself be inspired by our fascinating observations from the past years and discover the diverse world of nature. Here, we regularly present a compilation of our latest discoveries and observations.
If you are looking for a specific bird, you can find it using the search field:

Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus)
The Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus) is a quiet but distinctive migratory bird in Japan. Known for its chestnut head and seasonal shifts between the north and south…

Far Eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
The Far Eastern Curlew (*Numenius madagascariensis*) is a globally threatened migratory bird with an impressively long bill. A rare but regular visitor to Japan’s coasts…

White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
The White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus) is a common urban bird in Japan. Recognizable by its pale cheeks and loud call, it thrives in both cities and countryside…

Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope)
The Eurasian Wigeon (*Mareca penelope*) is one of Japan’s most common winter ducks. Known for its soft plumage and high-pitched call, it brings life to Japan’s waterscapes each winter…

Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
The Japanese Cormorant (*Phalacrocorax capillatus*) is a familiar coastal bird in Japan. A skilled diver, colony breeder, and participant in traditional Ukai fishing…

Willow tit (Poecile montanus)
The Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) is a quiet but skilled forest dweller. Known for carving its own nesting cavities, it thrives in damp, old-growth woodlands across Japan…

Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
The Oriental Turtle Dove (*Streptopelia orientalis*) is a calm, well-camouflaged dove common across Japan. Found in woodlands, towns, and parks—quiet but unmistakable…

Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
The Japanese Wagtail (*Motacilla grandis*) is a black-and-white native of Japan. Elegant and active, it thrives along rivers, rice fields, and city canals year-round…

Red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea)
The Red-billed Leiothrix (*Leiothrix lutea*) is colorful, elusive, and introduced – discover everything about its appearance, behavior, and habitat in Japan…

Chinese bamboo partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus)
The Chinese Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus) lives hidden yet vocal – discover everything about its appearance, behavior, habitat, and conservation status…

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki)
The Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (*Yungipicus kizuki*) is Japan’s smallest woodpecker – nimble, quiet, and perfectly adapted to life in trees from forests to city parks…

Pacific swift (Apus pacificus)
As an acrobatic summer visitor to Japan, the Pacific Swift (*Apus pacificus*) spends nearly its entire life in the air, catching insects with astonishing agility…

Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus)
The Chinese Hwamei (*Garrulax canorus*), also known as the Melodious Laughingthrush, is a shy but vocal bird. Rarely seen, often heard across gardens and bamboo groves in Japan…

Japanese Tit (Parus minor)
The Japanese Tit (*Parus minor*) is a common and charismatic bird across Japan’s forests and gardens. Easy to spot, hard to ignore, and full of character…

Pelagic cormorant (Urile pelagicus)
The Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus) is a slender coastal seabird found along Japan’s rocky shores. A solitary diver, striking in posture and plumage…

Brown dipper (Cinclus pallasii)
The Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) is a unique aquatic songbird found in Japan’s mountain streams — subtle in color, but remarkable in behavior…

Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
The Little Egret is an elegant wader with white feathers and yellow feet. In Japan, it is widespread, adaptable, and not endangered…

Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
The Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) is a striking coastal bird with a yellow beak and black tail band – common but sensitive in population.

Asia Nuthatch (Eurasian nuthatch)
The Japanese Nuthatch is a blue-gray resident bird that climbs upside down and inhabits Japan's old forests. Everything about its behavior, breeding, and diet…

Common scoter (Melanitta nigra)
The Common Scoter (*Melanitta nigra*) is a black-feathered winter visitor to Japan's coasts. Learn all about its appearance, lifestyle, and distribution…