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Broadbill -Birdwatcher's site

JAPANESE BIRDS

Narcissus Flycatcher, Yamagata Pref. © Koji TAGI

Japan is located in far east of Eurasian Continent. The relatively small island country is a home for surprisingly many birds. Approximately 600 species of birds have been recorded in the country. The country also has many endemic species. Eighteen species, such as Japanese Yellow Bunting, Japanese Night Heron and Japanese Green Woodpecker are endemic to Japan while other 40 species are northeast Asian endemic. (The photo below is a regional endemic, Japanese Bush Warbler)

Why are there so many species? The main reason is the geographical background. Japanese island chain starts from Hokkaido and is ended at Yonaguni Island in the west and Iriomote Island in the south. The northern island, Hokkaido is located in the boreal temperature area while Okinawa, southernmost prefecture, is in the tropical climate, near Taiwan.

Japan is also at the edge of the neoarctic, palearctic and oriental biological region. You may see an American Wigeon in the flock of Eurasian Wigeon at the park where Narcissus Flycatcher stops over on the migration.

Most of birds in Japan are migratory. Many of ducks, geese, cranes and finches are winter migrants. On the other hand, flycatchers, robins and terns are mostly summer migrants.

It is not so easy for you to see more than 60% of birds in only one season. You need to visit this country more than two times if you would like to see most of the Japanese birds. However, if you would like to see Japanese birds as much as possible, you should be better to go to Japan during spring migration (April - May). In a good spot, you will see more than 100 species in one day.

For more twitching, you obviously need to go to remote islands, such as Hokkaido, Amami, Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands. Many endemic and local endemic are seen only the remote sites. For example, in Hokkaido, you are able to see Blakiston's Fish-Owl or Steller's Sea-Eagle while you see Okinawa Rail and Ryukyu Robin in northern Okinawa island.

This page introduces you only some of Japanese birds what I have taken.

Red-crowned Crane, Hokkaido© Koji TAGI

Spring Migration	Introducing spring migrants in Japan.
Autumn Migration	Introducing autumn migration in Japan.
Winter Migrants in Japan	Introducing some representative winter migrants in Japan
Southern Japan	Introducing briefly southern tip of Japan.
Ibaraki-Benten's Birds	Introducing my "home ground", Ibaraki-Benten.
Birding in Shinshu	Introducing birding at highland of Honshu, namely Shinshu's birding.
Shorebirds in Japan	Introducing shorebird watching in Japan.
Birding in Japan	Brief information for your birding in Japan.
Birding Guide in Japan	If you need any birding guide in Japan, click here!
Field Note in Japan	Presenting my field note.
Birdwatching in Japan	Presenting my field note after January 2010

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