Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)

OTHER NAMES: Temminck's Cormorant

Latin Etymology: Phalacrocorax ("cormorant ; bald raven") capillatus ("hairy")

                      Ten Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) in various states of plumage at Kamakura, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2.3-3.3kg  /  Length: 92cm  /  Wingspan: 152cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Japanese Cormorant is a close relation of the Great Cormorant, however, unlike them, it has a far more restricted range, found around the Far East - Taiwan, Japan, the Korean Penninsula and Siberia.  In this range, the Great Cormorant tends to be primarily a freshwater species while the Japanese Cormorants are saltwater species.  They look largely similar to the Great Cormorant, but have a slight greenish tinge to the plumage and a different structure of the bill.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - ウミウ  /  Umi-u ("Sea cormorant")

Locally abundant resident of rocky coasts.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Abundant at Kamakura and Shiranuka.

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Sittiparus ("Nuthatch-tit") varius ("diverse or variegated")

 Adult Varied Tit (Poecile varius) in Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Poecile varius varius
Weight: 16-18g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 6-7.8cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

The Varied Tit is from a British persons perspective, the most different Tit found in Japan - unlike all the other species it is neither found in Europe, nor, as in the case of the Great/Japanese Tit, have a very similar counterpart.  It is quite a handsome bird, with a terracotta coloured waistcoat like plumage over with blue wings.  I believe it to be fairly common although I only saw it in the Imperial Palace Gardens, but I didn't really have the opportunity to be exploring similar habitats that much.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Sittiparus
Subspecies: P. v. varius, P. v. sunsunpi, P. v. yakushimensis, P. v. amamii, P. v. orii, P. v. namiyei, P. v. owstoni, P. v. olivaceus, P. v. castaneoventris

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese: ヤマガラ / Yama-gara ("Mountain Tit")

Locally common resident

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single bird at Kyoto.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese Tit (Parus minor)

OTHER NAMES: Oriental Tit 

Latin Etymology: Parus ("tit") minor ("smaller")

Japanese Tit (Parus minor) at Shiranuka, Hokkaido, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: Parus minor minor
Weight: 16g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: 22-25cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

Yet another recent split from a parent species,.the Japanese Tit is essentially the Great Tit of East Asia, essentially looking indistinguishable from them.  They were a fairly common sight in my visits to parks and forests in Japan, and the most common of the tits there.  Apparently both this and the Great Tit coexist without notably interbreeding, but personally, from the admittedly distant views I had of them, I couldn't differentiate the two in the field from the fleeting views I had if both were present.  I saw a few more in Shiranuka in a mixed flock during my second Japan visit.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Parus
Subspecies:  P. m. minor, P. m. tibetanus, P. m. subtibetanus, P. m. nubicolus, P. m. dageletensis, P. m. amamiensis, P. m. okinawae, P. m. nigriloris, P. m. commixtus

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - シジュウカラ / Shijū-kara ("Forty Tit")

Locally abundant resident of rocky coasts.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A number of birds at the Imperial Palace Gardens in Kyoto.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Two birds at Shiranuka.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Zosterops ("Girdle eye") japonicus ("Japanese")

Adult Japanese White-eye (subspecies Z. j. japonicus) outside Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan - December 2014

Features subspecies: Zosterops japonicus japonicus
Weight: 9-13g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 15-18cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Japanese White-eye is a small warbler like bird found in East Asia.  It is found in both normal rural habitats and parkland, feeding off insects, nectar and fruit.  Widely depicted in Japanese art, it was traditionally kept as a songbird.  Outside of the breeding season it may join with other species in flocks. I saw more on my second trip to Japan, the last of which was this rather showy individual in the trees outside the airport terminals.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Subspecies: Z. j. yesoensis, Z. j. japonicus, Z. j. stejnegeri, Z. j. insularis, Z. j. loochooensis, Z. j. alani, Z. j. daitoensis, Z. j. simplex, Z. j. hainanus

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - メジロ / Me-jiro ("White-eye")

Common resident. 

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: Several seen in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Kyoto

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Fairly common in Tokyo with particularly showy individuals in the trees outside Haneda Airport

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Dendrocopos ("tree-striking") kizuki (French species name, derived from Japanese)

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (subspecies - D. k. seebohmi) at Shiranuka, Hokkaido, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: Dendrocopos kizuki seebohmi
Weight: 13-15g  /  Length: 15cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Rd List - Least Concern

The naming of the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker gives a fairly solid outline for this species, it is a very small woodpecker which lives in Japan and the surrounding parts of Asia.  Beyond that my observations and research of this species has given me fairly little to go on, it's behavior during my my brief sighting was essentially consistent with any other tree climbing species I've encountered.  During my second Japan visit, I encountered two as part of a small flock with Eurasian Nuthatch and Japanese Tit that were far more approachable.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dendrocopos
Subspecies: D. k. ijimae, D. k. seebohmi, D. k. amanii, D. k. kizuki

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - コゲラ  /  Ko-gera ("Small woodpecker")

Fairly common resident.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single bird in Arashiyama.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A single bird seem in Shiranuka.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)

OTHER NAMES: Japanese Pied Wagtail

Latin Etymology: Motacilla ("wagtail") grandis ("large")

 Adult Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla Grandis) in Arashiyama, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 28-31g  /  Length: 21cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Japanese Wagtail is fills a very similar role to the Grey and Pied Wagtails found in the UK, although it is more closely tied to water than Pied.  It coexists with the Japanese race of the White Wagtail, but they have quite distinct plumage patterns to differentiate the two of them.  Another fairly confiding species, like wagtails in europe it pays fairly little attention to humans down to very short distances.  It apparently favours river habitats with shingled bars in the river, which fits with the locations I saw them.  I didn't encounter this species on my second trip to Japan - this is probably mostly due to lack of appropriate habitat.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Motacilla
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - セグロセキレイ  /  Se-guro sekirei ("Black-backed Wagtail")

Locally common resident to most of Japan, Summer breeding only in most of Hokkaido

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A few birds at Kyoto and Arashiyama.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis)

OTHER NAMES: Snowfinch

Latin Etymology: Montifringilla ("mountain finch") icterina ("snowy")

Two White-winged Snowfinch (subspecies M. n. nivalis) in non-breeding plumage in the Dolomites, Italy - July 2004

Featured Subspecies: Montifringilla nivalis nivalis
Weight: 31-57g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

White-winged Snowfinches are a high mountain species who nest upon the barren mountaintops at over 1500m. Despite the name they are actually Sparrows rather than Finches, and spends times in flocks.  Another seed and insect eater, this is another species which has begun to to associate with human habitations like Ski-resorts and other mountaintop places of human habitation.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Montifringilla
Subspecies: M. n. nivalis, M. n. leucura, M. n. alpicola, M. n. gaddi, M. n. tianshanica, M. n. groumgrzimaili, M. n. kwenlunensis

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Fringuello alpino ("Alpine Finch")

A resident of the high mountains.

 - DOLOMITES 2001 TRIP: A small flock on the mountains of the Dolomites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)

OTHER NAMES: Yellow-Billed Chough

Latin Etymology: Pyrrhocorax ("flame-coloured raven") graculus (unidentified bird - possibly Jackdaw)

Alpine Chough (subspecies P. g. graculus) in the Dolomites, Italy - July 2004

Featured Subspecies: Pyrrhocorax graculus graculus
Weight: 191-244g  /  Length: 37-39cm  /  Wingspan: 75-80cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Alpine Chough is a mountain species found throughout Eurasia and in North Africa.  They are noisy and gregarious, forming flocks of 20+ individuals.  In the Dolomites where I saw this species they seemed to congregate around areas where people gathered such as mountain huts and picnic sites where they took food  from them.  They are generally a high altitude species, feeding on meadows beneath cliffs suitable for them to nest on.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Pyrrhocorax
Subspecies: P. g. graculus. P. g. digitatus

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Gracchio Alpino ("Alpine Chough")

A fairly common resident of the high mountains.

 - DOLOMITES 2001 TRIP: A seen at various points in the Dolomites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Brown-Eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Hypsipetes ("high flyer") amaurotis ("brown eared")

Adult Brown-eared Bulbul (subspecies H. a. amaurotis) in Tokyo, Japan - December 2014

Featured Subspecies: Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis
Weight: 30-35g  /  Length: 28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Brown-eared Bulbul is a common but fairly shy species in Japan, while widespread it seems to be heard a lot more than you like to get good views of it, on my first trip to Japan, most of the time I saw them only distantly or heard them in the treetops.  On my second visit they were much more abundant however, and proved to be one of those species that often looked as if they would be something else, but then resulted in frustration when it turned out to be yet another Bulbul. They are thrush sized and fairly raucous, making a lot of loud noise wherever they go.  Apparently they are fairly omnivorous, eating fruits, seeds, insects and whatever else they can get hold of.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Hypsipetes or Microscelis
Subspecies: H. a. hensoni, H. a. amaurotis, H. a .squamiceps, H. a .magnirostris, H. a .borodinosis, H. a. ogawae, H. a. pryeri, H. a. insignis, H. a. stejnegeri, H. a. harterti, H. a. batanensis, H. a. fugensis, H. a. camiguinensis

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - ヒヨドリ  /  Hiyo-dori  ("Bulbul")

Abundant resident. 

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: Seen often throughout Kyoto and Arashiyama thought never with good views.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Abundant in Tokyo and common in Hokkaido including Akkeshi, Kushiro and Akan Crane Centre

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Oriental Greenfinch (Chloris sinica)

OTHER NAMES: Grey-capped Greenfinch, Chinese Greenfinch

Latin Etymology: Chloris ("finch/greenfinch") sinica ("Chinese")

Adult Oriental Greenfinch (subspecies C. s. minor) at Kyu Yasuda Park, Tokyo, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Chloris sinica minor
Weight: 31g  /  Length: 15cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Oriental Greenfinch, is as the name suggests essentially the Greenfinch of East Asia, although physically it resembles a cross between a Goldfinch and Greenfinch.  Also known as the Grey-capped Greenfinch, it can be seen in a wide variety of habitats both urban and rural.  It doesn't seem to be that confiding, on my trip to Kyoto I saw in on numerous occasions, largely in flight or high in the trees, while on my Tokyo trip, I got this much better view.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Chloris
Subspecies: C. s. sincica, C. s. chabarowi, C. s. ussuriensis, C. s. kawarahiba, C. s. minor, C. s. kittlitzi

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - カワラヒワ  /  Kawara hiwa  ("River-bed Siskin")

 A locally common resident.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Common throughout Kyoto

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Several seen in Tokyo

Further Notes: Birdforum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)

OTHER NAMES: Chinese Spot-billed Duck

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") zonorhyncha ("band billed")

Two Adult Oriental Eastern Spot-billed Dove (Anas zonorhyncha) at Arashiyama, Japan - July 2013

Local Name (Japan): Karugamo (カルガモ) - "Light wildduck"
Weight: 790-1500g  /  Length: 55-63cm  /  Wingspan: 83-95cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Eastern Spot-billed Duck is a close relation of the Mallard, only recently split from the rest of the Spot-billed Ducks.  It is common in Japan, along with the Mallard being the most common duck throughout the year being found on rivers and ponds  They are a fairly drab duck throughout the year, with the main colour on the plumage coming from the blue patch on the wings, all else being brown and cream.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - カルガモ  /  Karugamo  ("Light wildduck")

Common resident of water based habitats. 

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Common along the rivers of Kyoto and Arashiyama

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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