Kobe, a beautiful city located in Japan, offers an extraordinary avian experience to its visitors. Being situated near the coast, Kobe provides a great habitat for a variety of bird species.
There are numerous natural parks and gardens in and around the city that support the bird’s life, making it a great place for birdwatching. The city’s birdlife is quite diverse, and one can witness a wide range of colorful and exotic birds.
From cute sparrows to giant storks, and various migratory birds, Kobe has it all. Thus, it is a perfect destination for bird enthusiasts who appreciate the natural beauty of the avian kingdom.
1. Warbling White-Eye
The Warbling White-Eye is a small passerine bird of the white-eye family, found in East Asia from Russia to Japan, Indonesia, Korea and the Philippines.
With its distinct yellow forehead and olive back it stands out amongst other birds. Its beady black eyes are surrounded by bright white rings which gives it an alert appearance.
It has a distinctive warble that can be heard during breeding season when they form large flocks in search for food or shelter.
During winter months these flocks disperse into smaller groups making them quite elusive at times but never far away.
This beautiful little bird is an important part of many local ecosystems so we should take time to appreciate their beauty while protecting them from potential threats like habitat destruction and climate change.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Zosteropidae |
| Genus | Zosterops |
| Species | Z. japonicus |
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2. Grey-Headed Lapwing
The Grey-headed Lapwing is a bird native to northeast China and Japan. During the winter season, they migrate to northern Southeast Asia from India all the way down to Cambodia.
The Japanese population has been known to spend some of their time in southern Honshū during this period as well.
It’s also classed as a vagrant species in several other countries such Russia, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and Sri Lanka too.
This lovely little lapwing has grey feathers on its head along with white around its face and neck area which makes it easy for people to identify them if spotted out in nature.
They feed mainly off insects but have occasionally been seen eating plants or small seeds now and then too.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Charadriidae |
| Genus | Vanellus |
| Species | V. cinereus |
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3. Blue Rock Thrush
The Blue Rock Thrush is a species of chat that was once placed in the Turdidae family. It resides across many different regions, including southern Europe, northwest Africa, Central Asia and northern China to Malaysia.
This bird has even been adopted as Malta’s national bird; it is called “Merill” there.
The Blue Rock Thrush lives within rocky areas where they can find shelter from predators and build their nests on cliffs or steep slopes with rocks.
They are very agile birds with long wings enabling them to swoop in for prey quickly while also allowing them to fly away rapidly if need be.
Their diet consists mainly of insects but will occasionally eat small fruits and berries when available too.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Monticola |
| Species | M. solitarius |
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4. Red-Flanked Bluetail
The Red-flanked bluetail, also known as the orange-flanked bush-robin, is a colorful passerine bird that belongs to the Old World flycatcher family. They are often referred to as chats.
These migratory birds are small in size and feed on insects. They breed in mixed coniferous forests with undergrowth, and are known for their beautiful appearance.
Although they were once classified as a member of the thrush family, they are now more commonly recognized as a flycatcher species.
The Red-flanked bluetail can be found in parts of Europe and Asia during the breeding season, and then migrate to different locations during the winter months.
Overall, this species is admired for its striking colors and unique characteristics.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Tarsiger |
| Species | T. cyanurus |
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5. Grey-Faced Buzzard
The Grey-faced Buzzard is a small raptor that can be found in Manchuria, Korea, and Japan. It is known for its grey head, neck, and breast, and its white throat.
The adult buzzard also has distinctive black moustaches and mesial stripes, adding to its unique appearance.
This bird of prey feeds on lizards, small mammals, and large insects and can often be seen in open land areas.
During the winter months, the Grey-faced Buzzard can be found in Southeast Asia. Despite its small size, this bird is a formidable predator and an important part of the ecosystem in its native range.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Butastur |
| Species | B. indicus |
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6. Blue-And-White Flycatcher
The Blue-and-white flycatcher, also known as the Japanese flycatcher, is a migratory songbird found in the Old World flycatcher family.
It breeds in areas such as Japan, Korea, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East.
During winters, they can be found in Southeast Asia, primarily in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
This species is highly observed due to its charismatic blue and white plumage, and they can often be found in diverse habitats such as forests, parks, and gardens.
It is a small bird with a distinctive tail that helps them to catch insects while perched or in flight.
These birds are highly vocal and can be heard singing their melodious songs high up in the trees.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Cyanoptila |
| Species | C. cyanomelana |
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7. Narcissus Flycatcher
The Narcissus flycatcher is a migratory passerine bird that belongs to the Old World flycatcher family. Found in the East Palearctic region, it covers a vast range from Sakhalin in the north to Borneo and the Philippines in southeast Asia.
This bird has distinct breeding plumage with a blue-grey head and back, black wings with white markings, and a bright orange throat and breast. During migration, males and females molt into a duller plumage.
The Narcissus flycatcher feeds on insects, which it catches by flying out from tree perches and returning to the same spot.
This bird is known to be highly migratory, and occasionally, it can also be found as a vagrant in Australia.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Ficedula |
| Species | F. narcissina |