Miyako-Jima is an island off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, that is home to a wide variety of avian species.
With its diverse range of habitats, from forests and wetlands to coastal cliffs and sandy beaches, this island provides a crucial haven for both resident and migrating birds, as well as a popular destination for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.
From the brightly-colored and vocal Shima engage to the majestic black-faced spoonbill, there are countless bird species to discover and admire in Miyako-Jima.
In this article, we will explore the different types of birds that can be found on this charming island, as well as the efforts made to ensure the protection and conservation of their habitats.
1. Slaty-legged crake
The Slaty-legged Crake is a waterbird in the rail and crake family found across south Asia. It inhabits swamps, wetlands and well-wooded areas from India to Indonesia.
This species can be identified by its mottled grey coloration on their legs and wings as well as their bright red eyes. These birds are mainly permanent residents but some of them migrate further north during certain seasons.
They feed mostly on aquatic invertebrates such as insects, larvae, worms etc among other things including small fish or amphibians when available.
The female lays one clutch with 4-7 eggs per season which she incubates for 16 days before they hatch out into younglings who leave the nest within 2 weeks after hatching.
Their calls consist of low whistles which makes it difficult to spot them unless you know what to look for.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae |
| Genus | Rallina |
| Species | R. eurizonoides |
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2. Black-faced spoonbill
The Black-faced Spoonbill is a rare and endangered species of wading bird, found in eastern Asia.
It has unique physical characteristics like its dorso-ventrally flattened bill which it uses to feed by touch.
They are large birds with white feathers, black face, neck and wings and yellow crowns on their heads.
These solitary birds spend most of the year near coastal wetlands or along tidal mudflats where they search for food such as fish, crustaceans and molluscs using their long beaks to dig into the sand or water vegetation.
Conservation efforts such as creating safe habitats have helped this species survive despite its rarity but more needs to be done if we hope to save them from extinction.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Threskiornithidae |
| Genus | Platalea |
| Species | P. minor |
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3. Japanese wood pigeon
The Japanese wood pigeon is a species of columbid bird found in East Asia. It has an impressive size of 550 grams, and 43 cm long, making it the largest representative of its genus - Columba.
Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests near shorelines of the Pacific's Korea Strait, Philippine Sea and East China Sea.
This beautiful creature has white wings with black tips that gives them a unique look when they take flight.
The male also have purple head feathers while their breast feathers are pinkish-red color which makes them even more attractive to watch out for.
In addition to this stunning beauty, these birds can make loud calls as well as whistles during mating season that you can hear from far away.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species | C. janthina |
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4. Oriental pratincole
The Oriental Pratincole is a wader, belonging to the pratincole family Glareolidae. It has many names such as grasshopper-bird or swallow-plover, and its genus name comes from Latin glarea meaning ‘gravel’ due to their typical nesting habitats in gravel areas.
The species maldivarum refers to the type locality near Maldive Islands, where it was caught alive at sea.
This bird mainly feeds on terrestrial insects which gives it an advantage over other birds of prey that feed on marine animals only.
Its diet consists mostly of locusts as well as crickets and beetles among others; they hunt by either running fast or hovering above dry land before diving down for food items when spotted below them.
They have long wings combined with powerful flight muscles aid these birds during escape flights when pursued by predators like hawks or eagles since they are not very good fighters in aerial combat situations compared to other raptors
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Glareolidae |
| Genus | Glareola |
| Species | G. maldivarum |
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5. Common emerald dove
The Common Emerald Dove is a beautiful bird that can be found in tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Its distinctive features include its grey-capped head, while its wings are an emerald green colour.
It has also earned itself the nickname "green dove" or "green-winged pigeon". This species plays an important role in Tamil Nadu's ecology, which makes it fitting for them to have named it their state bird.
The Pacifric Emerald Dove is closely related to this species but they differ slightly in appearance and habitat preferences; however both make great pets due to being gentle by nature.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Chalcophaps |
| Species | C. indica |
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6. Purple heron
The Purple Heron is a majestic wading bird from the heron family which can be found in Africa, central and southern Europe, as well as southern and eastern Asia.
It has an impressive wingspan of up to 1.2 meters and its plumage usually ranges from grey-blue to purple on its back with brown streaks on it's chest.
This species breeds during summer months before migrating for winter habitats where they feed mainly on fish or frogs near wetlands or rivers.
The scientific name Ardea purpureus originates from Latin words meaning ‘heron’ and ‘coloured purple’ respectively - referring to this bird's beautiful colouration.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Species | A. purpurea |
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7. Black-naped tern
The beautiful Black-naped Tern is a seabird found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
These terns measure around 30 cm long, with a wing span of 21 to 23 cm, black beaks and legs, yellow bill tips, long forked tails and white faces.
The breast has grayish-white feathers that extend down its back - forming an elegant nape hence their name.
They are rarely seen inland but they can stay close to coastal waters or even venture further out depending on seasonal changes.
Their diet consists mainly of fish which they hunt from above by hovering before plunging into the sea at high speed after prey. They also feed on crustaceans sometimes too.
All in all these birds have an interesting lifestyle; incredibly graceful when airborne yet ferocious hunters underwater making them quite a sight.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Sterna |
| Species | S. sumatrana |
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8. Pacific swallow
The Pacific Swallow is a small bird with glossy blue-black upperparts and white underparts. It has a short, forked tail and wings that are pointed at the tips.
This swallow typically breeds in tropical southern Asia and the islands of the south Pacific Ocean, although it is becoming more common on forested uplands away from coasts.
During breeding season they construct cup or saucer shaped nests made out of mud pellets in sheltered areas such as rock crevices, eaves or tree hollows.
The diet consists mostly of flying insects which they catch while flying low over water bodies like lakes or rivers during their migratory flights between nesting sites to feeding grounds.
They often travel together in flocks when migrating long distances but can sometimes be seen alone chasing after prey midair.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Hirundinidae |
| Genus | Hirundo |
| Species | H. tahitica |
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9. Zitting cisticola
The Zitting cisticola, also known as the streaked fantail warbler, is a small bird found in grasslands across southern Europe, Africa (excluding deserts and rainforests), and southern Asia, down to northern Australia.
It has a distinctive rufous rump and lacks any gold on the collar. Its tail is brownish in color. This Old World warbler is commonly found in open areas with tall grass and feeds on insects.
The Zitting cisticola makes a distinctive sound, described as a "zit-zit-zit," hence its name.
It is known for performing wonderful displays during breeding season, which involves singing while flying steeply upwards before plummeting downwards with an outspread tail.
Despite being widely distributed, the species is currently considered of "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cisticolidae |
| Genus | Cisticola |
| Species | C. juncidis |
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10. 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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