Japan is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean and is home to a wide variety of bird species. With its diverse habitats, ranging from lush forests to the open sea, it is a paradise for ornithologists and birdwatchers alike.
From the iconic red-crowned crane to the endangered Okinawa woodpecker, Japan is home to a rich diversity of birds. This article will explore the unique characteristics and behaviors of some of the birds that can be found in Japan.
1. Oriental Turtle Dove
The Oriental turtle dove is a member of the Columbidae bird family and has an extensive range, from Europe to Japan. It can be identified by its rufous plumage with variations in patterning among different subspecies.
During winter, populations at higher latitudes migrate south for warmer climes. When courting, males display cooing or hooting sounds and perform flight displays that consist of circular glides followed by dives towards their female counterparts.
They feed on grains as well as fruits such as olives and figs when these are available seasonally.
The nests are typically located in trees or bushes near water sources where they lay two white eggs which hatch after 14 days of incubation period shared between both parents.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Streptopelia |
| Species | S. orientalis |
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2. Cranes
Cranes are majestic birds that can be found on most continents except Antarctica and South America. They are in the Gruiformes group of birds and belong to the family Gruidae.
Cranes have long legs, and long necks, and stand out from other birds due to their impressive size.
When they fly, they do so with their necks outstretched rather than pulled back like many other similar-looking species like herons.
There are fifteen species of cranes that are divided into three genera: Antigone, Balearica, and Grus.
They are a sight to behold and are sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone lucky enough to observe them in their natural habitat.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Superfamily | Gruoidea |
| Family | GruidaeVigors, 1825 |
3. Blakiston’s Fish Owl
Blakiston’s fish owl is the largest living species of owl. It belongs to a sub-group of eagle-owls which specialize in hunting riparian areas, such as China, Japan and the Russian Far East.
This majestic bird has an impressive wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters wide. Its eyesight is so powerful it can spot prey from more than 50 metres away.
As well as its huge size and keen vision, this species also has incredible hearing; its ears are placed asymmetrically on either side of its head allowing for pinpoint accuracy when locating sounds coming from any direction.
With these combined abilities Blakistons Fish Owl makes an efficient hunter capable of finding food even at night or in murky water conditions.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Bubo |
| Species | B. blakistoni |
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4. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
The Japanese pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki) is a small species of woodpecker found in forests in Russia, China, Korea and Japan. It was first described by Temminck back in the 1800s.
This bird generally lives within coniferous or deciduous trees and primarily feeds on insects like ants that it finds under bark or on dead branches.
Its plumage consists mainly of black wings with white patches along its shoulder as well as an orange-red crown to differentiate males from females which lack this trait.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as least concern due to their wide range across several countries.
They are quite common though rarely seen outside heavily forested areas due to their size and natural shyness around people.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Yungipicus |
| Species | Y. kizuki |
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5. Red-Crowned Crane
The Red-crowned Crane, also known as the Manchurian or Japanese crane, is a rare and majestic East Asian bird. It has striking red feathers on its head which give it an elegant crown look.
These cranes are large and can be seen in some parts of their range flying gracefully with slow wing beats. When they land to rest you may hear them making loud calls that carry across wide distances.
Not only do these birds have beautiful plumage but they also hold spiritual significance for many cultures throughout Asia where they are considered symbols of luck, loyalty and longevity.
With conservation efforts increasing more people will get to experience this amazing species.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae |
| Genus | Grus |
| Species | G. japonensis |
6. Shorebirds
Shorebirds, a diverse group of birds in the Charadriiformes order, are found near water on every continent except Antarctica.
These small to medium-sized birds feed mainly on invertebrates and other small animals but can also be pelagic seabirds or inhabit deserts.
Shorebirds use their long bills to probe mudflats for food like worms and mollusks while some species plunge into the ocean’s depths in search of crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp.
They have strong legs equipped with webbed feet which allow them to move quickly when searching for prey across wetlands, sandbars, beaches and swamps.
Their feathers make them well adapted to life by land or sea due to its hydrophobic nature which helps reduce drag during swimming or flying through windy conditions making it easier for shorebirds survive tough environments around the world.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Infraclass | Neognathae |
| Clade | Neoaves |
| Clade | Gruimorphae |
| Order | Charadriiformes Huxley, 1867 |
7. Common Kingfisher
The Common Kingfisher is a small, sparrow-sized bird that can be found across Eurasia and North Africa. It has the typical short tail and large head of kingfishers with seven different subspecies recognized in its range.
They are mainly resident birds but will migrate away during winter when rivers freeze over. The species usually live near bodies of water such as streams or lakes.
Where they hunt for fish by diving from above into the water after spotting their prey below them.
These brightly coloured birds have an unmistakable vibrant blue plumage along with orange underparts and white patches on their wings which makes them easy to recognize amongst other similar looking species.
Their call is loud and shrill making it one of the most recognizable sounds heard around wetlands throughout Europe.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae |
| Subfamily | Alcedininae |
| Genus | Alcedo |
| Species | A. atthis |
8. White-Bellied Green Pigeon
The White-bellied Green Pigeon is a species of bird that can be found in many parts of Asia. Its natural habitat is temperate forests, and it has an unusual habit: drinking saltwater.
This behavior was first observed at Terugasaki in Ōiso, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It’s primarily green with a white underside; additionally the males have purplish patches on their wings while females do not.
They usually build nests together as pairs or small colonies near water sources such as rivers and lakes.
Along with other pigeons they feed mainly on fruits like berries and figs but also consume seeds grains insects and even nectar from flowers during certain times of year.
The White-bellied Green pigeon plays an important role in maintaining balance between nature’s ecosystem by dispersing seeds throughout its range which helps promote vegetation growth for years to come.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Treron |
| Species | T. sieboldii |
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9. Okinawa Rail
The Okinawa rail is a species of bird found only on the Okinawa Island, Japan. It was first recorded in 1973 but wasn’t officially discovered until 1978 and described in 1981.
Locals called it Yanbaru kuina, meaning “Yanbaru rail”, referring to its habitat of the island’s northern region known as ‘Yanbaru’.
This ground-dwelling bird has reddish brown feathers on its back and wings, while its underparts are pale yellow with black spots across them.
Its diet mainly consists of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers and earthworms which they find by scratching around the surface of soil or leaf litter for food items left undiscovered by other animals.
Unfortunately this species is threatened due to predation from cats & rats introduced to their natural environment so conservation efforts must be implemented if we want these birds to survive.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae |
| Genus | Hypotaenidia |
| Species | H. okinawae |
10. Grey Heron
The grey heron is a majestic bird found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. It has long legs to wade through the shallow waters where it feeds on aquatic creatures such as frogs, fish and insects.
In wintertime some migrate southwards but others stay put in their natural habitats; lakes, rivers and marshes. They can also be spotted near coasts or along estuaries.
Grey Herons have beautiful blue-grey feathers and an impressive wingspan that makes them stand out from other birds when they soar gracefully across the sky.
These graceful creatures are not only easy on the eye but wise hunters too.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Species | A. cinerea |
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11. Brown-Eared Bulbul
The Brown-eared Bulbul is a medium-sized bird native to eastern Asia. Its range stretches from southern Sakhalin to the northern Philippines, and it can be found in abundance throughout its habitat.
The species was initially classified as part of the Turdus genus before being reclassified into other genera over time – most recently Microscelis.
These birds are characterized by their unique brown ear tufts, which have earned them their common name.
They typically measure around 20 cm long with greyish olive colored feathers covering much of their body except for white underparts and wings marked with black bars on each feather.
Their diet consists mainly of insects but they also feed on fruits such as berries when available in addition to some small invertebrates like beetles or caterpillars.
With an impressive vocal range that includes both calls and songs, these birds make great additions to any garden or aviary.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Pycnonotidae |
| Genus | Hypsipetes |
| Species | H. amaurotis |
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12. Crow Family
The Crow family is a cosmopolitan group of birds that contains crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies and more.
Altogether there are 133 members in this bird family which all share similar characteristics such as large beaks and feet.
The genus Corvus alone makes up over a third of the entire crow family population with species like the common crow or blackbird being some of its most recognizable members.
All these birds have strong social bonds so they often travel in groups to find food sources or build nests together for protection against predators.
With their intelligence and adaptation skills they are able to survive almost anywhere on Earth from mountains to cities making them one of the world’s most successful families of avian creatures.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily | Corvoidea |
| Family | Corvidae Leach, 1820 |
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13. White-Backed Woodpecker
The White-backed Woodpecker is a beautiful bird that can be found in Eurasia. It has white plumage on its back, giving it its name.
Its head and wings are grey with black barring while its breast and belly have red speckles across them.
This species was first described by German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1802 who gave it the scientific binomial of Picus leucotos due to the white colouring along its back from the Greek words “leukos” meaning ‘white’ and “-nōtos” which means ‘backed’.
The type locality for this species is Silesia where these birds are still commonly seen today.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Dendrocopos |
| Species | D. leucotos |
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14. Crested Ibis
The Crested Ibis is a large white-plumaged bird that can grow up to 78.5 cm in length. It has red skin on its partially bare head, and sports a dense crest of white plumes on the nape which makes it easily identifiable from other species of ibises.
Native to eastern Asia, they inhabit pine forests and build their nests at the tops of trees. They mainly feed on frogs, insects, small rodents and fish but have also been known for scavenging carrion occasionally.
When food is scarce during winter months or drought conditions. In recent decades due to various environmental factors like loss of habitat.
Destruction as well as illegal hunting by humans; this species has faced severe decline in population numbers making it vulnerable to extinction if protection measures are not taken soon enough.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Threskiornithidae |
| Genus | Nipponia Reichenbach, 1850 |
| Species | N. nippon |
15. Lidth’s Jay
Lidth’s Jay is a bright and colourful bird found in the coniferous forests of western North America. It has a distinctive blue-green body, white head and black mask with an orange throat patch.
The wings are edged with greyish-black feathers that contrast sharply against its vibrant colouring. This species is quite vocal and makes loud calls to announce its presence or defend territory from intruders.
They feed on insects, seeds, berries, nuts and occasionally small birds or mammals such as mice or voles which they take for their young. Their diet also includes sap from trees which it can access by piercing the bark using its sharp bill to reach sweet liquid inside the tree trunk.
These birds form flocks during winter months when food sources become scarce but remain solitary otherwise since they do not tolerate competition over resources very well at all times of year
16. Green Pheasant
The Green Pheasant is an omnivorous bird natively found in the Japanese archipelago. It has bright green feathers, a red face and throat as well as white tail feathers that make it stand out from other birds.
The species is also known to have some of its own unique behaviour patterns for example being very active during twilight hours rather than daytime like most pheasants.
This species serves as Japan’s national bird due to its beauty and rarity; however, there is much debate over whether or not it should be considered a subspecies of the Common Pheasant since they share many traits but are different enough in appearance to warrant their own classification within Phasianus genus.
No matter which opinion one holds, this remarkable bird continues to captivate viewers with its stunning colours and graceful movements.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae |
| Genus | Phasianus |
| Species | P. versicolor |
17. Amami Woodcock
The Amami woodcock is a medium-sized wader, slightly larger and longer legged than its Eurasian cousin. It can only be found in the forests of two small islands off the coast of South Japan known as the Amami Islands chain.
Its habits are similar to that of other woodcocks; it feeds on worms and insects during twilight hours before nesting at night in dense vegetation.
The species was originally described as a separate entity from its Eurasian counterpart due to slight differences, however recent evidence suggests they may actually be conspecific.
As an endemic bird, conservation efforts have been made for this species with limited success due to habitat loss caused by human activities such as logging and development projects within their range.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Scolopax |
| Species | S. mira |
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18. 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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19. Ryukyu Robin
The Ryukyu robin is a small, vibrant bird endemic to the Ryūkyū Islands of Japan. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Okinawa robin (Larvivora namiyei).
The name Komadori originates from its relative – the Japanese Robin in Japanese language. Along with European and Japanese Robins, it was previously placed underthe same genus Larvivora.
These birds are very colourful and beautiful, featuring shades of blue-grey on their back while they have orange-red feathers below along with white patches on their cheeks which give them an adorable look.
They usually feed on insects like caterpillars or grasshoppers found nearby shrubs or bushes for sustenance apart from berries during winters.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Larvivora |
| Species | L. komadori |
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20. Gruiformes
The Gruiformes is an order of birds which contains a large variety of families, both living and extinct. They are found all over the world in many different habitats, including wetlands and grasslands.
The name comes from Latin for “crane-like” due to their similar appearance to cranes. Many members of this group have long legs adapted for wading or running on land depending on species.
They also typically have long beaks used for hunting prey such as insects and small animals like fish, frogs and lizards.
Other traits commonly shared by these birds include strong wings with broad flight feathers that help them soar through the air when migrating or searching food sources during winter months.
In addition to these physical characteristics, some Gruiformes also possess vocalizations unique among other bird orders – making them easily recognizable even at great distances.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Clade | Gruimorphae |
| Order | Gruiformes Bonaparte, 1854 |
21. Ducks
Ducks are water birds belonging to the family of Anatidae. They have a worldwide distribution except Antarctica and are highly adapted for swimming, floating on water surface or in shallow depths.
Ducks come in various sizes ranging from small teals to large swans with around 174 species found across 43 genera.
Their feathers make them waterproof enabling ducks to stay afloat even in stormy waters while their webbed feet allow them to swim gracefully underwater.
Ducks usually feed by filtering food items such as insects, molluscs and crustaceans through their bills but some also graze on land vegetation like grasses & grains depending upon availability of resources at different locations they inhabit.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Suborder | Anseres |
| Superfamily | Anatoidea |
| Family | Anatidae Leach, 1820 |
22. Ryūkyū Scops Owl
The Ryūkyū scops-owl is a small rufous-brown owl with yellow eyes and an olive gray bill. Its face disk has a cinnamon colored facial ruff, making it quite distinctive from other owls in the area.
Found mainly on islands such as Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, Lanyu Island off south-east Taiwan and the Babuyan Islands of northern Luzon in Philippines, this bird prefers tropical or subtropical evergreen forests for its habitat.
It can be spotted near trees during twilight hours when they come out to hunt insects like moths and beetles.
The species is listed by IUCN as Least Concern due to its wide range of distribution across different island locations.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Otus |
| Species | O. elegans |
23. Bonin Wood Pigeon
The Bonin wood pigeon was a species of bird native to the Ogasawara Islands, south of Japan. It had an average length of 45 cm and was identifiable by its multicolored wings.
Unfortunately, this beautiful creature went extinct in late 19th century due to destruction of natural habitats caused by deforestation as well as hunting and predation from introduced animals such as cats and rats.
This is yet another example that highlights how human activities can detrimentally affect even the most remote areas on our planet, leading us to lose unique creatures forever.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species | †C. versicolor |
24. Ryukyu Wood Pigeon
The Ryukyu wood pigeon was a species of bird in the Columba genus found only on islands in Okinawa archipelago, south-west of Japan. It had distinctive silver bands around its neck and wings which made it stand out among other pigeons.
This unique bird lived amongst Laurel forest habitats and sadly became extinct due to human interference such as hunting, logging and destruction of their natural habitat.
The exact date for their extinction is unknown but believed to be since at least the early 20th century when humans started heavily inhabiting these areas more so than before.
Despite being an endangered species efforts were not enough to save this beautiful creature from disappearing from our planet forever.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species | †C. jouyi |
25. Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds, consisting of four genera and 17 species. They are distinguished from other charadrii by their long bills which have a slight downward curve.
Glareolidae live around open grasslands and deserts, where they hunt for insects using the bill to probe into soil or vegetation.
Most species are found in Africa but two pratincoles inhabit parts of Europe and Asia as well.
Coursers tend to be larger than pratincoles with longer legs allowing them to run quickly across sandy dunes while feeding on small animals like lizards or spiders.
Pratincoles feed mainly on flying insects, snatching them out of midair with great agility during flight.
All glareolids share unique features such as large eyes that help it spot prey at night easily making this group one interesting bird family.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder | Lari |
| Family | Glareolidae CL Brehm, 1831 |
26. Okinawa Woodpecker
The Okinawa woodpecker is a species of woodpecker found only in the Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
It was previously placed in its own genus Sapheopipo and has several common names such as Noguchi’s Woodpecker, Okinawan Woodpecker, Pryer’s Woodpecker and Ryukyu Woodperker.
This bird features black-and-white plumage with a white stripe on the head extending to the neck. Its wings are purple while its tail is red or yellowish brown depending on age.
The beak of this bird is also quite unique; it grows up to an impressive 10 cm long.
They feed mainly on insects which they find beneath tree bark or by hammering into dead branches for larvae inside them .
Sadly due to habitat destruction their population numbers have been declining rapidly over recent years so conservation efforts must be made if we want these beautiful birds around for future generations.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Dendrocopos |
| Species | D. noguchii |
27. 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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28. Japanese Cormorant
The Japanese cormorant is a black-bodied bird with a white throat and cheeks and a partially yellow bill. It can be found in the East Palearctic region, ranging from Taiwan to Russia’s Far East.
This species of cormorant has been domesticated by fishermen for centuries as part of their traditional fishing methods; fishers will tie strings around the birds’ necks so that.
They cannot swallow larger fish, allowing them to take only smaller catches back for themselves.
The domesticated birds are also trained to dive more deeply into waters than wild ones would typically do on their own – an invaluable skill when it comes to catching deep-sea prey.
As such, this long-standing tradition between humans and wildlife serves both parties well: humans get food while providing something essential back in return.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Genus | Phalacrocorax |
| Species | P. capillatus |
29. Grebes
Grebes are a type of diving bird found in freshwater habitats around the world. They belong to the order Podicipediformes and have 22 species that exist across six genera.
Some species can also be found in marine environments during their migration or winter season, and some even live flightless lives on stable lakes.
Grebes vary greatly between regions; for example, they range from 4-32 inches long with anywhere from 8-30 ounces of weight depending on which species it is.
Their plumage may be black, browns/grays or whites but usually consist of bright colors such as yellows, blues and greens while underwater they use these feathers to help them streamline through the water quickly.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Clade | Neoaves |
| Clade | Mirandornithes |
| Order | Podicipediformes Fürbringer, 1888 |
| Family | Podicipedidae Bonaparte, 1831 |
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30. Mandarin Duck
The Mandarin Duck is a stunningly beautiful bird native to the East Palearctic region. It has striking plumage, with the males featuring brightly-colored feathers of purple, blue, and green on their head, back, and wings as well as an orange bill.
The females are duller in color but still have attractive markings. They measure between 16 and 19 inches long with a wing span of 26 to 30 inches wide.
These ducks prefer freshwater habitats like lakes or rivers but will also forage for food in nearby grasslands or wooded areas if needed.
During the breeding season, they form pairs that nest either high up in trees near water sources or more commonly next to reeds close by ponds where they lay around 10 eggs at once.
After hatching their young remain together until autumn when they begin migrating southwards towards wintering grounds further away from their northern homes.
However, some individuals can stay put depending on local climate conditions and availability of resources such as food supply during colder months of the year before returning north.
They again come springtime when temperatures rise again allowing them easier access to aquatic vegetation that sustains them throughout the summer months ahead then repeat this cycle each year thereafter.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Aix |
| Species | A. galericulata |
31. Izu Thrush
The Izu Thrush is a species of bird that belongs to the thrush family and can be found in Japan. It feeds mainly on small animals like earthworms, insects and fruits such as cherries or mulberries.
Breeding season for this species begins from March to July during which time males sing at dawn but later throughout the day. The female lays three-four eggs in a nest made out of twigs located close to the ground, usually amongst shrubs or low trees.
Besides its unique singing ability, other identifying features include brownish back with lighter head streaked with dark lines along with buffy underparts marked by gray spots and stripes around breast area.
Conservation efforts are being taken up protect them against habitat loss due to human activities resulting in their population decline over years making it an endangered species now .
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. celaenops |
32. 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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33. Hooded Crane
The Hooded Crane is a beautiful bird native to East Asia and commonly seen migrating through Japan. It has distinctive grey plumage, with a white neck and head except for the bare red skin patch above its eye.
This species of crane stands at an impressive 1 metre in length, weighing 3.7 kilos with wingspan measuring up to 1.87 metres – making it one of the smallest cranes around.
During breeding season they inhabit southern parts of Siberia and northern China where they can be heard singing their courtship songs while dancing together gracefully on wetlands or marshes nearby.
The Hooded Crane is truly an amazing sight; if you are lucky enough, keep your eyes peeled during migration periods as this stunning bird may just fly right past you.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae |
| Genus | Grus |
| Species | G. monacha |
Also Featured In: Asian Birds,
34. Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow is a beautiful passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. Found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
It has an astonishingly large natural distribution spanning 251 million square kilometres globally; likely making it one of the world’s most widespread species.
This swallow typically nests near human habitation as well as other open areas such as fields or grasslands which provide them with suitable invertebrate prey to feed on.
They are insectivorous birds that often fly together in flocks looking for food over rivers or marshes usually just above tree-top level.
The barn swallow can also be identified by its strong flight consisting of swift continuous wing beats interspersed with glides during which they hold their wings slightly raised at the shoulders giving them distinct V shaped silhouettes in the sky.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Hirundinidae |
| Genus | Hirundo |
| Species | H. rustica |
35. Little Ringed Plover
The Little ringed plover is a small species of bird from the genus Charadrius. It has been given its scientific name due to an uncertain origin and yellowish colouring, which was first noted in the fourth century Vulgate Bible.
Native to river valleys across Europe and parts of Asia, this wader prefers areas with soft ground where it can feed on insects or worms.
Its plumage consists mainly of brown tones but during breeding season males will develop a black breast band for courtship displays.
These birds construct shallow nests near waterbodies using pebbles found nearby as well as vegetation such as grasses and mosses to provide camouflage from predators.
The female typically lays three eggs at one time that are incubated by both parents until they hatch after around three weeks before fledging shortly afterwards.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Charadriidae |
| Genus | Charadrius |
| Species | C. dubius |
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36. Taiwan Green Pigeon
The Taiwan green pigeon is a member of the Columbidae family and was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1863. It lives in Taiwan and Batanes islands, preferring subtropical or tropical lowland forests and gardens as its habitat.
Unfortunately this species faces threats from human activities such as deforestation which has destroyed much of its natural environment.
The Ryukyu green pigeon (T permagnus) found on Ryuku Islands used to be considered part of the same species but now it’s not so anymore due to differences between them.
This bird usually feeds on fruits, nuts and seeds while nesting among trees where they lay their eggs during breeding season.
They are generally small sized birds with greyish-brown feathers on body parts like wings, head etc., along with metallic colors around neck area giving them an attractive look overall.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Treron |
| Species | T. formosae |
37. Old World Flycatchers
The Old World Flycatcher is a family of small passerine birds, native to Europe, Africa and Asia. They are mainly insectivorous arboreal birds that feed on insects they catch in the air or trees.
Their wingspan ranges from 5-11 inches long with males usually being slightly larger than females.
The coloration of these birds can range greatly depending on species but typically have dull greyish brown upperparts and pale undersides which help them blend into their environment for hunting purposes.
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) and Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) are two exceptions as they can be found in North America too.
These charming little creatures make fun additions to birdwatching lists all over the world because of their vibrant colors and interesting behaviors.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily | Muscicapoidea |
| Family | Muscicapidae Fleming J., 1822 |
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38. Japanese Bush Warbler
The Japanese bush warbler is a small passerine bird that can often be heard, but rarely seen. It has an olive brown colour with dusky shades below and its distinct pale eyebrows give it an almost smiling look due to the curved shape of its beak.
During springtime, these birds are known for their sweet singing which can be heard throughout Japan.
They typically inhabit areas such as deciduous forests, parks or gardens near human habitations in order to find food and suitable nesting places in trees or shrubs.
The diet consists mainly of insects like grasshoppers, cicadas and beetles as well as some fruits during autumn season when they prepare for migration southwards to warmer climates before winter arrives.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cettiidae |
| Genus | Horornis |
| Species | H. diphone |
Also Featured In: Common Birds in the Cities,
39. Short-Tailed Albatross
The Short-tailed Albatross, also known as Steller’s albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is an impressive seabird that can be found in the North Pacific.
It has a unique combination of features from its Southern Ocean relatives combined with behavioural and morphological traits of other North Pacific birds.
Described by German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas from skins collected by Georg Wilhelm Steller, it is now a rare species due to hunting and overfishing activities in its habitat.
With white wingspan up to 3 metres long and black body plumage colouring them beautiful against blue skies, they are easy to identify when flying gracefully above waves or perched on rocks near shorelines looking for food.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae |
| Genus | Phoebastria |
| Species | P. albatrus |
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40. Anseriformes
Anseriformes are a group of waterfowl birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. With over 180 living species in three families, these birds have adapted to live an aquatic life with great skill.
They can be found near lakes or rivers foraging for food along the shoreline or diving underwater pursuing prey like fish and mollusks.
Their long legs help them move through deeper waters as they swim gracefully across the surface looking for food.
Anhimidae (screamers) often utilize their sharp voices to communicate with each other while Anatidae use bill-dipping displays when courting potential mates during mating season. These beautiful birds will never cease to amaze us.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Clade | Anserimorphae |
| Order | Anseriformes Wagler, 1831 |
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41. Large-Billed Crow
The Large-billed Crow, also known as Jungle Crow, is a species of crow found throughout Asia. It has adapted to many different food sources and can easily colonize new areas due to its resilience.
This makes it an unwelcome presence in some places, particularly islands where the bird’s numbers can quickly get out of control.
The name macrorhynchos comes from its large bill which sets it apart from other crows living in the same area; this bill helps them break open hard shells or tough skinned fruits with ease.
They have glossy black feathers over their bodies and yellow eyes that make them look very imposing when seen up close.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Corvus |
| Species | C. macrorhynchos |
Also Featured In: Gujarati Birds,
42. Steller’s Sea Eagle
Steller’s sea eagle is a majestic bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family. It has dark brown plumage with white wings and tail, a yellow beak and talons.
This species typically weighs more than any other type of eagle in its range, making it an impressive sight when soaring through the sky.
The Steller’s sea eagle also goes by other names such as Pacific Sea Eagle or White-shouldered Eagle and was first described by Peter Simon Pallas back in 1811.
These birds are mainly found around coastal areas near lakes, rivers, bays and estuarine habitats across eastern Russia but can sometimes be seen further south along China’s coast too.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Haliaeetus |
| Species | H. pelagicus |
43. White-Naped Crane
The white-naped crane is a majestic bird of the crane family, standing at an impressive 130 cm tall with striking pinkish legs and grey-and-white striped neck.
It has a red face patch to complete its look. Found in Mongolia, China and Russia’s southeast region, it breeds primarily around Khingan Nature Reserve. This species weighs about 5.6kg on average and can reach up to 125cm long; quite large for any bird.
White cranes are also known as symbols of peace given their unique beauty which have been praised since ancient times by cultures all over the world – making them even more special creatures than many other birds out there.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae |
| Genus | Antigone |
| Species | A. vipio |
44. White-Eyes
White-eyes are small passerine birds found in a variety of tropical, subtropical and temperate environments.
They inhabit most islands in the Indian Ocean, western Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Guinea.
The family Zosteropidae includes many species which are endemic to single islands or archipelagos – they can’t be seen anywhere else on Earth.
White-eyes have distinctive white feathers around their eyes giving them their name, while some also feature yellow plumage or bright red patches at the throat.
These pretty little birds feed mainly on insects such as beetles and caterpillars but will also eat nectar when available.
With their friendly nature, white-eyes make great garden visitors who often come close enough for you to watch up close with binoculars.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily | Sylvioidea |
| Family | Zosteropidae Bonaparte, 1853 |
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45. Grey-Capped Greenfinch
The Grey-capped Greenfinch is a medium-sized finch with grey caps, measuring between 12.5 to 14 cm in length and having a strong bill and short slightly forked tail.
It was first described by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1760, who noted its presence from Siberia eastwards along the Himalayas into China.
This species inhabits broadleaf and conifer woodlands of East Palearctic region where it breeds during summer months laying 3 to 5 eggs inside nest built high up in trees or vegetation bushes around them.
They feed on seeds found on ground as well as insects that can be caught from air while fluttering their wings rapidly back and forth like all other small passerine birds do when they fly low over surface of water bodies or grassland hunting prey.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily | Carduelinae |
| Genus | Chloris |
| Species | C. sinica |
46. Eurasian Collared Dove
The Eurasian collared dove is a species of bird native to Europe and Asia, with its range expanding through introduction in Japan, North America, and islands in the Caribbean.
It has become so widespread that it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The scientific name for this bird was proposed by Hungarian naturalist Imre Frivaldsz – Columba decaocto.
This beautiful creature typically measures between 33-37 cm from tip to tail feathers, displaying an overall greyish brown plumage; they also have distinctive black half collar around their neck which gives them their common name.
These birds are mainly found inhabiting open woodlands or agricultural lands near human settlements where there’s plenty of food available such as grain fields or gardens where fruits can be eaten off trees.
With a vast global population trend increasing steadily each year these birds make great additions to many backyards throughout the world.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Streptopelia |
| Species | S. decaocto |
47. White-Breasted Waterhen
The White-breasted Waterhen is a stunning species of bird from South and Southeast Asia. It has a striking appearance, with its dark slaty plumage contrasted by the clean white of its face, breast and belly.
This bold waterbird can often be seen slowly walking around marshes or even drains near busy roads with its tail held upright in an unmistakable pose.
They are omnivores which feed on both plants and small animals such as insects and invertebrates.
The White-breasted Waterhen plays an important role in their ecosystems as they help to keep it balanced by consuming pests that could potentially cause damage to crops or other plant life if left unchecked.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae |
| Genus | Amaurornis |
| Species | A. phoenicurus |
48. 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 |
49. Lesser Cuckoo
The lesser cuckoo is a species of bird found in many parts of the world, including Bangladesh, Bhutan and China. It belongs to the Cuculidae family which also includes other types of cuckoos.
The lesser cuckoo has a brown back with black wings and tail feathers that have white tips. Its breast is pale grey while its belly is whitish-gray or buffy yellow.
In Japan it’s called hoso-daka due to its loud call similar to ‘ho’ or ‘so’ sound repeated several times during breeding season as part of mating ritual between males and females pairs.
This peculiar behavior can be observed when they fly from tree branches into open ground seeking for food such as insects, spiders and small reptiles like lizards which are their main diet components along with some berries occasionally eaten too.
They build nests out of twigs on trees located close by water bodies where they lay eggs up to 5 – 6 per clutch depending on time each year .
All these features make them an interesting addition into any wildlife ecosystem.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae |
| Genus | Cuculus |
| Species | C. poliocephalus |
50. Indian Cuckoo
The Indian cuckoo is a beautiful bird belonging to the Cuculiformes family and found in the subcontinent of India and Southeast Asia.
It has an impressive range, stretching from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka all the way east to Indonesia, north to China and even Russia.
They usually live alone or in pairs at high altitudes up to 3,600m (11800ft), typically inhabiting woodlands or open forests.
This medium-sized cuckoo is quite shy but easily identified by its distinct white throat patch edged with black as well as its white belly with grey flanks.
Its call can also be heard throughout many parts of South Asia during mating season between April – June; it’s distinctive “coo-kook” sound bringing joyousness into any jungle atmosphere.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae |
| Genus | Cuculus |
| Species | C. micropterus |
51. Red Collared Dove
The Red Collared Dove is a small pigeon species native to the tropics of Asia. It has an unmistakable appearance, with adult males having a blue-grey head and red-brown body while females are plainer with pale brown plumage like that of its larger cousin, the Eurasian Collared Dove.
The bird was formally described in 1758 by French naturalist Johann H. This dove feeds mainly on seeds and grain but will also eat some insects for protein.
These birds tend to live near human dwellings as they often benefit from food scraps left behind or given directly to them by humans.
They make their nests inside tree cavities or sometimes build platforms made up of twigs in dense trees or bushes where they lay two white eggs at once which hatch after 15 days incubation period shared between both parents.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Streptopelia |
| Species | S. tranquebarica |