Hello everyone! Have you ever heard of the beautiful migratory bird that comes to Japan in the summer, the Dollarbird? It’s actually a very fascinating bird.
The Dollarbird is a medium-sized bird, about 30 cm in length. Both males and females have the same coloring. Their head is a dark brown, their tail is black, and their throat is ultramarine. The body is covered with glossy blue feathers, which can appear green depending on the light. When they spread their wings, white spots become noticeable, and their beak and legs are reddish-orange. Isn’t it a colorful bird?
Dollarbirds live in forests near water from lowlands to mountains. Breeding grounds such as Minobu Town in Yamanashi Prefecture and Mino City in Gifu Prefecture have been designated as national natural monuments.They mainly eat insects and can often be seen perching on high branches or power lines, catching prey while flying. They frequently fly from the same spot, returning to their original position regardless of whether they succeed or fail in catching their prey.
In their nests, you can find many shiny objects like shells, pull tabs, and pottery. These are collected by the parent birds to feed their chicks. The chicks swallow these items to use them in their gizzards to grind down the hard shells of insects.
With their blue feathers spread out as they soar through the sky, Dollarbirds are called “forest jewels” and captivate many people. However, they are currently designated as an endangered species. So, the next time you visit the forest, you’ll be lucky if you spot a Dollarbird! Until next time.
