Hello! Are you familiar with the Little Grebe? This adorable water bird is the smallest in the Grebe family found in Japan, measuring just 26cm in length. It is often mistaken for a baby duck. In the Kanto region, it’s a resident bird that can be seen all year round. Both male and female Little…

Hello, everyone! Let me introduce you to the “Japanese Crane,” deeply connected to Japan’s nature! Among Japan’s wild birds, the Japanese Crane is one of the largest, only breeding in Hokkaido. It has a body length of about 140cm and a wingspan of approximately 240cm, presenting a truly magnificent sight! Its body is almost entirely…

Hello! Are you familiar with the bird called the “Hawfinch”? Quietly swooping in, the adorable Hawfinch. This small bird, slightly larger than a sparrow, measures about 19cm in length. The male has a brownish head, gray ear feathers, and a thick, large, lead-colored beak, which turns flesh-colored in winter—a distinctive feature. In contrast, the female…

Hello, everyone! Let’s talk about the “Common Moorhen,” a bird that stands out in waterside landscapes with its striking red beak. Let’s delve into the world of this beautiful creature. The Common Moorhen, a member of the Rallidae family in the order Gruiformes, is about the size of a pigeon, measuring 30-35 cm in length….

Hello, everyone! Nature in Japan is full of small wonders, and among them, the Goldcrest is particularly endearing. This tiny bird measures only about 10 cm in body length and spans roughly 15 cm when its wings are open. Weighing a mere 3 to 5 grams, it’s one of the smallest birds around. Its most…

Hello, everyone! Today, I’d like to talk about a small bird hiding in nature close to us, the Black-faced Bunting. The Black-faced Bunting is about 16cm in length, slightly larger than a sparrow. Its body is covered with brown feathers, characterized by black vertical stripes. What’s more, the male’s yellow-green head is striking. On the…

Hello everyone! Small adventurers descend from the sky. They are known as Bramblings. These birds come from distant lands to spend the winter in Japan. Bramblings are winter birds with a total length of 16cm and an attractive appearance. Particularly, the males are very colorful, with a black head, orange chest, and white belly. When…

Hello! As the cold winter days continue, how is everyone doing? A winter icon in the northern lands is the “Whooper Swan.” Today, let’s delve into the charm of this magnificent bird! Firstly, its size is astounding. The Whooper Swan can reach a body length of about 140 cm, and when it spreads its wings,…

Hello everyone! Today, I’d like to talk a bit about the Eastern Buzzard, a bird often seen soaring in the sky, closer to us than we might think. The Eastern Buzzard, with a body length of 50-60 cm, can be likened to a crow-sized hawk. While it appears similar to the Black Kite, it’s actually…

Have you ever come across a small bird shimmering with a yellow belly while walking along the river? It could very well be a Grey Wagtail. The Grey Wagtail is known for its vivid yellow belly, true to its name. This small bird, belonging to the Wagtail family of the Passeriformes order, measures about 20…

Hello, everyone! Have you ever seen a Eurasian Nuthatch? This bird is not just any ordinary small bird! The Eurasian Nuthatch is about 13.5cm long, roughly the size of a sparrow. Its body is colored with blue-grey on the back and white on the belly, with orange flanks. Particularly striking is the black line that…