Hello, everyone! Today, let’s talk about the differences between two small, adorable birds: the Long-tailed Tit and Hokkaido’s Long-tailed Tit. The simple way to distinguish them is by their “facial patterns” and “habitats”! The Long-tailed Tit is a small bird found throughout Japan, from Kyushu northwards, measuring about 13.5 cm in total length. Almost half…

Hello, everyone! Today, let’s talk about the small bird, the “Tit”. In Japan, we often see these birds in gardens and parks, but did you know that the same species exists in Europe as well? However, there’s a slight difference. Firstly, the European tits have vivid yellow bellies. This is because the subspecies found in…

Hello, everyone! I was once asked by a friend, “We don’t see swallows in winter, but where are they?” Today, I’d like to talk about a bird close to our hearts, the “Swallow”. Swallows are about 17 cm in length, and both males and females are of the same color, though males have longer tails….

Hello, everyone! Today, let’s talk about a bird with a unique habit, the “Shrike.” Shrikes, belonging to the Laniidae family in the Passeriformes order, are small birds but have some really interesting characteristics contrary to their appearance. Despite their small size of about 20cm, shrikes are carnivorous, primarily feeding on insects. They also prey on…

Hello, everyone! Today, I want to introduce you to the amazing drama of nature that unfolds above our heads: the story of migratory birds. Are you familiar with migratory birds? These birds, like genius navigators, continue to fly thousands of kilometers each year. They raise their young in the northern lands, and spend the winter…

Hello, everyone! Today, a friend asked me if it’s okay for pigeons to eat sand. Let me share a little trivia about pigeons with you. You might be surprised to know that pigeons eat stones and sand. But why do they do this? The answer lies in the ‘gizzard.’ Since pigeons don’t have teeth, they…

Hello, everyone! Have you ever spotted a small, fast-moving bird chirping “chit-chit” in urban parking lots or in front of convenience stores? Yes, that’s the White Wagtail. Today, I’d like to shine the spotlight on this adorable bird with its somewhat unusual way of walking. Roughly the same size as a sparrow, its long tail…

Hello, everyone! Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to a charmingly tiny woodpecker that you can find in the nature around us, the “Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker.” With the size of a sparrow and a modest presence, this bird is just 15 centimeters in length and weighs only 18 to 26 grams. it is the smallest…

Hello! Today, I’d like to talk about the Great Tit, a small bird that lives close to us. This little bird is actually very intelligent, and their world is full of surprising facts! Despite their small size of about 14-15 cm, Great Tits have a remarkable presence! Their trademark is a black necktie, and the…

Hello, everyone! Today, I’d like to talk about our wonderful feathered friends, affectionately known as ‘Shorebirds and Plovers.’ These small waterbirds that decorate our mudflats and water edges give us many surprises with their life and migration patterns. Globally, shorebirds and plovers are truly ingenious travelers. Some species fly over 10,000 kilometers one-way, from Alaska…

Hello there! We often see crows at the usual street corners, but did you know that there are actually two different types of crows among them? Today, I’d like to talk about the differences and charms of the Jungle Crow and the Carrion Crow. First, let’s look at their habitats. The Jungle Crow prefers wooded…

Hello, everyone! Today, let’s talk about the starling, a bird that blends into our daily lives, yet there’s so much we don’t know about it. The starlings we often see in the city form massive flocks in the evening that fill the sky with darkness, a truly impressive sight. Those birds lined up on the…