Hello everyone! This week in our American birds series, we’re introducing the Red-tailed Hawk, a member of the hawk family that is commonly seen across North America. When you look up at the sky, you might notice a large bird gliding in wide circles with its wings spread. Many people recognize that majestic silhouette as…

Hello, everyone! Have you ever heard of a bird called “Bonin Honeyeater”? Today’s featured bird is an incredibly rare little bird found only on three islands in the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands! The Bonin honeyeater, measures about 14 cm in length—slightly smaller than a sparrow. Its back and tail feathers are a dark greenish or yellowish-brown,…

Hello everyone! You’ve probably heard of the “kiji” (pheasant), right? That famous bird from the Momotaro folktale. In fact, the pheasant is Japan’s national bird—and it’s actually a species found only in Japan! Male pheasants are about 81 cm long, and females about 58 cm, making them surprisingly large birds. The male’s body shines with…

Hello, everyone! Today, let’s talk about the Little Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world! Measuring only around 40 cm (about 16 inches) in height and weighing about 1 kg (around 2.2 pounds), they’re irresistibly tiny and cute. As their name suggests, Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguin. Compared to the largest species,…

Hello, everyone! Did you know that there’s a bird in the forests of Australia that’s too good at mimicking sounds? Its name is the Superb Lyrebird, and it’s honestly one of the most fascinating birds out there! The Superb Lyrebird measures about 80–100 cm in length, with over half of that taken up by its…

Hello, everyone! Have you ever heard of a “bird caller”? It’s a simple tool that makes a squeaky “squeak squeak” sound by rubbing a metal rod against a wooden board. But surprisingly, this sound can actually attract birds! Why do birds respond to this sound? It turns out that the sound of a bird caller…

Hello, everyone! Have you heard of a bird called the “Fairy Pitta” ? It’s a very colorful and beautiful little creature.” The Fairy Pitta is about 18 cm long, slightly bigger than a sparrow and around the size of a starling. Its vivid feathers feature bright reds, greens, blues, and yellows, with a striking blue…

Hello, everyone! Have you heard of the rock ptarmigan? It lives only in high-altitude mountains, turns pure white in winter and speckled in summer, and is designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan. Spotting one in the mountains always brings a little joy. But lately, their numbers have been decreasing due to climate change…

Hello everyone! Here’s the breaking news! Following last year, the results of the “Birdmate Cup 2025: All 644 Bird Species General Election,” in which bird lovers from across Japan took part, have been announced. A total of 4,756 votes were cast, and soaring proudly to 1st place was our familiar friend, the sparrow (496 votes)!…

Hello everyone! Today is Ha (8) – To (10) Day—Hato, the Japanese word for pigeon.Speaking of pigeons, of course, there’s the ultimate Kamakura souvenir—the bright yellow box of Hato Sablé! The origin of the shape goes back to the founder’s deep respect for Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.On the shrine’s main hall hangs a plaque with the…

Hello, everyone! Have you ever heard of a small bird called the Arctic Tern? It’s only about 35 cm long — about the size of a pigeon — yet it undertakes a globe-spanning journey every single year! Adult Arctic Terns in their summer plumage have red beaks and feet, a black cap on their head,…