Endemic birds of Japan
Encyclopedia
This article is one of a series providing information about endemism
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...

 among birds in the World's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....

.

Endemic Bird Areas

Birdlife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...

 has defined the following Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) in Japan:
  • Izu Islands
    Izu Islands
    The are a group of volcanic islands stretching south and east from the Izu Peninsula of Honshū, Japan. Administratively, they form two towns and six villages; all part of Tokyo. The largest is Izu Ōshima, usually called simply Ōshima....

  • Ogasawara Islands
    Ogasawara Islands
    The Bonin Islands, known in Japan as the are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical and tropical islands, some directly south of Tokyo, Japan. Administratively, they are part of Ogasawara Municipality of Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo...

  • Nansei Shoto


The following have been designated as Secondary areas:
  • Central Honshu
    Honshu
    is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...

     lowland forest
    Forest
    A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...

    s
  • Central Honshu montane
    Montane
    In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...

     forests
  • Iwo
    Iwo
    *International Workers Order was the acronym of the International Workers Order, a pro-Communist fraternal organization and insurance company.*Iwo Jima, a small island in Japan, site of the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.*Iwo, Nigeria, a city in Nigeria....

     Islands
  • Japanese and Korean offshore islands

List of species

The following is a list of species endemic to Japan:
  1. Copper Pheasant
    Copper Pheasant
    The Copper Pheasant, Syrmaticus soemmerringii also known as Soemmerring's Pheasant is a large, up to 136cm long, pheasant with a rich coppery chestnut plumage, yellowish bill, brown iris and red facial skin. The female is a brown bird with greyish brown upperparts and buff barred dark brown below...

    , Syrmaticus soemmerringii, "YAMADORI", NT
  2. Green Pheasant
    Green Pheasant
    The Green Pheasant, Phasianus versicolor, also known as Japanese Pheasant, is native to the Japanese Archipelago, to which it is endemic. The male is distinguished from that species by its dark green plumage on the breast and mantle. The male also has an iridescent violet neck, red bare facial...

    , Phasianus versicolor, "KIJI"
  3. Japanese Woodpecker
    Japanese Woodpecker
    Japanese Green Woodpecker , also known as Japanese Woodpecker, is a medium-sized woodpecker similar and closely related to the European Green Woodpecker, but endemic to Japan....

    , Picus awokera, "AOGERA"
  4. Okinawa Woodpecker
    Okinawa Woodpecker
    The is a woodpecker endemic to the island of Okinawa in Japan. It is the only member of the genus Sapheopipo.This is a medium-sized , dark woodpecker. It is dark brown in color with red-tipped feathers. It has white spots on the primaries. The head is a paler brown, with a dark red crown on the...

    , Sapheopipo noguchii, "NOGUCHIGERA", CR
  5. Japanese Scops Owl
    Japanese Scops Owl
    The Japanese Scops Owl, Otus semitorques, is an owl which is a resident breeder in Japan.This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.It is very similar to the slightly...

    , Otus semitorques, "OOKONOHAZUKU"
  6. Japanese Wood Pigeon, Columba janthina
  7. Bonin Wood-Pigeon
    Bonin Wood-pigeon
    The Bonin Wood Pigeon was a pigeon endemic to Nakodo-jima and Chichi-jima in the Ogasawara Islands off the coast of Japan. It is known from four recorded specimens, the first from 1827 and the last from 1889. They averaged a length of 45 cm...

    , Columba versicolor, "OGASAWARA-KARASUBATO", EX
  8. Ryukyu Pigeon, Columba jouyi, "RYUKYU-KARASUBATO", EX
  9. Japanese Night-heron, Gorsachius goisagi, "MIZOGOI"
  10. Okinawa Rail
    Okinawa Rail
    The Okinawa Rail is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae. It is endemic to Okinawa Island in Japan where it is known as the...

    , Gallirallus okinawae, "YANBARU-KUINA", EN
  11. Amami Woodcock
    Amami Woodcock
    The Amami Woodcock, Scolopax mira, is a medium sized wader. It is slightly larger and longer-legged than Eurasian Woodcock, and may be .This species is a Restricted-range endemic found only in forests on two small islands of the Amami Islands chain in South Japan. Insofar as its habits are known,...

    , Scolopax mira, "AMAMI-YAMASHIGI", VU
  12. Ryu Kyu Serpent-eagle, Spilornis cheela perplexus, "KANMURIWASI"
  13. Lidth's Jay
    Lidth's Jay
    The Lidth's Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to Japan. It is slightly larger than its close relative the Eurasian Jay, with a proportionately stouter bill and also a longer tail...

    , Garrulus lidthi, "RURIKAKESU", VU
  14. Ryukyu Minivet
    Ryukyu Minivet
    The Ryukyu Minivet is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is endemic to Japan.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 26 July 2007....

    , Pericrocotus tegimae, "RYUKYU-SANSYOKUI"
  15. Amami Thrush
    Amami Thrush
    The Amami Thrush, Zoothera major, is a member of the Thrush family Turdidae. It is endemic to the islands of Amami Ōshima and Kakeroma island in the northern Nansei Islands of Japan....

    , Zoothera major, "OOTORA-TUGUMI", CR
  16. Bonin Thrush
    Bonin Thrush
    The Bonin Thrush, Bonin Islands Thrush or Kittlitz's Thrush is sometimes separated as the only species of the genus Cichlopasser. It is an extinct species of Asian thrush...

    , Zoothera terrestris, "OGASAWARA-GABICHO", EX
  17. Izu Thrush
    Izu Thrush
    The Izu Thrush , also known as the Izu Islands Thrush, is a thrush native to the Izu and Ryukyu Islands of Japan, in particular, Hachijojima, Mikurajima, and Miyakejima in the former chain, and Yakushima and the Tokara Islands in the latter...

    , Turdus celaenops, "AKAKOKKO", VU
  18. Bonin Honeyeater, Apalopteron familiare, "MEGURO", VU
  19. Japanese Wagtail
    Japanese Wagtail
    The Japanese Wagtail, Motacilla grandis, is a species of bird in the pipit and wagtail family Motacillidae. It breeds in Japan and Korea. Vagrant birds have been recorded in Taiwan, eastern China and far-eastern Russia. In Japan, it is generally common from Kyushu northward, but uncommon in...

    , Motacilla grandis, "SEGURO-SEKIREI"
  20. Japanese Accentor
    Japanese Accentor
    The Japanese Accentor is a species of bird in the Prunellidae family. It is found in Japan and Russia.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 27 July 2007....

    , Prunella rubida, "KAYAKUGURI"
  21. Bonin Grosbeak
    Bonin Grosbeak
    The Bonin Grosbeak or Bonin Islands Grosbeak is an extinct finch, the only species of the genus Chaunoproctus. It is one of the diverse bird taxa that are vernacularly called "grosbeaks", but it is not closely related to the grosbeaks sensu stricto. It was a retiring, although not shy bird, and...

    , Chaunoproctus ferreorostris, "OGASAWARA-MASHIKO", EX
  22. Grey Bunting
    Grey Bunting
    The Grey Bunting is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family.It is found in China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.Its natural habitats are boreal forests and temperate forests.-References:...

    , Emberiza variabilis, "KUROJI"
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK