The Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus is distributed from Southeast Asia through northeastern China and Japan. In Japan, the subspecies C. i. jotaka is a summer breeder on the islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Although techniques for sexing this species were developed long ago, there had been no studies on aging and moulting.
This research was designed to fill the gaps in our knowledge of the Jungle Nightjar. Banding research was conducted at the Watarase Marshlands, located in Tochigi Prefecture, central Honshu. During the seven year period from 1994 to 2000, a total of 51 jungle nightjar were banded and released. The moulting condition of 31 individuals was investigated, and detailed photographs of the plumage were taken for comparing adults and juveniles. One female, banded and released as a juvenile in 1997, was recaptured in 1997-2000.
Based on the plumage, both males and females could be clearly classified as adult or juvenile, based on the condition of the moult, presence or absence of light-colored edging on the greater primary coverts and greater outer coverts, differences in the patterns on the greater inner coverts, and condition of the tail feathers.
Based on the results of the research, which took place in October, it was suggested that adults begin moulting in the breeding area, and leave for the wintering grounds after changing the outer primaries, and parts of the secondaries and tail feathers. Juveniles, however, only change a few body feathers and coverts before migrating.

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The ratio between adult and juvenile Pacific Golden Plovers Pluvialis fiuva wintering on Okinawa Island and Chichijima Island was studied using photographs. Results suggested that many young individuals winter on Chichijima Island.

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[in Japanese]

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Two dead Fairy Pitta Pitta brachyura were found; one at Sasagami Village on 19 May 1997 and the other at Shibata City on 20 June 2000. These discoveries represent the first and second records of this species from Niigata Prefecture. These individuals most likely strayed into the region.

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