A joint Japanese-Russian bird-banding study was conducted on southern and middle Sakhalin Island from 1999 to 2001, and in 2003. The study was carried out for 43 days in August and September. A total of 1,337 birds of 44 species were captured and released. The three major species that were captured and released in this study were Black-faced Bunting
Emberiza spodocephala (newly banded 483 birds), Siberian Rubythroat
Luscinia calliope (newly banded 265 birds), and Rufous-tailed Robin
Luscinia sibilans (newly banded 245 birds). In addition, at least 20 individuals from each of Black-browed Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus bistrigiceps, Dusky Warbler
Phylloscopus fuscatus, Radde's Warbler
P. schwarzi, and Arctic Warbler
P. borealis, were released, as well as 13 birds of Pallas's Leaf Warbler
P. proregulus. Among species released in this study, Rufous-tailed Robin, Dusky Warbler, Pallas's Leaf Warbler, and Radde's Warbler are rare in Japan including Hokkaido. Among the released, three birds of Siberian Rubythroat were recovered from Hokkaido, and Niigata, one Black-faced Bunting was recovered in Niigata, and three birds of Reed Bunting were recovered from Osaka and Ibaraki. One Reed Bunting were captured Sakhalin, which bird was released at Tajiri, Miyagi, Japan. No other species were recovered, including Rufous-tailed Robin, Dusky Warbler, and Radde's Warbler. These results suggest that different migration routes are used by the aforementioned species. Rufous-tailed Robin, Dusky Warbler, and Radde's Warbler may migrate through Primorsky Krai and the adjacent Russian areas facing the Sea of Japan and northeastern China. In contrast, the flyway along the Japanese archipelago may be one of the major routes for Siberian Rubythroat, Black-faced Bunting, and Reed Bunting. The present study revealed a large difference between the avifauna in Sakhalin and Japan. Sakhalin Island is thought to be a branching point of passerine migration routes, one for the Asian continent and the other for the Japanese archipelago.
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