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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This paper details the identification of Rufous-tailed Robin, Dusky Warbler, and Radde's Warbler. These species were studied and captured by mist-net in Sakhalin Island, which is a breeding site of these three birds. Rufous-tailed Robin could be distinguished from female Japanese Robin by its smaller size, and from Siberian Blue Robin by its reddish brown tail. Measurements based on ca. 100 samples are presented (see Tables). Dusky and Radde's Warblers were very similar to each other, and lacked wing bars, which was common in the majority of Phylloscopus warblers. However, the former had a slimmer shaped bill and slimmer legs. Measurements of the two species based on ca. 20 juveniles are shown (see Tables). The average lengths of wings of juvenile Dusky and Radde's Warblers were 58.7 mm and 60.0 mm, respectively. Those of tarsus were 23.0 mm and 22.0 mm, respectively. However, the ranges were overlapping.

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Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila was recorded on Moneron Island, which belongs to the Sakhalin Islands, in Russia. However, there is no record of them on Sakhalin Island, the main island. One juvenile Chestnut Bunting was captured on September 5, 1999 at the Moguchi River on the Kril'on Peninsula, southwestern end of Sakhalin Island. This bird had a reddish brown rump, pale yellow underpart, and had no white mark on its tail. The only three inner greater coverts were replaced by the new first winter plumage, which were fringed with reddish brown. The rest of the plumage was still in the juvenile form. Skull ossification was in stage B. Sex was determined as female according to the wing length.

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Various factors, including, weather, time, vegetation, and playback are known to affect bird capture efficiency using mist-net. Factors affecting bird capture were analyzed using capture data from the Japan-Russia Bird Banding Expedition in Sakhalin Island (1999～2003). Playback was effective for Rufous-tailed Robin, Siberian Rubythroat, and Black-faced Bunting. At least 80% of the banded birds of Siberian Rubythroat and Rufous-tailed Robin were captured before 6:00 AM. Both species were very active just before dawn. Black-faced Bunting was mainly captured after 5:00 AM. Large numbers of birds were captured when the rain stopped and the weather had changed for the better.

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