The Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus is widely distributed along the North Pacific coast. Four cormorant species inhabit Japan, and their habitats overlap with each other. The Pelagic Cormorant is the smallest species, and its range widely overlaps with both the Japanese and Great Cormorants. Therefore, bone measurements of Pelagic Cormorants are important in the identification of this species when recovered or when bones of unknown origin are excavated. However, there are few detailed reports on Pelagic Cormorant bones. Measurements on 39 parts from 14 main bones of 28 Pelagic Cormorants showed that many measurements did not overlap with either the Japanese Cormorant or the Great Cormorant. This suggested that distinguishing the Pelagic Cormorant from the Japanese Cormorant and the Great Cormorant was possible by measuring bone sizes.

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Hybrid Phasianidae species have been bred by the hunting and tourism industries; however, knowledge regarding these hybrid species is sparse. Selected breeding of chicken, bantam, and fighting cocks has been performed, but pheasants have rarely been bred. This study aims to describe the breeding outcomes and phenotypic characters of crossbred hybrids. Twenty crossbred species were reared freely in cages. Hybrid crosses between male Phasianus colchicus karpowi and female Syrmaticus soemmerringii, male P. colchicus karpowi and female Syrmaticus reevesii, male P. colchicus and female P. colchicus karpowi, and their backcrosses resulted in productive species. Adult males can be easily identified as crossbred species from their physical appearance; however, identifying crossbred hybrid females in the field is impossible. Further, producing hybrid species requires technical skills, and hence, it should not be approved for the general public for economic reasons. The findings of previous studies and the hybridization outcomes obtained in this study revealed that identifying hybrid Phasianidae species might be difficult. The findings of this study might help in the identification of hybrid Phasianidae species.

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A Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus was banded at Shiwara, Mihama, Minamimuro-gun, Mie Prefecture on December 27, 2011. Maximum wing length measurements showed this bird to be a male. From the condition of the tail feathers and iris color, this individual was likely in first winter plumage. This is the first authenticated record of the Dusky Warbler in Mie Prefecture.

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A common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos with polydactyl was captured at a paddy field in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, Central Japan, on September 2, 2012. The individual had two first toes on each foot, and one of the first toes on the right foot had no claw. The cause of polydactyl in this individual could not be determined.

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On October 1, 2011, a young song thrush Turdus philomelos was captured and ringed for the first time in Nemuro, Hokkaido, Japan. The bird could not be sexed, because the species is sexually monomorphic. The bird was judged as first winter based on the yellowish-buff of the longest primary coverts of the outer webs.

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