During Japan’s post-war economic boom from the 1960s through the 1980s, the country experienced an explosive increase in pet ownership, which led to an increase in the number of exotic bird species establishing wild populations. In particular, myna species (Acridotheres) have been sighted throughout the country, and the author has recorded breeding of the Crested Myna A. cristatellus, Javan Myna A. javanicus, Common Myna A. tristis, Bank myna A. ginginianus, and Great Myna A. grandis. As of 2023, only the Crested Myna occurs in Kanagawa Prefecture and western Japan, including Hyogo and Kagawa Prefectures, and is expanding its distribution. This paper discusses the factors that led to its invasion and establishment based on past observation records, with reference to the various problems it causes. It also highlights the necessity of monitoring its population status and the possibility of recognizing it as a new wild species in the urban ecosystems.

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The foraging behavior and habitat use of dark morphs of the Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra were investigated along rocky coasts in central Japan. A behavior in which individuals crouch with their wings spread outward while ambushing prey was defined as the "crouch with outstretched wings". Pacific reef herons foraged in a variety of ways across different habitats, mainly along rocky coasts. They often used ambush foraging in deeper and either walked while foraging or used ambush foraging in shallow water. They also searched for prey in flight and caught it by plunging their bills into the water. The "crouch with outstretched wings" behavior was often observed when waves were approaching. This behavior may play a role in maintaining posture and stability under wave action on rocky shores.

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The Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata was censused along 1,200 transects (2 km in length) located within 1,062 quadrats (4.5 x 5.0 km) in Hokkaido from late April to late July during the period 1976–2025. Additional data were obtained from spot census records and literature surveys to determine its distribution. The Chestnut-eared Bunting was distributed mainly in plains, basins, and lowlands along major rivers, and was recorded mostly at altitudes of 300 m or less. Its main habitats are grasslands and agricultural land.

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To clarify the characteristics of the avifauna in residential areas of Esashi Town, two survey routes were established and line transect censuses were conducted. Routes A and B were surveyed from October 2018 to March 2020 and from April 2019 to March 2020, respectively. Three species―the Carrion Crow Corvus corone, the Large-billed Crow C. macrorhynchos, and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus―were the dominant residential species in the town. The Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis, the Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis, the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, the Chestnut-cheeked Starling Agropsar philippensis, the Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius, the White Wagtail Motacilla alba, and the Oriental Greenfinch Chloris sinica were also common. Although some open grassy areas existed along the survey routes, typical grassland birds such as the Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis and the Amur Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri were absent. The Barn Swallow was common along the route that passed through the shopping district, but only a few individuals were recorded along the route though the single-family residential areas. Raptors were occasionally observed during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons.

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In Castanopsis sieboldii forests on Miyake Island, where the effects of the 2000 volcanic eruption still persist, a gall midge Schizomyia castanopsisae has invaded from the Ryukyu Islands, resulting in the failure of acorn production. Owston’s Tits Sittiparus varius owstoni, which prefers C. sieboldii forests for breeding and relies on its acorns as an important food source in autumn and winter, showed an approximately 40% decrease in breeding pair density in 2023 and 2024 compared with 2015, but only along two survey routes containing continuous C. sieboldii forests. This suggests that changes in food availability caused by the gall midge may have affected this species. However, Cinereous Tits Parus cinereus, which does not depend on C. sieboldii, also showed a large decrease (50–75%) along the same routes with continuous C. sieboldii forests, indicating the possibility of indirect effects of the insect invasion. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms and extent of these impacts.

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A Greater Yellowleg Tringa melanoleuca was observed in Betsukai-cho, Hokkaido, from 12 to 21 November 2023. This represents the second record for Hokkaido and the northernmost record of the species in Japan.

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On 18 May 2017, a male Calliope tschebaiewi was observed on Tobishima Island, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Previously, four subspecies were recognized within C. pectoralis, however in recent years, C. p. tschebaiewi has been elevated to species status as C. tschebaiewi, for which the Japanese name 'Munaguro-nogoma' is used. This report constitutes the first official record of this species in Japan. The individual is considered to have been a vagrant that reached Tobishima island during migration, possibly as a result of adverse weather conditions.

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A Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto was observed in Shari Town, north-eastern Hokkaido, Japan, from 25 December 2023 to 29 January 2024. This represents the first record of the species on the main island of Hokkaido and the third record for Hokkaido. The two previous records were from Rebun Island in northwestern Hokkaido.

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Among birds in Japan，no species has previously been reported to peck open the shells of Japanese Walnuts Juglans mandshurica var. sachalinensis with its bill to eat the cotyledons. We observed Great Spotted Woodpeckers pecking at the shells of Japanese Walnuts sliders to crack them open and consume the cotyledons in Hara Village，Nagano Prefecture. The woodpeckers held the walnuts between tree trunks and pecked them open. This feeding behavior was observed in at least two individuals of the Great Spotted Woodpecker from November 2024 to April 2025．

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An increase in the number of breeding attempts per year by Tree Sparrows Passer montanus in urban areas has been suggested as one of the factors contributing to the increase in its population in urban environments. To test this hypothesis, I compared the results of a sparrow survey conducted in central Japan in 2010 with those of a field survey conducted in 2025. In rural areas, there was no significant difference in the number of breeding attempts per year between 2010 and 2025; however, in urban areas, the number was significantly higher in 2025. The breeding season of the Tree Sparrow began earlier in 2025 than in 2010, suggesting that the longer breeding season resulting from an earlier onset of breeding may have contributed to the increase in breeding frequency. In addition, green spaces has expanded in urban areas, and improved feeding conditions may also have contributed to the increase in breeding frequency. Urban Tree Sparrows breed significantly more frequently than rural populations, possibly due in part to lower breeding success in rural areas where predators are more abundant.

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I report on the lifespan of eight species of birds based on recaptures during a bird banding survey on the Miyake-jima Island, Izu Islands, Japan. Recapture records were obtained for eight species: Turdus celaenops, Zosterops japonicus (subspecies: Z. J. Stejneger), Sittiparus varius (subspecies: S. v. owstoni), Phylloscopus ijimae, Parus cinereus, Horornis diphone, Larvivora akahige (subspecies: L. a. tanensis) and Otus semitorques. Among these, the longest lifespans recorded to date were for Phylloscopus ijimae and Larvivora akahige. The survey will continue, with additional records expected to further clarify species longevity.

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We observed a Snow Goose Anser caerulescens in Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture and Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, in November 2025. These are the first records of this species in both Kagawa and Ehime Prefectures. Because the observations were made within a short time interval, the birds may have been the same individual.

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While pollinators obtain nectar from flowers as a reward for pollination, some birds and insects extract nectar without transferring pollen, a behavior known as nectar theft. Nectar robbing is a form of nectar theft in which a hole is made at the base of a flower near the nectary to access nectar. This behavior typically occurs when nectar-feeding insects and birds cannot reach the nectary with their proboscis or bill by legitimate means. We report an observation of Swinhoe’s white-eyes Zosterops simplex simplex robbing nectar from flowers of the introduced Brazilian diego Erythrina speciosa during a visit to Taiwan in February 2026.

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he study examined 2,390 bird specimens collected from the Meiji to early Showa periods(1892–1936), comprising 1722 Takayama specimens and 668 Kanai specimens．Of the 2,390 specimens, 286 were collected in Japan and had both the collection date and locality recorded（201 Takayama specimens and 85 Kanai specimens）．The oldest specimen was collected on 3 January 1892 (Meiji era), and the most recent on 4 November 1936 (early Showa era)．The most common collection locality was Suwa City (95 specimens), followed by Azumino City (64 specimens), both in Nagano Prefecture．The most frequently represented species was the Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus (15 specimens), followed by the Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus (10 specimens)．

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[in Japanese]

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