Iriomote {CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION}

Some bird observations by Fer-Jan de Vries.

Iriomote is one of the Ryukyu islands. It is relatively close to Taiwan and just north of the Tropic of Cancer. Inspection of the map learns that the island functions as a first stepping stone on a migration route from Taiwan via Kyushu, Honshu, Hokkaido to Siberia.
The island is about 294 square kilometer.(Nearby is Yonaguni.) See the map of U.S. National Atlas 1970. One relatively new road circles rougly two thirds of the island via the coast and connects all the villages. The centre of the island consists of hills (at most 420 m) covered by forests with many brooklets feeding the Pandanus-swamps. Several larger rivers flow via sand bays bordered by mangroves into the see. In the south the coast is rocky and steep. At some places there are (new) pineapple and (former) sugar cane plantations, ricepaddies and meadows with cattle. At most 10.000 people live on the island. There are no obvious tourist attractions, besides two waterfalls, the invisible Iriomote wild cats and scuba diving. The island, is hilly, impenetrable and snake infested. The night active habu, Trimerisurus elegans, is poisonous and can be found everywhere.
For birdwatching it is of interest. I don't know of a systematic bird survey of the island. It is not excluded that the forested hills stilll contain some undescribed bird species, like some of the other Ryukyu islands did. Anyway, a number of the local species seem to differ from the standard specimen, as sometimes happens on islands.
I have seen only the area in the nort-west from Funaura to Sonai. It surprised me that the numbers of seabirds was so very low not only on that part of the island but also on the ferry route to Ishigaki.
An interesting day was May 3. In the area 1 km SW of Hoshisuna-beach there occurred from {9.50 am - 11.00 am} a very varied swallow migration along the western coastline of Iriomote and crossing the bay of the Urauchigawa then continuing NE along the coast. The migration involved mainly Barn swallow, but also Bank swallow, Red-rumped swallow, Pacific swallow, White-rumped swift and Indian pratincole accompagnied by Japanese lesser sparrowhawk and Chinese sparrowhawk. The Little stint is perhaps another interesting observation.
Many thanks are due to Joachim Haupt, not only for his kindness to let me stay in his accomodations at the Funaura Station of Tropical Biosphere Research Center, but also for his eagerness to share his incredible wide zoological knowledge with a nitwit like me.
Visit: April 27 - May 6, 1996. Weather was pleasant. It rained a lot on a few days (May 1-2) with southern wind, whereas it hardly rained on the other days with northern, north-western wind. Such days seem to be good for spring migration. Day temperature 25-27 degrees Celsius.
{ After obtaining
  • A check-list of the birds of Okinawa prefecture with notes on recent status including hypothetical records (Douglas W. Mc Whirter, Hiroshi Ikenaga, Himaru Iozawa, Mamoru Shoyama and Kenji Takehara, 1996.)
  • The songs & calls of 333 birds in Japan, (vol 1 and 2) (Kabaya Tsuruhiko and Matsuda Michio, publisher Shogakukan Inc., Tokyo, 1996.)
    •  I revisited my fieldnotes and made some changes. Especially the Checklist of the birds of Okinawa is useful in discussing the various subspecies one may encounter at the Ryukyu's. I have added the status for the whole of Okinawa according to the Checklist, to put my observations in some perspective.
    I have marked with a question mark the species I am not 100 % sure of. Additions to the records of the Checklist of the birds of Okinawa prefecture are explicitly indicated. In total about 13 additions, reflecting most likely that Iriomote is not so frequently visited by birdwatchers as Okinawa.}

    1. Spot-billed duck Anas poecilorhyncha Karu-gamo
      {Status: Resident and common winter visitor}
      2 ex. around the Hoshidate meadow area.

    2. Brown booby {?} Sula leucogaster Katsuodori
      {Status: uncommon migrant and breeds on S. Ryukyus}
      1 ex. April 29. Over sea near Funaura.
      {I got a distant view, and the bird but for its belly parts was entirely brown except for the whitish underparts. S. sula is excluded by that. S. dactylatra seems unlikely as uncommon visitor of Yaeyama in the period June-October.}

    3. Streaked shearwater {?} Calonectris leucomelas Ou-mizunagidori
      {Status: }
      2. ex. May 7, on the boat back to Ishigaki.
      {large shearwater, darkish upperside, lighter head and underside}

    4. Green-backed heron Butorides striatus Sasa-goi
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      1 ex. May 4 and 5. After sunset near biological station in Funaura. Sound a repeated Keweeh. {I did not see it, but the two-syllable sound more or less resembles the cd}

    5. Cattle egret Bubucus ibis Ama-sagi
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      At least 250 birds were present in the NW corner of Iriomote.

    6. Great egret Egretta alba Dai-sagi
      {Status: Common winter visitor}
      At least 10 birds present.

    7. Intermediate egret Egretta intermedia Chuu-sagi
      {Status: Common winter visitor}
      At least 40 birds present.

    8. Little egret Egretta garzetta Ko-sagi
      {Status: Common winter visitor}
      In the NW corner of Iriomote there were at least 30 birds present.

    9. Eastern egret Egretta sacra Kuro-sagi
      {Status: Common resident}
      At least 3 dark birds present.

    10. Gray egret Ardea cinerea Ao-sagi
      {Status: Common winter visitor }
      1 adult in the bay north of Sonai.

    11. Purple heron Ardea purperea Murasaki-sagi
      {Status: Uncommon migrant and resident on Yaemama}
      At least 3 birds present.

    12. Common gallinule Galinula chloropus Ban
      {Status: Common resident}
      At least 2 birds present.

    13. Rudy crake {phaeopyga} Porzana fusca {Ryukyu} hi-kunia
      {Status: Common resident}
      I presume that the {accelerating} Poc poc poc poc poc poc sound (increasing in height) in the forest swamps was produced by them. This one could hear everywhere. Length of the long middle toe is about 4 cm. Joachim Haupt did see one near the biological station.
      {Sound resembles the Ryukyu Rudy crake from the cd's, not the sound of the Rudy crake}
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    14. White-breasted waterhen Amourornis phoenicurus Shirohara-kunia
      {Status: Common resident}
      At least 30 birds present. You see them everywhere: in the mangrove swamps, the ricefields, in the small marshes in the forests and dead on the road. A pair of them can scream like a pair of fighting cats. Length of the long middle toe is 6.5-7 cm. One often sees the footprints in the puddles, where they hunt the freshly hatched tadpoles.

    15. Snowy plover Charadrius alexandrinus Shiro-chidori
      {Status: Common resident}
      3 ex in the Funaura sandbay at April 29. Summer plumage, seen at close range.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    16. Mongolian plover Charadrius mongolus Medai-chidori
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      1 ex in the Funaura sandbay at April 29. Summer plumage, seen at close range. (Dark legs)

    17. Greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaultii Oumedai-chidori
      {Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor}
      8 ex. in the Funaura sandbay at April 29. Summer plumage. However some had a red band encircling the breast only partially. The white above the black around the eye was lacking. Seen at close range. Yellow-brown legs.

    18. Black-bellied (Grey) plover Pluvialis squatarola Daizen
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      1 dead at April 29, 1 ex at May 6. Underwing with black axillaries. Rather brownish gray winter plumage.

    19. Little stint !? Calidris minuta Youroppa-tounen
      {Status: Rare migrant and winter visitor}
      2 ex on the sand beach next to the dam through the Funaura bay during a not too high hightide in the afternoon of 29 April. Distance 8 m. Small sandpiper, much smaller than nearby Snowy plovers. Black legs. Short straight bill. White belly. Not so much a white eyestripe as well a dark eyebrow over orange eyestripe. Frontal view: head and neck light brownish red, area between neck and wings greyish. I didn't take note of the color of the throat. Red-brown blocked feather pattern covers whole of wing. Active behavior. The last two facts combined with the precious looking drawings and explicit information in Waterbirds of Asia made it a Little stint for me, and not a Rufous-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis/Tounen). I welcome your comments.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    20. Indian pratincole Glareola maldivarum Tsubame-chidori
      {Status: Uncommon migrant or summer visitor}
      At least 3 ex in between swallow migration at May 3. Clear view. Summerplumage.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    21. Gray-tailed tattler Tringa brevipes Kiashi-shigi
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      At least 30 ex in the the Funaura sandbay throughout the whole period. Summer plumage. Likes to eat the small (3-4 cm) Ocypode crabs, which it swallows completely after some preliminary washing and pecking.

    22. Common sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos Iso-shigi
      {Status: Common winter visitor}
      Several around the the whole north-west coast of Iriomote.

    23. Rudy turnstone Arenaria interpres Kyoujo-shigi
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      4 ex in the Funaura sandbay at April 29. Summer plumage, seen at close range.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    24. Crested serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela Kanmuri-washi
      {Status: Resident in Yaeyama}
      Can be seen and heard anywhere. Likes to perch. At least 2 adults and 1 juvenile around Funaura.

    25. Gray-faced buzzard-eagle Butastur indicus Sashiba
      {Status: Common migrant and winter visitor}
      1 adult. May 2, Near eastside of bridge over Funaura bay.

    26. Japanese lesser sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis Tsumi
      {Status: Uncommon resident}
      At least 3 ex following swallow migration at May 3. Clear view. 1 pair at May 4 near garbage dump of Funaura.
      {This is observation of spring migration seems an addition to the records of the Checklist.}

    27. Chinese sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis Akahara-daka
      {Status: Common autumnal migrant}
      At least 1 ex following swallow migration at May 3. Clear view.{I saw the white underwing with black wingtips.}
      {This is observation of spring migration is an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    28. Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus Hayabusa
      {Status: Uncommon winter visitor}
      1 ex around Funaura harbor. Seen on April 30, May 1 and May 6.

    29. {Lesser kestrel ?} {Lesser kestrel ?} Falco naumanni ? Hime-chougenbou ?
      {Status: Straggler}{
      1 ex following swallow/swift migration at May 3. Sligthly smaller than simultaneously observed Chinese sparrowhawk on which I concentrated most of my attention. Sharp pointed and sickle shaped wings, brownish upperside, not grey. At that time I thought of a Merlin, but that is more a real winter bird. Perhaps it was female Lesser Kestrel.}
      {This could have been an addition to the records of the Checklist.}

    30. {Ryukyu (= Celebes = Cassin's)} Scops owl Otus {elegans} Konoha-zuku
      {Status: Common resident }
      Could be heard every evening. Often several at the same time. Too - too - too ...
      {This matches the cd-sounds of The Ryukyu konoha-zuku, exactly as I remember}

    31. {Ryukyu} Collared scops owl (?) Otus bakkamoena pryeri
      {Status: Uncommon resident}
      [Ryukyu- Ou-konoha-zuku] Could be heard almost every evening. weeweh, weeweh,... First syllable rising and strong.
      {This resembles the cd-sounds of Otus bakkamoena; perhaps O. bakkamoena pryeri is slightly different?}

    32. {Ryukyu ?} brown hawk owl Ninox scutula {totogo ?} {Ryukyu-}aoba zuku
      {Status: Common summer visitor or uncommon resident }
      Seen one, near Urauchikawa. Heard many: too-hoo sound. second syllable rising. Perhaps 6 around {the biological station of} Funaura.
      {This does not entirely match the cd-sounds which don't rise, therefore perhaps the Ryukyu subspecies?},br>{Is the density normal or sign of migration?}

    33. Rufous turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis {stimpsoni} {Ryukyu}-Kiji-bato
      {Status: Common resident}
      Abundant.
      {The Checklist suggest that I must have seen S.o. stimpsoni. I don't know ho to distinguish this from S. o. orientalis.}

    34. Emerald dove Chalcohaps indica Kin-bato
      {Status: Locally uncommon resident}
      1 ex near Funaura harbor April 29.

    35. Japanese green pigeon {?} Sphenurus sieboldii Ao-bato
      {Status: Straggler }
      I presume the wailing aaah-ooooh-aaaaaaah calls are from this dove. Can be heard anywhere in the forest.
      {Listening to the cd, I might have confused this sound with wailing of the S. formosae. However the tootootootoo sound, I mention there, must have been S. sieboldii, acording to the cd.}
      {If correct this is an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    36. Red-capped green pigeon {?} Sphenurus formosae Zuaka-ao-bato
      {Status: Common resident}
      Common. Often seen. Produces a tootootootoo sound.
      {I am positive about the sightings, but I am confused by the sound i just described. This description matches the cd sound for the Ao-bato! However Iclearly recognise the sound of the cd for Red-capped pigeon. But how are the subspecies distinguished by sight or sound?}

    37. White-throated needle-tailed swift Chaetura caudata Hario-amatsubame
      {Status: Uncommon migrant}
      1 ex. April 28. Near biological station, in the morning.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location. }

    38. White-rumped swift Apus pacificus Amatsubame
      {Status: Common migrant}
      At least 2 ex on migration at May 3. Clear view.

    39. {Ryukyu-?}ruddy kingfisher Halcyon coromanda {bangsi} {Ryukyu}-akashoubin
      {Status: Common summer visitor}
      2 ex. Joachim Haupt spotted one near the biological station on April 28 and I saw one in the forest SE of it at May 6.
      {However I don't know how to distinguish from H.c. major.}

    40. House martin Delichon urbica {dasypus instead??} Iwa-tsubame
      {Status: Straggler (or common migrant ??)}
      15 ex at 8 am near the biological station on April 29.

    41. Bank swallow Riparia riparia Shoudo-tsubame
      {Status: Common migrant}
      At least 30 ex on migration at May 3. Clear view. On their way to Hokkaido!
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist, both regarding location and number of observed indivuals.}

    42. Red-rumped swallow Hirunda daurica Koshi aka-tsubame
      {Status: Uncommon migrant}
      At least 50 ex on migration at May 3. Clear view.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to number of observed indivuals.}

    43. Pacific swallow Hirunda tahitica Ryukyu-tsubame
      {Status: Locally common resident}
      At least 10 ex on migration at May 3. Clear view.
      {This observation of explicit migration might be an addition to the records of the Checklist.}

    44. Barn swallow Hirundo rustica Tsubame
      {Status: Common migrant with several breeding records}
      At least 1000 ex on migration at May 3. Clear view. Could be seen almost on any day.

    45. Gray wagtail Motacilla cinerea Ki-sekirei
      {Status: Common winter visitor}
      1ex. May 2. Clear vision. Summer plumage.
      {This is to an addition to the records of the Checklist with respect to location.}

    46. Ashy minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus {tegimae} Sanshou-kui
      {Status: Common resident}
      Anywhere on the island.
      {I don't know how to distinguish the subspecies.}

    47. Brown-eared bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis Hiyo-dori
      {Status: Common resident}
      Anywhere on the island. Always alarming. Many seem to have fully fledged youngs. Annoying in their continuing alarm calls. I did not see any Chinese bulbuls.
      {I don't know how to distinguish the subspecies.}

    48. Brown(?) shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis Aka-mozu
      {Status: Uncommon migrant}
      1 ex. May 1. In pineapple field opposite bungalows of biological station. A curious shrike. It was grey, but the white around the beak and eyes was like the facial pattern of a brown thrush. Underside "creamy-buff". There was another greyish shrike near the garbage site of Funaura, but I didn't get a good look at it.
      {One of the subspecies which I cannot distinguish?}

    49. Fan-tailed warbler Cisticola juncidis Sekka
      {Status: Common resident}
      Can be found on any meadow, be it with cattle or in the forest. Song and behavior are umistakable.

    50. Narcissus flycatcher Ficedula narcissina {owstoni ?} {Ryukyu ?}-ki-bitaki
      {Status: Uncommon or locally common resident}
      1 male April 29 in forest SW of Uehara. Unmistakable colors.
      {I don't know how to distinguish the subspecies.}

    51. Black paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata {illex ?} {Ryukyu- ?}Sankouchou
      {Status: Common summer visitor}
      1 male and 1 female April 29 in forest SW of Uehara, 1 male May 2 in forest south of Funaura bay.
      {I don't know how to distinguish the subspecies.}

    52. Great tit Parus major nigriloris} Shijuu-kara
      {Status: Common resident}
      The Great tits were particularly greyish pale on Iriomote. {Perhaps the trademark of P. m. nigriloris} Many had fledglings.
      {I don't know how to distinguish the subspecies.}

    53. Varied tit Parus varius {olivaceus ?} {Orii ?}-Yama-gara {olivaceus ?}
      {Status: Common (as well as rare resident}
      Heard on May 2 in forest south of Funaura bay.
      {I recognized the nasal call only.}
      {I don't know how to distinguish the subspecies, so it might have been the rare resident Parus varius olivaceus of Iriomote}

    54. Japanese white-eye Zosterops japonica {loochooensis ?} {Ryukyu ?}-Mejiro
      {Status: Common resident}
      None of the many Japanese White-eyes I have seen on Iriomote had brown flanks.
      {Based on this probably not Z. j. japonica, but the common resident Z. j. loochooensis of Iriomote. I don't know how that bird looks like.}

    55. Jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos {?} Hashibuto-garasu
      {Status: Common resident}
      In Mark Brazil's guidebook these birds are called small Jungle crows, but actually these bird present an ornithological puzzle. They are smaller than the Carrion crow and the Jungle crow. Their beak is thick as a Jungle-crows beak and as long as a Ravens. But they have a forehead like a Carrion crow. They are very curious, and often approach you at less then 5 meters. They have a variety of different calls. Their usual call resembles the call of a Mallard. Knuckels in the feet seemed rather pronounced.
      {Which one of the subspecies C.m. connectens or C.s. osai I don't know, but definitely not C.m. japonensis.}
    Back to previous page Last modified: May 13, 1996. Reedited April 14, 1997 using cd-sounds and Okinawa-checklist. Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp