Bird List for Okinawa Prefecture
Part 2: Charadriiformes - Piciformes
OrderCHARADRIIFORMES
Family JACANIDAE
142. Hydrophasianus chirurqus. Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Renkaku.
Status: Straggler.
Record: The BL has a 1973 observation from Yonaguni for the prefecture. The YL has a record from Yonaguni on 10 March 1972, see also Yacho 364, and another from Iriomote on 2 November 1980. One was recorded by Yoichiro Sakiyama at Nagura, Ishigaki on 8 June 1993. The ML has a record for 18 October 1981 (Yacho 426). There has been at least three sets of records on Okinawa. Tamashiro had two birds at Nago during 1976. Tange have reported one on Manko, Tomigusuku-son (Yacho 419). On 1985, from 17 June (I. Matayoshi) to 21 October (Ikenaga), the bird was seen and photographed (WBO) on three paddy fields of northern Okinawa, Namizato in Kin-cho, Taira in Nago-shi, and Kiyoka, Ohgimi-son.
Family ROSTRATULIDAE
143. Rostratula bengalensis. Painted Snipe. Tama-shigi.
Status: Uncommon resident.
Record: The ML has it as uncommon in March, April and October; a new prefecture site. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (breeds Yagachi, Okinawa) and the S. Ryukyus (Iriomote, Yonaguni).
Family HAEMATOPODIDAE
144. Haematopus ostralegus. Oystercatcher. Miyakodori.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Shoyama observed one bird on 1 December 1991 on Iriomote; a new prefecture site.
Family CHARADRIIDAE
145. Charadrius hiaticula. Ringed Plover. Hajiro-kochidori.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: During 1979 to 1986, there has been at least nine sets of observations of 1 or 2 birds on Okinawa from September to January with two records in April. There is a photo in WBO, NWBO (Kijoka, Ohgimi-son on September 1985 by Kaneda) and CD. The BL has no Ryukyu records.
146. Charadrius dubius. Little Ringed Plover. Ko-chidori.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Kume), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Ikenaga observed two birds on Kita-daito on 3 March 1984 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992). Kaneda and others saw it in Iheya on 23-25 November 1984, and McWhirter saw the bird on Tokashiki on 8 October 1985.
147. Charadrius placidus. Long-billed Ringed Plover. Ikaru-chidori.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: There are at least four sets of records from Okinawa, the longest set being two birds at Namizato, Kin-cho, from 19 December 1983 (Ikenaga) to 6 February 1984 (McWhirter). The plover has been photographed by Higa, Ikenaga, and others (WBO, NWBO, CD). The ML has it as uncommon from November to February. The YL has a record from Iriomote on 24 August 1974 and records from Ishigaki on 22 November 1976 and 23 January 1977. The BL has only one observation from Iriomote for the prefecture.
148. Charadrius alexandrinus. Kentish Plover. Shiro-chidori.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Ie, Kume) and the S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Hatoma, Taketomi, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni). Ikenaga observed the bird with two chicks at Noho, Iheya on 4 May 1984, and observed three birds on Tonaki on 10 October 1986. Takehara saw the bird on Minami-daito on 16-19 December 1995.
149. Charadrius mongolus. Mongolian Plover. Medai-chidori.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records for Japan; however, the plover winters on Okinawa in large numbers. McWhirter (pers. obs.) has found it at 9 sites during the winter with flocks of up to 400 birds at Manko in Naha-shi and Tomigusuku-son, Shioya in Gushikawa-shi, and 250 at Camp Kinser in Urasoe-shi. The plover is also on the ML and YL for winter as well. These may be the most northern winter records for the species. Ikenaga and Numaguchi observed the bird on Iheya on 2 November 1985. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Kume), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote Hatoma, Taketomi, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. for the prefecture.
150. Charadrius leschenaultii. Greater Sand Plover. Oh-medaichidori.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: This plover is not on the BL for winter. McWhirter has found up to 10 at six sites on Okinawa during the winter. The ML has it as common from July to April. These may be the most northern winter records for the species. Iozawa observed two birds in the winter of 1990 and 1991 on Yonaguni. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito on May 1992 and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Kume) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kuro) for the prefecture.
151. Charadrius veredus. Oriental Plover. Oh-chidori.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: The BL has it as accidental to Japan with a record from Okinawa and Yonaguni for the prefecture. Two were seen on Miyako on 2 September 1981 (ML). At Camp Kinser, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa on 22 March 1984, McWhirter saw one bird. Takehara photographed five birds on April 1989 on cape Zanpa-misaki, Yomitan-son, Okinawa and two birds on 9 April 1990 on Ie (Takehara & Harato 1992).
152. Eudromias morinellus. Dotterel. Kobashi-chidori.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: During the winter of 1974-75, one stayed near Yone, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa (Higa, others, WBO). This was the first prefecture record and may be the only winter record from Japan. Mano found a dead one near Tano-dake, Nago-shi, Okinawa on 27 September 1981.
153. Pluvialis fulva. Pacific Golden Plover. Munaguro. Note: Formerly considered conspecific with P. dominicus, but separated as full species because of sympatric breeding in west Alaska (Sibley & Monroe 1990).
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus, S. Ryukyus (Miyako to Hatoma, Taketomi, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito, Oki-daito). Ikenaga observed five birds on Kita-daito on 3 March 1984 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992). McWhirter observed the bird on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985, Kaneda recorded it from Iheya on 2-5 February 1984, and saw the birds on Aguni on 24 April 1982.
154. Pluvialis dominicus. American Golden Plover. Amerika-munaguro.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no record for the species, nor as subspecies of P. d. ominica from Japan. On Okinawa, McWhirter observed one bird at Kijoka, Ohgimi-son on 6 September 1986, one bird at Teruma, Yonagusuku-son on 4 December 1986 and two birds at Namizato, Kin-cho on 1 March 1987. All were foraging in paddies in the company of Pacific Golden Plover. (see Appendix).
155. Pluvialis squatarola. Grey Plover. Daizen.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro). Iozawa observed one bird in the winters of 1990 to 1994 near Nanta-hama, Yonaguni.
156. Vanellus cinereus. Grey-headed Lapwing. Keri.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no record for the prefecture, however, there are at least ten sets of records from Okinawa (many observers, WBO). The ML has it as uncommon in November and December, and there are at least four records from Yaeyama (YL, Otsuka 1978). All of the records taken together span November through March with up to five birds in a group. Iozawa observed several birds on Yonaguni, during February to March since 1989.
157. Vanellus vanellus. Lapwing. Tageri.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Senkaku Is.) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Since 1989, Iozawa observed several birds on Yonaguni from winter to spring. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. Kaneda observed the bird on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984.
Family SCOLOPACIDAE
158. Arenaria interpres. Ruddy Turnstone. Kyojo-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records for Japan. McWhirter has seen it at nine sites on Okinawa, during winter, including flocks of over a hundred at Shioya, Gushikawa-shi and Camp Kinser, Urasoe-shi. The ML shows the species from August to April. The YL has it as wintering also. These may be the north-most winter records for this area. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Kuro, Yonaguni). Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito, and Kedashiro observed five birds on Kita-daito on 15-18 May 1986 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992). Ikenaga saw the bird on Iheya on 3 March 1984. Kaneda observed it on Aguni on 24 April 1982. These are new sites for the prefecture.
159. Calidris ruficollis. Red-necked Stint. Tounen.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kuro) and Daito Is.. Since 1989, Iozawa has observed the bird on Yonaguni in spring (Max. 27).
160. Calidris minuta. Little Stint. Nishi-tounen.
Status: Rare migrant and winter visitor.
Record: This species is not on the BL. There are at least four records for Okinawa I. On 12 April 1985, Kaneda photographed one at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi (WBO). Jon Dunn, a shore bird expert, examined the photos and verified the identification. During September 1985 an immature at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi was seen by Yamashiro and others. Higa also took a photo of another bird at Manko, Tomigusuku-son. Takehara (1993b) recorded one bird banded at Kijoka, Ohgimi-son on 16 September 1992.
161. Calidris subminuta. Long-toed Stint. Hibari-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records for Japan. McWhirter has found it in four paddy areas every winter in groups of 2 to 26. The ML has it as uncommon from August to April. It is labeled a winter bird on the YL. Okinawa may be the most northern wintering area for the stint. Miyako is a new prefecture site. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. for the prefecture.
162. Calidris minutilla. Least Sandpiper. Amerika-hibarishigi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: McWhirter identified one at Namizato, Kin-cho, Okinawa on 12 April 1984. It is not on the BL, and treated as a subspecies of Long-toed Stint. (see Appendix).
163. Calidris temminckii. Temminck's Stint. Ojiro-tounen.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL cites only Kume I. and Daito Is. for the prefecture, and has only a few winter records for Japan. Beringer (1976) had several records for Okinawa. The stint is known to occur there in flocks of up to 15 birds from October to April (many observers, WBO). McWhirter has found 1-10 birds at two sites every winter since 1980. Although not on the ML, the YL regards it as a rare transient, with one record on Iriomote and two on Ishigaki. Since 1989, Iozawa observed a few bird on Yonaguni in spring. McWhirter observed the bird on Tokashiki on 25 March 1986.
164. Calidris mauri. Western Sandpiper. Hime-hama-shigi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: Not on the BL, but there have been a number of recent records in Japan. On Okinawa, there has been at least three sets of records. One at Teruma, Yonagusuku-son on 18 September 1984 by McWhirter. McWhirter had another single at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi on 29 September and 2 October 1985. The latest set, again at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi, was from 29 April to 2 May 1986. A single bird was photographed by Higa and others; see WBO, NWBO (Yamahiro & Kuwabara 1991). Hirozo Maki (pers. com. to Iozawa) recorded one bird on Yonaguni on March 1995.
165. Calidris bairdii. Baird's Sandpiper. Hime-uzura-shigi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: The BL has a record for Ishigaki in 1970. Maeda and Shimizu had another there on 17 March 1984 (Yacho 473).
166. Calidris melanotos. Pectoral Sandpiper. Amerika-uzura-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: Not listed for the prefecture on the BL, but there have been numerous records of one and two birds since 1981. One record was from Miyako and the rest from Okinawa. There is a photo in WBO, and McWhirter (1985b) has summarized the records. The bird seems to be an uncommon but regular autumn transient.
167. Calidris acuminata. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Uzura-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records for Japan. Although there are early December records for Okinawa and Miyako (McWhirter, ML), they probably represent late migration rather than wintering attempts. Iozawa observed the bird (Max. 16) in spring on Yonaguni, since 1989. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki) and Daito Is..
168. Calidris alpina. Dunlin. Hama-shigi.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Kume), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. McWhirter saw the bird on Tokashiki on 5 November 1985.
169. Calidris ferruginea. Curlew Sandpiper. Saru-hama-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has no Ryukyu records. Beringer (1976) saw one on 2 May 1971 at Naha, Okinawa. Since then there have been many observations and photographs on Okinawa (WBO), including a flock of over 150 seen by Kaneda at Itoman-shi on 25 August 1985. The ML has records from May, September, November and December. The YL has four records from Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni.
170. Calidris canutus. Red Knot. Ko-oba-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: There has been at least 12 sets of records of 1-3 birds on Okinawa since Beringer (1976) reported two on 9 May 1971 at Naha; see WBO. It is an irregular transient, not seen every year. The YL also regards it as a transient. The BL has a Miyako observation for the prefecture.
171. Calidris tenuirostris. Great Knot. Oba-shigi.
Status: Common migrant.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki) for the prefecture.
172. Calidris alba. Sanderling. Miyubi-shigi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: There are many records for Okinawa from October to March in flocks of up to 23; see WBO. The YL has it as transient from September through November. Since 1989, Iozawa observed a few birds on Yonaguni in spring. These are new, not unexpected, sites in the prefecture. The BL has sites from Kume and Miyako.
173. Eurynorhynchus pygmeus. Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Hera-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: This rare species has visited Okinawa at least seven times during 1977 (OL) to 1986. One at Ohyama, Ginowan-shi was photographed by Kaneda on 9 April 1985 (WBO) and another was seen at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi from 1 to 6 October 1985 by Higa, Kaneda and others. Higa photographed it on Nishizaki again on 17 April 1987 (NWBO). Shoyama observed one bird on 9 May 1982 on Iriomote. The BL has no Ryukyu records.
174. Philomachus pugnax. Ruff. Erimaki-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and rare winter visitor.
Record: For the prefecture, the BL has observations only from Okinawa and Yonaguni. There have been many sightings and photographs (WBO) of transient birds, usually singles, on Okinawa. The ML has records from March, September, and December. The YL has it as transient. One was seen by McWhirter at Namizato, Kin-cho, Okinawa on 14 January 1984. This and the Miyako record may be the only ones in Japan in winter.
175. Limicola falcinellus. Broad-billed Sandpiper. Kiriai.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has no Ryukyu records; however, it is an uncommon but regular transient on Okinawa with numerous sightings and a few photos (Beringer 1976, WBO). Usually single birds are seen. The ML has just one record for October, and the YL has a record each for Ishigaki and Iriomote.
176. Limnodromus scolopaceus. Long-billed Dowitcher. Oh-hashi-shigi.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The OL has a record for December 1977, apparently from Ishigaki, but it is not on the YL. One was seen and heard at Yone, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa on 20 February 1983 by McWhirter and King. Another stayed at Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa from 23 December 1984 (Kaneda) to 31 March 1985 (McWhirter). It was photographed many times (WBO). The BL has no Ryukyu records.
177. Limnodromus semipalmatus. Asiatic Dowitcher. Shiberia-ohhashi-shigi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: The BL has only two records of this rare shorebird from Japan. One was seen and heard on 15 August 1981 near Kuwae, Chatan-cho, Okinawa by McWhirter. One bird was photographed on 27 September 1993 at Katabaru, Ginoza-son by Norio Yanagisawa (Takehara 1994). Another is on the YL for Ishigaki on 18 August 1981.
178. Tringa erythropus. Spotted Redshank. Tsuru-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant visitor.
Record: The ML notes it for November. The YL has a record each for Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni. These are new prefecture sites. A single bird wintered on Okinawa during 1986-87 at Manko, Tomigusuku-son. It was seen by many. McWhirter had one at Namizato, Kin-cho on 19, 21 February 1983, but this was probably early migration since there are many March records for Okinawa. McWhirter observed the bird on Tokashiki on 25 March 1986. The BL has no winter records for Japan and sites from Okinawa and Oki-daito for the prefecture.
179. Tringa totanus. Redshank. Akaashi-shigi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: This wader is uncommon to common on Okinawa, with winter records of up to 27 birds at Manko and Yone, Tomigusuku-son. There is a photo in WBO. It is also found on Miyako and the Yaeyama in winter (ML, YL, Kohno & Shoyama 1982). Iozawa has observed a few birds (Max. 8) on Yonaguni in spring since 1989. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito on July 1989. It was recorded from Ishigaki and Iriomote on the BL, and was added to the ABL. The winter records may be the most northern for Japan.
180. Tringa stagnatilis. Marsh Sandpiper. Ko-aoashi-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and rare winter visitor.
Record: There are several early December records on Okinawa, and two spent the winter of 1986-87 near Gushi, Naha-shi (McWhirter, others). The ML has it for August through March, although apparently it is rare. There are no winter records for Japan on the BL. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and the S. Ryukyus (Miyako). Shoyama photographed one bird on 8 October 1995 on Iriomote. Iozawa has observed the bird (Max. 19) on Yonaguni in spring since 1989. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito.
181. Tringa nebularia. Greenshank. Aoashi-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: This wader is not on the BL for winter, but McWhirter found it in winter at 14 sites in flocks of up to 43 birds on Okinawa. It is regular in winter on Miyako and Yaeyama as well (ML, YL, Kohno & Shoyama 1982). Iozawa has observed the bird (Max. 20) on Yonaguni in spring since 1989. Ikenaga observed one on Iheya on 4 May 1984. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito) for the prefecture. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito.
182. Tringa melanoleuca. Greater Yellowlegs. Oh-kiashi-shigi.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has one record for Japan, but a number have been seen since it was published. One wintered with Greenshanks at Camp Kinser, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa from 5 November 1983 to 1 January 1984 (McWhirter, Kaneda, Ikenaga, others Yacho 465). Kaneda took a picture of the bird. Another bird was at Manko, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa from 26 December 1983 to 8 January 1984 (Kaneda, others). These may be the most southern records for E. Asia.
183. Tringa guttifer. Spotted Greenshank. Karafuto-aoashi-shigi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: There are no prefecture records for this rare wader on the BL, but the prefecture lies on its migration route. The OL has a record for Kohama that is not on the YL. Shimabukuro and others saw one at Teruma, Yonagusuku-son, Okinawa on 10 September 1981. The YL has one for 15 May 1982 on Iriomote. Another single came to Manko and Yone, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa from 7 September to 13 October 1985. It was first spotted by Cressler and Sallee, and was photographed by many, including Higa. See WBO.
184. Tringa ochropus. Green Sandpiper. Kusa-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: McWhirter (pers. obs.) has found 1-5 birds at two sites on Okinawa every winter since 1980. It has also been seen in winter on Tokashiki by McWhirter and others. Kaneda and others observed the bird on Iheya on 23-25 November 1984. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako to Yonaguni). Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito.
185. Tringa glareola. Wood Sandpiper. Takabu-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records. McWhirter (pers. obs.) has found it every winter since 1980 on Okinawa I. at eight paddy areas in groups of up to 40. There are no winter records on the ML, but the YL has it as regular. McWhirter observed it on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985. Niikura (1985) reported recent winter records from Kanagawa Prefecture. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. for the prefecture.
186. Tringa incana. Wandering Tattler. Meriken-kiashi-shigi.
Status: Straggler or rare migrant.
Record: The BL has records from the Daito Is. (Minami-daito, Oki-daito). Hachisuka and Udagawa (1953) cite Cogswell (1948) as having observations from Okinawa. Based on the call-notes he reported, Cogswell saw T. brevipes. At the time, T. brevipes was considered by some to be a subspecies of T. incana. There is a photo in Yonashiro (1986), probably from Okinawa, with no details. In NWBO, Ohshiro photographed one bird on the Mukue River, Itoman-shi, Okinawa on 12 May 1993.
187. Tringa brevipes. Grey-rumped Tattler. Kiashi-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL cites no winter records north of Taiwan. On Okinawa, McWhirter found it at over 10 sites in flocks of up to 30 birds in the winter. Both the ML and YL have it as wintering. These may be the most northern wintering areas. Ikenaga observed one bird on Iheya on 3 May 1984 and two on Tonaki on 10 October 1986. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. for the prefecture.
188. Tringa hypoleucos. Common Sandpiper. Iso-shigi.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Izena, Kume), S. Ryukyus (Miyako to Yonaguni, Nakanouganjima) and Daito Is.(Minami-daito) for the prefecture. Kaneda saw it on Aguni on 24 April 1982, and on Iheya 3-5 February 1984. Ikenaga observed two birds on Tonaki on 10 October 1986. Kedashiro saw more than 10 on Kita-daito on 15-18 May 1986 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992).
189. Xenus cinereus. Terek Sandpiper. Sorihashi-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and uncommon winter visitor.
Record: Nakasone has seen it at Shioya, Gushikawa-shi, Okinawa four times during January and February, the latest being on 20 January 1985. The ML has it as uncommon from August to March. Iozawa has observed one or two birds on Yonaguni in spring since 1989. These are new prefecture sites; the BL has no winter records. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Iriomote).
190. Limosa limosa. Black-tailed Godwit. Oguro-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: Single birds were present on Okinawa from 31 January to 22 February 1981 at Naha (many obs.) and from 20 January (Bise) to 7 February 1985 at Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi. The wader is listed on the YL for winter, but not the ML. It is on the ML as a transient. Miyako is a new prefecture site. The BL has no winter records, and has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki).
191. Limosa lapponica. Bar-tailed Godwit. Oh-sorihashi-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and uncommon winter visitor.
Record: As above, the BL has no winter records for Japan; however, 1-4 birds have spent part of every winter since 1980 at Manko, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa (McWhirter). There are also winter records on the ML, which is a new site in the prefecture. These may be the most northern winter records for both Godwits in E. Asia. The BL has sites from C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki).
192. Numenius arquata. Curlew. Daishaku-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: It migrates through and winters in Yaeyama (YL), and Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito; new sites for the prefecture. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Kohama).
193. Numenius madagascariensis. Far-eastern Curlew. Houroku-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: It is on the ML for May, and Iozawa has observed one bird on Yonaguni in spring since 1989; new prefecture sites. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Kuro) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
194. Numenius phaeopus. Whimbrel. Chushaku-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: McWhirter (pers. obs.) found this species at nine sites on Okinawa during the winter in groups of up to 45 birds. It also winters on Miyako and Yaeyama (ML, YL, Kohno & Shoyama 1982). The BL does not describe the winter range as north of the Philippines. The BL has sites from C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Kohama, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito, Oki-daito). Ikenaga observed one on Iheya on 3 May 1984. Kedashiro observed it on Kita-daito on 15-18 May 1986 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992).
195. Numenius tahitiensis. Bristle-thighed Curlew. Harimomo-chushaku-shigi.
Status: Straggler or rare migrant.
Record: The BL has three records, none from Ryukyu. Mitsuko Kurisaki carefully identified one at Manko, Tomigusuku-son on 24 March 1983, and McWhirter had one with Whimbrels on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho on 16 May 1984. This curlew could be expected to stray to the prefecture while migrating.
196. Numenius minutus. Little Curlew. Ko-shaku-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has no Ryukyu records. The OL has it for Okinawa and Ishigaki and the YL also lists it for Ishigaki. These records are without detail. At least one was seen on Iriomote on 29 April 1980 (Kohno & Shoyama 1982). Surprisingly, the ML has the species as uncommon December to March, with at least one record in June. On Okinawa, McWhirter saw one on 3 May 1984 on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho. In 1985, the curlew was recorded at four sites on Okinawa from 21 April to 16 June (two birds on Ada, Kunigami-son). Most of the records were in April, with a total of 39 birds seen on 21 April (K. Oshiro, I. Matayoshi, others). There is a photo in WBO. In 1986, Ikenaga had 1-5 birds from 19 May to 6 June at Miyagi, Higashi-son. The winter records of Miyako are without precedent in Japan.
197. Scolopax rusticola. Eurasian Woodcock. Yama-shigi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Iriomote, Yonaguni) and Daito Is.(Minami-daito, Oki-daito) for the prefecture. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito.
198. Scolopax mira. Amami Woodcock. Amami-yamashigi.
Status: Uncommon and endangered resident on northern Okinawa.
Record: One was banded near Yonaha-dake, Kunigami-son, Okinawa on 1 August 1980 (Mano 1981). During the summer of 1985, Hanawa and Brazil, in separate investigations, both found small numbers in the northern forests of Okinawa. Since then, the woodcock has been seen and photographed there in each season by many people, see WBO. Several photographs of the Eurasian Woodcock S. rusticola taken on Okinawa prior to 1985 proved, upon reexamination, to be S. mira. In addition, a photo of the species was taken on Tokashiki by Takehara on 29 September 1985. The inescapable conclusion is that there is a small breeding population, the extent of which is not yet known, of this woodcock in Okinawa Prefecture (see Brazil & Ikenaga 1987). Recently the new habitats were reported on Aka-jima, Kerama Is. (Takehara and others 1995a) and Kume by Takehara and others (1995c). The species was designated by Okinawa Prefectural Government as a Tennen-Kinenbutsu (Natural Monument) on February 1993.
A note on the snipe information below: The first author has spent many hours trying to identify snipe on Okinawa. After studying museum specimens, working with tail information presented in Kobayashi (1980), and reading papers on snipe identification (e.g. Taylor 1983, Backhurst 1969), it became possible to identify snipe under good conditions most of the time. Gallinago gallinago is common and relatively easy to separate, the others more difficult. Many snipe go unidentified.
G. stenura or G. megala. Pintail Snipe or Swinhoe's Snipe. The BL has no winter records for Japan for either snipe. McWhirter had eight winter records of 1-5 birds at four paddy sites on Okinawa from December 1980 to 3 December 1983. These birds were clearly not G. gallinago, but could not be identified to species.
199. Gallinago gallinago. Common Snipe. Ta-shigi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito) for the prefecture. Kaneda saw the bird on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984. McWhirter observed it on 20 October 1985. Ikenaga saw three birds on Kita-daito on 3 March 1984 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992).
200. Gallinago stenura. Pintail Snipe. Hario-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: McWhirter and others have had over ten observations of 1-5 birds during the winter at five paddy sites on Okinawa during 1983 to 1986. There is a photo in WBO. Shoyama found a dead body on 4 September 1991 on Iriomote; a new site for prefecture. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Yonaguni) and Daito Is.
201. Gallinago megala. Swinhoe's Snipe. Chu-jishigi.
Status: Rare migrant and winter visitor.
Record: This species seems to be more rare than the one above during migration and winter. McWhirter and others saw 1-2 birds on Okinawa, on 18 December 1983, 3 December 1985 and 22 February 1987 at Kijoka, Ohgimi-son, and on 22 January 1985 at Namizato, Kin-cho. Shoyama captured one bird on 12 September 1988 on Iriomote. The BL has sites from Okinawa to Yonaguni and Daito Is.
202. Gallinago hardwickii. Japanese Snipe. Oh-jishigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has a record for Minami-daito in the prefecture. Misato H.S. Bird Watching Club records have the snipe on Okinawa during August and September (no details). McWhirter has had 8 records of this large snipe on Okinawa since October 1982. The records are from September to early December and in March and April. Also, see WBO. Takehara & Harato (1992) recorded five birds at Ie airport on 1 May 1990. The ML has it as an uncommon autumn transient. The YL has a record for Ishigaki on 13 January 1976. Iozawa has observed the bird (Max. about 50) on Yonaguni in the spring since 1989.
203. Gallinago solitaria. Solitary Snipe. Ao-shigi.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: Yonashiro (1986) has a photo of this snipe, probably from Okinawa with no detail (on Kijoka, Ohgimi-son; Yonashiro pres. com.). This is the second prefecture record and a new site. The BL has sites from Iriomote.
204. Lymnocryptes minimus. Jack Snipe. Ko-shigi.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: Iozawa recorded one bird at a paddy of Yonaguni, on 10 February 1992 as the first record for the prefecture.
Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE
205. Himantopus himantopus. Black-winged Stilt. Seitaka-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has only two Okinawa records, one in 1928 and another in 1969, however there are many recent observations and photograph records on paddy fields of Okinawa (WBO etc.). The ML has it as uncommon during September and November, and the YL has it as wintering. Iozawa has observed 1-3 birds on Yonaguni in the spring since 1989. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito during December 1990 to January 1991, and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. These are new prefecture sites.
206. Himantopus lewcocephalus. Australian Stilt. Ohstoraria-seitaka-shigi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Not on the BL, there have been a few recent records in Japan. On Okinawa, two were photographed by Higa (NWBO, CD) with 18 Black-winged Stilt at Namizato, Kin-cho on 22 May 1987, McWhirter observed one there on 2 June 1987.
207. Recurvirostra avosetta. Avocet. Sorihashi-seitaka-shigi.
Status: Rare migrant or winter visitor.
Record: There are four sets of records on Okinawa, one is on Manko, Tomigusuku-son on 1973 (BL) and on April 1986. Takehara photographed one on Nishizaki, Itoman-shi on December 1987. Another one was recorded from Hiyagon, Okinawa-shi on 15 November 1988 by Yoshizato.
Family PHALAROPODIDAE
208. Phalaropus lobatus. Red-necked Phalarope. Akaeri-hireashi-shigi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has records for Miyako and Ishigaki. The YL has it for 1 April 1978 on Yonaguni. Iozawa has observed a few birds in the spring 1989, 1990 and 1994 on Yonaguni. The OL seems to have two records for Okinawa, LeGrand found a dead female at Namizato, Kin-cho on 19 April 1980; since then, there has been at least four sets of records for Okinawa up to 1987. One was at Teruma, Yonagusuku-son from 10 October to 29 October 1982 (Higa, others). Another was at Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi on 13-14 September 1984 (Kaneshiro, McWhirter). Three birds were at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi on 3-4 April 1985 (Higa, Nakasone). One bird was photographed by Higa, on Teruma, Gushikawa-shi on 4 October 1987 (see WBO, NWBO, CD).
A note on Grey Phalarope: Phalaropus fulicarius [Haiiro-hireashi-shigi] was recorded on the list by Ikehara and others (1984). But this record cited from OL was an erratum for P. lobatus (Yonashiro, pers. com.). The authors erase the species from the list at this time. The bird was recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).
Family GLAREOLIDAE
209. Glareola maldivarum. Indian Partincole. Tsubame-chidori.
Status: Uncommon migrant or summer visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Kohama, Yonaguni). There are good breeding records from Okinawa (McWhirter 1985a), Miyako (Yamamoto, Yacho 422) and Ishigaki (NWBO). Takehara & Harato (1992) recorded up to 13 birds on Ie during May to September 1990.
Family STERCORARIIDAE
210. Stercorarius pomarinus. Pomarine Jaeger. Touzoku-kamome.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: One adult light-phase was seen on 13 May 1985 near the Kamiyama Is. off Okinawa by McWhirter, Sallee and Agnew. The species had not been seen in the prefecture before. Shoyama captured a young bird on 11 July 1984 on Iriomote. Ozawa (1970) reported a few birds during April 1968 in the East China Sea.
211. Stercorarius longicaudus. Long-tailed Jaeger. Shirohara-touzoku-kamome.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: An immature, probably this species, was seen by McWhirter near Mae-jima in the Kerama Is. on 20 October 1985. An Adult was seen on 1 April 1986 near Tokashiki by Nakasone and others. A light-phase adult was seen by McWhirter and Sallee near Tomari Port, Naha-shi, Okinawa on 26 April 1986. Two jaegers near the Kamiyama Is. on the same date and another near there seen by McWhirter and Ikenaga on 29 April 1986 were probably this species. Tsukiyama (Birder 101, 1995 ) observed one at Nashiro, Itoman-shi, Okinawa on 21 March 1995. There are no prior prefecture records, but the jaeger is probably regular during migration.
Family LARIDAE
212. Larus ichthyaetus. Great Black-headed Gull. Oh-zuguro-kamome.
Status: Straggler or rare migrant.
Record: A first-year bird was seen on 13 December 1983 at Camp Kinser, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa by McWhirter. Kaneda had a second-year bird on 9 April 1985 at Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa and on 25 November 1985 at Aja, Naha-shi, Okinawa. Another second-year bird was seen near the old airport of Chatan-cho, Okinawa on 25 February 1986 by McWhirter, Nakasone, and Speegle. This species is not on the BL, but there has been a few recent records in Japan.
213. Larus ridibundus. Black-headed Gull. Yuri-kamome.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The ML has records from October to December, and the YL has it as wintering. On Yonaguni, since 1989 Iosawa has recorded one young bird during the most winters; new prefecture sites. The BL has a site from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa).
214. Larus argentatus. Herring Gull. Seguro-kamome.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Shoyama photographed three adults on 1 February 1993 on Iriomote. One adult was observed by Iozawa during the winter of 1989 and 1990 on Yonaguni. Kaneda observed three birds on Tokashiki on 23 November 1985.
215. Larus schistisagus. Slaty-backed Gull. Oh-seguro-kamome.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has a record for Ishigaki. There have been at least three records for Okinawa. Beringer (1976) reported one for 10 January 1970 at Minato-gawa, Urasoe-shi. McWhirter saw 2-3 adults at Kuwae, Chatan-cho on 23 January 1983, and one adult at Camp Kinser Urasoe-shi on 25 March 1984.
216. Larus hyperboreus. Glaucous Gull. Shiro-kamome.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Kohno & Shoyama (1982) cite a record for Iriomote on 19 December 1981. This was the first for the prefecture, and probably the most southern for Japan. (Recorded in Hong Kong, see Viney and others 1994).
217. Larus canus. Common Gull. Kamome.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: One was photographed by Higa and Kaneda near Yonaguni on 30 December 1984 (Ryukyu-shinpo, WBO). Another was seen there by Iozawa during the winter of 1994. Ikenaga observed one near Nakaoshi, Nago-shi, Okinawa on 15 February 1986. Two birds were seen by McWhirter and Gentile at Gushi, Naha-shi, Okinawa on 31 January 1987. This is a new species for the prefecture.
218. Larus crassirostris. Black-tailed Gull. Umi-neko.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni). McWhirter observed it on Tokashiki on 1 April 1986, Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported the bird from Minami-daito during December 1990 to January 1991, and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito; new prefecture sites.
219. Larus saundersi. Saunders's Gull. Zuguro-kamome.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: Although the BL has only a Miyako observation for the prefecture, the gull has been seen and photographed many times on Okinawa, see WBO. One to four birds usually winter in the Manko/Yone area of Tomigusuku-son The ML has it as regular in winter. The YL has one record from Ishigaki in January 1976; however, Kohno & Shoyama (1982) have April and May records on Iriomote. Iozawa recorded one from February to March of 1992 on Yonaguni.
220. Larus minutus. Little Gull. Hime-kamome.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Not in the BL. Brazil and others observed one bird on 27 July 1987 on Manko, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa (Brazil & Snetsinger 1991).
221. Rissa tridadactyla. Black-legged Kittiwake. Mitsuyubi-kamome.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The YL has a record for Ishigaki in February 1977. Brazil and Michael Poulsen saw an adult in Uehara Bay, Iriomote on 3 January 1983 (Brazil 1988). One was captured near Yonabaru-cho, Okinawa and given to Higa in December 1984. This was a new species for the prefecture and these may be the most southern records for Japan. (Recorded in Hong Kong, see Viney and others 1994).
222. Chlidonias leucopterus. White-winged Black Tern. Hajiro-kurohara-ajisashi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: There has been at least ten records of 1-6 birds on Okinawa during migration. WBO has a photo. Agnew observed six birds at Namizato, Kin-cho on 9 May 1987. The ML has records for May, June (Nine birds, Yacho 422) September, and October. Miyako is a new prefecture site, and the Okinawa records confirm an observation cited in the BL, which has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa-obs.), S. Ryukyus (Iriomote-obs.) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
223. Chlidonias hybridus. Whiskered Tern. Kurohara-ajisashi.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: It is on the OL and has been recorded by the WBS-Misato H.S. McWhirter has seen 1-7 birds ten times during migration at seven sites on Okinawa, including one June record. Other observers have seen the tern on the island. One was at Manko, Tomigusuku-son from 26 December 1985 to at least 19 January 1986 (many obs.). The BL has no winter records for Japan. One bird was recorded on Ie on 2 May 1990 (Takehara & Harato 1992). The ML has a record for 14 June 1981 (Yacho 422) and from 2 September to October 1981. On Ishigaki, birds have been seen on 15 May 1982 (YL) and 4 April 1983 (photo. by Akiyoshi Kiji). Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has sites from the S. Ryukyus (Iriomote 1972, Yonaguni).
224. Chlidonias niger. Black Tern. Hashiguro-kurohara-ajisashi.
Status: Straggler or rare migrant.
Record: Brazil saw one in breeding plumage at Manko, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa on 15 July 1983, and McWhirter and the Cresslers had a winter plumage bird at Nishizaki, Itoman-shi, Okinawa on 13 October 1985. The BL has one record for Japan.
225. Sterna caspia. Caspian Tern. Oni-ajisashi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: During 1980 to 1987, there have been at least four sets of records for Okinawa, including one bird at Yone/Manko, Tomigusuku-son from January to February 1985 (Oshiro, others, WBO). The latest record of these years was on 1 December 1985 by Ikenaga and Numaguchi. The BL has a record from Yaeyama.
226. Sterna bergii. Crested Tern. Oh-ajisashi.
Status: Locally common migrant and summer visitor on Yaeyama.
Record: Kohno and Shoyama (1982) regard this tern as common on Nakanougan-jima during the summer. This is a new prefecture site. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kitakojima- see Takara 1969) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
227. Sterna nilotica. Gull-billed Tern. Hashibuto-ajisashi.
Status: Rare migrant and winter visitor.
Record: During 1980 to 1986, Okinawa I. has at least four records. One was at Awase, Okinawa-shi on 29, 30 September 1980 (McWhirter), another at Awase on 26 May 1981 (M. Kaneshiro), one at Teruma, Yonagusuku-son on 24 September 1982 (McWhirter), and another single was at Yone, Tomigusuku-son on 8,13 October 1985 (Higa, Ikenaga, Nakasone). WBO has a photo. The BL has four records from Japan, none from Okinawa.
228. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. Ajisashi.
228-1. Subsp. S. h. longipennis. Ajisashi.
Status: Common migrant.
Record: It is on the ML for April and September, and the YL has an 11 May 1980 record for Ishigaki. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa).
228-2. Subsp. S. h. minussensis. Akaashi-ajisashi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: On 30-31 May 1981 near Kyoda, Nago-shi, Okinawa, McWhirter saw 2-3 individals of this subspecies with a group of S. h. longipennis; a new subspecies record for the prefecture.
229. Sterna dougalli. Roseate Tern. Beni-ajisashi.
Status: Common summer visitor.
Record: It is on the ML as uncommon from May to September, a new site in the prefecture. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Zamami), and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote). McWhirter saw the bird on Tokashiki on 9 September 1986.
230. Sterna sumatrana. Black-naped Tern. Eriguro-ajisashi.
Status: Common summer visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Zamami) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi and Nakanouganjima). McWhirter saw the bird on Tokashiki on 3 June 1986.
231. Sterna anaethetus. Bridled Tern. Mamijiro-ajisashi.
Status: Locally common summer visitor on the S. Ryukyus.
Record: The BL has observations from Ishigaki and Iriomote. Kohno and Shoyama (1982) found the species to be a common summer breeder on Nakanougan-jima. The ML has it as breeding on Fude-iwa Rock. McWhirter had a probable sighting off Cape Maeda-misaki, Onna-son, Okinawa on 25 September 1982 after a typhoon, and clearly saw two birds off the Kamiyama Is. on 8 October 1985. McWhirter and Speegle had a banded young bird flying in Tomari Port, Naha-shi on 30 September 1986. From the ring No., the bird was probably released on Nakanougan-jima by Kohno on 8 September 1986, as a nestling (Ozaki pers. com.). Speegle made a photograph. Abe and Mano (1980) reported breeding records of Japan.
232. Sterna fuscata. Sooty Tern. Seguro-ajisashi.
Status: Locally common summer visitor on the S. Ryukyus.
Record: The tern no longer nests on the Kamiyama Is. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (breeds on Kamiyamajima off Naha in Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Nakanouganjima-breeds, Senkaku Is.-breeds) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Iozawa heard the voice of the bird during the night in March and April on Yonaguni.
233. Sterna albifrons. Little Tern. Ko-ajisashi.
Status: Common summer visitor.
Record: It is regarded as a summer bird on both the ML and YL; these are new prefecture sites. A single bird was observed off of Camp Kinser, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa, on 31 December 1984 (McWhirter) an unusual winter record. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and "Ryukyu Is." (Cassin 1856)
234. Anous stolidus. Common Noddy. Kuro-ajisashi.
Status: Locally common summer visitor on the S. Ryukyus.
Record: It is on the ML; this is a new prefecture site. The tern no longer breeds near Okinawa I. and it seems to be rare there. Subsp. A. s. pullus was recorded on the BL, sites from the C. Ryukyus (breeds at Hentona, Okinawa, Baker 1948) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Nakanouganjima-breeds, Senkaku-breeds).
235. Anous minutus. Black Noddy. Hime-kuro-ajisashi.
Status: Straggler or rare summer visitor.
Record: Mano photographed at least one near Ishigaki on 2 July 1980 (Takano ed. 1981). The ML has a 4 July 1981 record, and two were seen and photographed on Mimami-ukibaru, Katsuren-cho, Okinawa on 16, 30 August 1981 by Naoto Teruya, Higa and others (Yacho 427, WBO). This is a new species for the prefecture.
236. Gygis alba. White-tern. Shiro-ajisashi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: The BL has a record from the "Ryukyu Is."
Family ALCIDAE
237. Alle alle. Little Auk. Hime-umisuzume.
Status: Accidental.
Record: One bird was captured on Hentona, Kunigami-son, Okinawa on 6 January 1992 and recorded by Masakazu Kudaka (Yacho 554, Strix 12), the first and unexpected record for Japan.
238. Brachyramphus mamoratus. Marbled Murrelet. Madara-umisuzume.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites only from the C. Ryukyus (Kume) for the prefecture.
239. Synthliboramphus antiquus. Ancient Murrelet. Umisuzume.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki). Shoyama banded one bird on 13 January 1991 on Iriomote; a new site for prefecture.
240. Synthliboramphus wumisuzume. Japanese Murrelet. Kanmuri-umisuzume.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: It is on the YL for Iriomote on 27 November 1978 and Ishigaki on 24 January 1924. Kohno and Shoyama (1982) have it from October to December. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has it recorded from Okinawa.
Order COLUMBIFORMES
Family PTEROCLIDIDAE
241. Syrrhaptes paradoxus. Pallas' Sandgrouse. Sakei.
Status: Straggler.
Record: The BL has a record from Ishigaki (Kuroda 1925, Avif. Riu Kiu Is., p162).
Family COLUMBIDAE
242. Columba janthina. Japanese Wood Pigeon. Karasu-bato.
242-1. Subsp. C. j. janthina. Karasu-bato.
Status: Locally common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Zamami). McWhirter saw the bird on Tokashiki on 7 January 1986. In Iheya, Kaneda and others recorded the bird on 23-25 November 1984, Ikenaga and Numaguchi heard and observed it again on 2 November 1985, although they did not record it on February or May 1984. In the BL, the island was a recorded site for an extinct Ryukyu Wood Pigeon, but not for the Japanese Wood Pigeon.
242-2. Subsp. C. j. stejnegeri. Yonakuni-karasubato.
Status: Uncommon resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni).
243. Columba jouyi. Ryukyu Wood Pigeon. Ryukyu-karasubato.
Status: Extinct since 1904 (Okinawa) and 1936 (Daito Is.).
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Iheya, Izena, Okinawa, Yagachi, Zamami) and Daito Is. (Kita-daito, Minami-daito).
244. Columba oenas. Stock Dove. Hime-moribato.
Status: Straggler.
Record: No record on the BL. Since 1984 (Maki, 1989), the bird has been recorded in several places in Japan. On Okinawa, one bird was seen and photographed by many (NWBO, CD) in Namizato, Kin-cho on November 1992.
245. Streptopelia tranquebarica. Red Collared Dove. Beni-bato.
Status: Uncommon migrant or winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no Ryukyu records. The YL has it for Iriomote on 3 June 1975, 26 October 1976, and September 1981, and for Ishigaki during November 1981. Kaneda had one on 24 October 1982 at Yone, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa (Yacho 440). Brazil and Poulsen saw one on Ishigaki on 28 December 1982. Another was photographed by Jun-ichi Abe on 9 April 1983 on Iriomote (Yacho 442). In 1984, singles were seen in late September at Namizato, Kin-cho, Okinawa by Yonashiro (1986) and 28 December on Yonaguni by Higa and Kaneda. In 1985, birds were reported on Tokashiki on 8 October by McWhirter and 30 December on Yonaguni again by Kaneda and Takuki Hanashiro. NWBO has a photograph by Yamashiro on 24 October 1986 at Kin-cho. The dove seems to be uncommon but regular in autumn in the prefecture.
246. Streptopelia orientalis. Eastern Turtle Dove. Kiji-bato.
246-1. Subsp. S. o. orientalis. Kiji-bato.
Status: Winter visitor?
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki).
246-2. Subsp. S. o. stimpsoni. Ryukyu-kijibato.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Izena, Ie, Kudaka, Zamami, Kume) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatoma, Taketomi, Kuro, Nakanougan-jima, Yonaguni, Senkaku Is.). The bird was recorded from many small islands near Okinawa; Iheya (3-5 February 1984 by Kaneda), Aguni (24 April 1982 by Kaneda), Tonaki (10 October 1986 by Ikenaga). Kedashiro probably saw the bird on Kita-daito on 15-18 1986.
247. Chalcophaps indica. Emerald Dove. Kin-bato.
Status: Locally uncommon resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatoma, Taketomi, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni). The bird was recorded in Miyako as a breeding resident in the ML.
248. Treron sieboldii. Japanese Green Pigeon. Ao-bato.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Beringer (1976) and Short (1973) both report the species from northern Okinawa in the winter. It is on the OL and the WBS-Misato H.S. recorded it (1980). Tomori (1977) recorded the bird in the check-list of animals on Nago-shi. It is on the ML for September and October. The BL has no prefecture records. The Red-capped Green Pigeon, T. formosae is sometimes misidentified as this species.
249. Treron formosae. Red-capped Green Pigeon. Zuaka-aobato.
249-1. Subsp. T. f. permagnus. Ryukyu-zuaka-aobato.
Status: Common Resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa). McWhirter observed the bird on Tokashiki on 14 October 1986.
249-2. Subsp. T. f. medioximus. Chudai-zuaka-aobato.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the S. Ryukyus (Miyako [in Japanese ed.], Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni, observed on Kuro, Taketomi and Hatoma) .
Order CUCULIFORMES
Family CUCULIDAE
250. Clamator coromandus. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. Kanmuri-kakkou.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Not on the BL, but since one bird was given medical care in 1974 on Takara-jima of the Tokara Is., the bird has several records in Japan. One was seen by Yoshimi on Sonai, Iriomote on 20 May 1990 after a irregular typhoon. On Okinawa, one bird was captured on Hentona, Kunigami-son on 26 April 1994 (Takehara and others 1995, CD). These were new species for the prefecture.
251. Cuculus fugax. Horsfield's Hawk Cuckoo. Juichi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: The BL has no Ryukyu records. Hachisuka & Udagawa (1953) cite a specimen record for Yonaguni on 1 October 1921, and the YL has a 22 August 1982 sighting for Ishigaki. Shoyama captured one bird on 15 October 1995 on Iriomote. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito on May 1989.
252. Cuculus canorus. Common Cuckoo. Kakkou.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Yonaguni). Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito in May and October of 1989 as a probable record, and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito.
253. Cuculus saturatus. Oriental Cuckoo. Tsutsudori.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The ML has it for 2 September 1981, a new prefecture site; the BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
254. Cuculus poliocephalus. Little Cuckoo. Hototogisu.
Status: Common migrant or summer visitor?.
Record: The ML has it in May and June as a transient. Kedashiro heard one on Kita-daito on 15-18 May 1986 (see also in Miyagi & Takehara 1992). Shoyama heard one bird on 27 May 1982 on Iriomote. McWhirter recorded the bird from Zamami on 13 May 1985 and from Tokashiki on 3 June 1986. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Yonaguni).
Order STRIGIFORMES
Family STRIGIDAE
255. Asio otus. Long-eared Owl. Torafu-zuku.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: It is noted for Ishigaki on the BL. Single birds were seen on 2 November 1978 on Iriomote (YL, Kohno & Shoyama 1982), 15 December 1982 at Yonaha-dake, Kunigami-son, Okinawa by Brazil and Poulsen, and 9 February 1985 on Okuni-rindo, Kunigami-son, Okinawa by McWhirter and others. Iozawa observed a few wintering birds on Yonaguni in 1989 and 1990.
256. Asio flammeus. Short-eared Owl. Ko-mimizuku.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: During 1980 to 1986, there are at least six sets of records from Okinawa, the latest being 4-10 birds at Nishizaki, Itoman from about 19 November 1985 (Kaneda) to 8 March 1986. These birds were seen and photographed by many. See WBO. Photos and a specimen were also taken by Beringer (1976). The owl was observed on 28 November 1976 on Iriomote (YL) and there is a December record on the ML. Takehara & Harato (1992) recorded three birds at Ie airport on 20 January 1991. Iozawa saw one or two birds during the winter of 1990 to 1992 on Yonaguni. These are new sites for the prefecture. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Kume) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki).
A note on the Scops Owl; Marshall (1978) elevated Otus scops elegans and O. scops interpositus to O. elegans, Ryukyu Scops Owl and puts O. scops japonicus into O. sunia, Oriental Scops Owl. Yamashina (1986) treated O. scops elegans as a subspecies of O. manadensis, Celebes Scops Owl. Sibley and Monroe (1990) treated O. elegans as a full species under a superspecies of O. magicus, different from O. manadensis. In this list, the authors treat O. elegans as a full species. The status of the two species in the prefecture is presented in the BL.
257. Otus sunia. Oriental Scops Owl. Konoha-zuku.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa-heard) and S. Ryukyus (Iriomote, Taketomi-heard).
258. Otus elegans. Ryukyu Scops Owl. Ryukyu-konohazuku.
258-1. Subsp. O. e. elegans. Ryukyu-konohazuku.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Kohama, Kuro). Iozawa has heard the voice on Yonaguni in the spring since 1989.
258-2. Subsp. O. e. interpositus. Daito-konohazuku.
Status: Uncommon resident.
Record: The BL has sites from Daito Is.(Minami-daito). Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito.
259. Otus bakkamoena. Collared Scops Owl. Oh-konoha-zuku.
259-1. O. b. pryeri. Ryukyu-oh-konoha-zuku.
Status: Uncommon resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Yagachi) and S. Ryukyus (Iriomote).
260. Ninox scutulata. Brown Hawk Owl. Aoba-zuku.
Status: Common summer visitor or uncommon resident.
Record: On the BL, three subspecies are recorded from the prefecture, but they are difficult to separate in the field.
260-1. Subsp. N. s. macroptera. Chosen-aobazuku.
Status: Straggler?
Record: On the BL, recorded from the S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki) and Daito Is. (Kita-daito, Minami-daito).
260-2. Subsp. N. s. japonica. Aoba-zuku.
Status: Migrant? or winter visitor?
Record: On the BL, recorded from the S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
260-3. Subsp. N. s. totogo. Ryukyu-aobazuku.
Status: Common summer visitor? or resident?
Record: On the BL, recorded from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Zamami) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi-obs., Kuro-obs., Aragusuku, Yonaguni).
Family TITONIDAE
261. Tyto longimembris. Eastern Grass Owl. Higashi-men-fukurou.
Status: Accidental.
Record: One was found on 14 May 1975 on Iriomote (YL, Kobayashi 1980, BOJ). This was the first and only record for Japan.
Order CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Family CAPRIMULGIDAE
262. Caprimulgus indicus. Jungle Nightjar. Yotaka.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: It is on the OL with no information. On Okinawa, it has been seen on 9 November 1980 near Terukubi-dake, Kunigami-son by McWhirter and Clyde Roggencamp, and on 23 November 1985 on Nerome, Ohgimi-son by Higa, Takehara and Kedashiro (WBO). The nightjar is regarded as transient on the YL, but the ML reports it from May through August. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. Okinawa, Miyako and Kita-daito are new sites for the prefecture; the BL lists the S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
Order APODIFORMES
Family APODIDAE 263. Collocalia brevirostris. Himalayan Swiftlet. Himaraya-anatsubame.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was observed by McWhirter and Speegle on Tokashiki I. on 30 September 1986. This is the first record for Japan, but there is no evidential photograph. (see Appendix).
264. Hirundapus caudacutus. White-throated Needle-tailed Swift. Hario- amatsubame.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL lists it from Yonaguni for the prefecture. Up to 1986, there are at least six records of 1-30 birds in April and May on Okinawa, the first on 27 May 1973 by Beringer (1976), the latest on 18 May 1986 by Ikenaga. There is an autumn record of 16 September 1984 by Ikenaga. The ML has November records, and the YL reports it is a transient. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito on May 1989.
265. Apus affinis. House Swift. Hime-amatsubame.
Status: Uncommon migrant with several breeding records.
Record: It is on the ML for July, August, and October, and one was seen on Tokashiki on 1 April 1986 by McWhirter and others. Kedashiro observed five birds on Kita-daito on 15-18 May 1986. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Iriomote) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito).
266. Apus pacificus. White-rumped Swift. Ama-tsubame.
Status: Common migrant.
Record: Up to 1986, there are over ten records of 1-25 birds on Okinawa from late February (Ikenaga) to late May. The first reported were on 24-28 May 1972 by Kuroda (1972). The swift is on the ML for April and May. One or two were seen on Tokashiki on 25 March, 1,29 April l986 by McWhirter, Ikenaga, and others. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito. These are new sites for the species. The BL has sites from "Ryukyu Is." and the S. Ryukyus (Iriomote, Yonaguni-obs.).
Order CORACIIFORMES
Family ALCEDINIDAE
267. Ceryle lugubris. Pied Kingfisher. Yamasemi.
Status: Uncertain record.
Record: Not on the BL for Ryukyu. Ikehara and others (1984) listed the species without information.
268. Halcyon pileata. Black-capped Kingfisher. Yama-shobin.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: It is on the ML for April, a new prefecture site. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Iriomote).
269. Halcyon colomanda. Ruddy Kingfisher. Aka-shobin.
269-1. Subsp. H. c. major. Aka-shobin.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki).
269-2. Subsp. H. c. bangsi. Ryukyu-akashobin.
Status: Common summer visitor.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kuro, Yonaguni). Ikenaga heard and observed the bird on Iheya on 4 May 1984, and McWhirter recorded it on Tokashiki on 3 June 1986.
270. Halcyon miyakoensis. Miyako Kingfisher. Miyako-shobin.
Status: Considered to be extinct.
Record: Only one record from Miyako in the world. The very existence of this species is hence in question. (see Morioka 1989).
271. Halcyon chloris. Collared Kingfisher. Nanyo-shobin.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Two were seen from 12 October to 2 November 1975 on Ishigaki (OL, YL, BOJ) and another was photographed on 23 March 1985 on Iriomote (Yacho 471). This is a new species for Japan.
272. Halcyon smyrnensis. White-throated Kingfisher. Ao-shobin.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was video recorded by Tomoko and Yoji Kagawa on 28 April 1994 on Nagura, Ishigaki for the first record in Japan (Yacho 574, Strix 13).
273. Alcedo atthis. Common Kingfisher. Kawasemi.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Kaneda and others recorded the bird on Iheya on 23-25 November 1984, and McWhirter saw it on Tokashiki on 8 October 1985. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird on Kita-daito.
Family MEROPIDAE
274. Merops ornatus. Australian Bee-eater. Hachikui.
Status: Accidental.
Record: The BL has only one site from Japan; S. Ryukyus (Nishihara in Miyako, July 1904).
Family CORACIIDAE
275. Eurystomus orientalis. Eastern Broad-billed Roller. Buppousou.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: The BL has a site from Yonaguni. The YL has one for 21 May 1980 on Iriomote, and there is an April record on the ML. One bird was seen on 31 May 1995 in Hateruma by Taichirou Touji. One was observed near Fungawa Dam, Kunigami-son, Okinawa on 8 May 1987 by Takehara, Higa and Gima (Takehara 1993). These are new sites for the prefecture.
Family UPUPIDAE
276. Upupa epops. Hoopoe. Yatsugashira.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The species is listed as transient on the YL and uncommon on the ML in April, May, and August. There are one to three records on Okinawa every year. See WBO. There are also recent sightings on Tokashiki (K. Kaneshiro photo), Iheya (Ryukyu-shinpo photo) and Zamami (Okinawa-times photo). Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported the bird quotations from Minamidaito-sonshi (History book of the Minamidaito-son), and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded it Kita-daito. Hoopoes seem to be uncommon but regular in the prefecture. The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa) and S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Yonaguni).
Order PICIFORMES
Family PICIDAE 277. Jynx torquilla. Wryneck. Arisui.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: One may have been seen on 28 March 1983 at Namizato, Kin-cho, Okinawa by McWhirter; a hypothetical record. One bird was seen by Yoshitaka Matsushima and others on 11 to 14 October 1987 on Yonaguni (from a Travelers Note in Fukuyama-so Inn in Yonaguni). These are the first sites for the prefecture.
278. Sapheopipo noguchii. Pryer's Woodpecker. Noguchi-grera.
Status: Endangered. Only about 100-200 birds remain as resident in the northern forests of Okinawa.
Record: On Kunigami-son, Ohgimi-son, Higashi-son and Nago-shi, in the northern part of Okinawa only.
279. Dendrocopos kizuki. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker. Ko-gera.
279-1. Subsp. D. k. nigrescens. Okinawa-kogera.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Yagachi).
279-2. Subsp. D. k. orii. Orii-kogera.
Status: Rare resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the S. Ryukyus (Iriomote).
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Last modified: April 25, 1997.
Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp