A Check-list of the Birds of Okinawa Prefecture

Bird List for Okinawa Prefecture
A Check-list of the Birds of Okinawa Prefecture
Part 1: Gaviformes - Gruiformes

Order GAVIFORMES
Family GAVIIDAE
001. Gavia stellata. Red-throated Diver. Abi.
Status: Uncertain.
Record: BOJ shows the winter range to include the prefecture, but we know of no records. The BL cites one record for Taiwan, none for the Ryukyus. See, Wang and others (1991).

002. Gavia arctica. Black-throated Diver. Oh-hamu.
Status: Uncertain.
Record: As above, BOJ indicates a winter range here, but there are no local or BL records. See, Wang and others (1991).

Order PODICIPEDIFORMES
Family PODICIPITIDAE
003. Tachybaptus ruficollis. Little Grebe. Kaitsuburi.
Status: Common resident.
Record: Okinawa (B), Kume, Ishigaki, Yonaguni and Daito Is. (B) in the BL. ML lists it as a common resident, and YL as a common winter visitor. Shoyama banded one bird on 24 October 1995 on Iriomote. Ikenaga observed the bird in Iheya on 4 May 1984. In the Kerama Is., Masashi Kaneda (pers. com.) observed the bird in Tokashiki, and Takehara and others (1995a) recorded it from Zamami. In Daito Is., both in Kita- and Minami-daito, there is a local breeding population of white morphs (Miyagi & Takehara 1992).

004. Podiceps nigricollis. Black-necked Grebe. Hajiro-kaitsuburi.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: One bird was recorded on 23 November 1981 on Ishigaki (YL). Another wintered at Oh-jima, Tamagusuku-son, Okinawa on 2 December 1984 by Kaneda. On Yonaguni, one was photographed by Kuniaki Higa (NWBO, CD) on 31 December 1984, and on 23 November 1985, one was seen by Tsutomu Nakasone and Masakuni Yamashiro. Mark Brazil and Shin-ichi Hanawa had a bird at Kin Dam, Kin-cho, Okinawa on 6 December 1985 and it was seen there again on 10 December 1985 by McWhirter. The species is regarded as uncommon in winter on Miyako (ML). Iozawa recorded a bird during January to March on Yonaguni. The BL cites only Miyako.

005. Podiceps auritus. Slovenian Grebe. Mimi-kaitsuburi.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: One was reported on 17 December 1982 at Kin Dam, Kin-cho, Okinawa by Masahiko Kaneshiro and others. A bird in winter was photographed by Higa and others on 18 December 1983 at Goya, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa (WBO, NWBO, CD), where it stayed until 15 January 1984 at least (McWhirter). Nakasone, McWhirter, and Carol Speegle had another single at Fungawa Dam, Kunigami-son, Okinawa on 31 December 1986. Tange (1982) recorded one bird on 12 February 1981 on Yonaguni. Kugai (1995) recorded as a rare winter visitor in Ikema, near Miyako. The BL has no records for the prefecture.

006. Podiceps grisegena. Red-necked Grebe. Akaeri-kaitsuburi.
Status: Uncertain.
Record: Ikehara and others (1984) lists the species based on a record by Yoshiharu Yonashiro, but no other information is given. This would be new for the prefecture and the most southern record in Japan.

007. Podiceps cristatus. Great Crested Grebe. Kanmuri-kaitsuburi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: An observation was made at Iriomote on 10 February, l979 (YL), and one bird was seen by Shoyama on Ishigaki on 12 February 1989. During 1974 to 1986, there has been at least six sightings on Okinawa, and the last record on these years was on 18 February 1985 at Itoman-shi by Katsunori Bise. WBO contains a photo (also on NWBO and CD). Iozawa recorded one bird on Yonaguni in February of 1990, 1992 and 1994. The BL has records for Miyako and Ishigaki.

Order PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family DIOMEDEIDAE
008. Diomedea albatrus. Short-tailed Albatross. Ahoudori.
Status: Endangered. Few are breeding on Senkaku Is.
Record: Recorded on Senkaku Is. in the BL; 12 birds were recorded on Minami-kojima, Senkaku Is. on 30 March 1971 (Ikehara & Shimojana 1975). 35 birds were recorded on 1980 and 50 birds were recorded on 1988 (CD).

009. Diomedea immutabilis. Laysan Albatross. Ko-ahoudori.
Status: Straggler.
Record: A bird was seen on Minami-daito on 1 April 1980 by Hideo Aragaki (Yacho 407). One was recorded from Kita-daito on 1982 (Okinawa-times, News paper, on 2 April). Another bird was captured near Izena I. on 11 March 1982; a photo was printed in the Ryukyu-shinpo (a newspaper). The BL has records from Kume (Captured 33Km South of Kume, on 18 October 1965. Takara & Kuroda 1969) and Miyako.

010. Diomedea nigripes. Black-footed Albatross. Kuroashi-ahoudori.
Status: Uncommon visitor on Yaeyama.
Record: Recorded on Ishigaki, Nakanouganjima and Senkaku Is. in the BL. One was captured on Miyako on 1990 after typhoon (Okinawa-times, 27 September).

011. Diomedea exulans. Wandering Albatross. Watari-ahoudori.
Status: Accidental.
Record: Two birds were captured on 26 November 1970 near Senkaku Is. The specimens are in the Motobu Museum; This record is in the ABL, and represents a new species for Japan.

Family PROCELLARIIDAE
012. Fulmarus glacialis. Northern Fulmar. Furuma-kamome.
Status: Straggler.
Record: On 4 January 1987, one was captured on Isagawa, Nago-shi, Okinawa by Michiko Ohshiro (Takehara 1990). The specimen is in the Nago Museum. Another bird was also captured on 7 November 1993 in Yaka, Kin-cho, Okinawa (Takehara 1994). This individual was given medical care by the staff of the Okinawa Zoo, but it died three days later. The specimen was collected by the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. These are new sites and the most of southern record in Japan.

013. Pterodroma neglecta. Kermadec Petrel. Kawari-shirohara-mizunagidori.
Status: Straggler.
Record: A bird taken on 3 August 1931 near Minami-daito was originally identified as Solander's Petrel, Pterodroma solandri [Hajiro-mizunagidori] (BL, Nakamura 1979). The species only strays to Japan.

014. Pterodroma hypoleuca. Bonin Petrel. Shirohara-mizunagidori.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was captured near Ishigaki during March 1980 (YL), and one was captured by Shoyama on 28 August 1986 on Iriomote. Another one was also captured by a fisherman near the Rukan-sho, a lagoon just off Naha-shi, Okinawa on 19 February 1987. The BL has two other records for the prefecture; Ryukyus and Okinawa, 1971.

015. Pterodroma longirostris [pycrofti]. Stejneger's [Pycroft's] Petrel. Hime-shirohara-mizunagidori [Usu-hime-shirohara-mizunagidori].
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was observed by McWhirter, on 27 March 1987 in between Okinawa and Tokashiki. P. pycrofti is the first record for Japan, but there is no evidential photograph. (see Appendix).

016. Rulweria bulwerii. Bulwer's Petrel. Anadori.
Status: Uncommon visitor.
Record: The BL recorded it from Ishigaki, Hanarejima in Iriomote and Minami-daito from the prefecture. Kohno & Shoyama (1982) found breeding birds on Nakanougan-jima; a new breeding site in Japan and the first in Okinawa. One was seen off the west coast of Okinawa I. on 19 July 1983 (Brazil), and another was in the same vicinity, off the Kamiyama Is., on 3 June 1986 (McWhirter, Nakasone). These are new sites in the prefecture.

017. Calonectris leucomelas. Streaked Shearwater. Oh-mizunagidori.
Status: Locally common visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Nakanouganjima and Senkaku Is. in the BL. Kugai (1990) recorded the bird from Miyako on November 1980, and Iozawa recorded the bird in March from the coast of Yonaguni.

018. Puffinus pacificus. Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Onaga-mizunagidori.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: Two or more were seen off Yonaguni during March 1978 by Otsuka (1978). One was captured on 10 August 1982 off Ishigaki (YL). Two dark-phase birds were carefully identified near the Kamiyama Is., just off Okinawa, on 13 May 1985 by McWhirter, Barbara Sallee and Bill Agnew. A single light-phase bird was seen on 20 October 1985 near Mae-shima in the Kerama Is. by McWhirter. One young bird was captured on Naha-shi on May 1979 (Okinawa-times, 2 June). The BL notes a lack of records from the Ryukyus. None of these birds were typhoon driven, so there seems to be a small, regular movement through the prefecture. Also, only one record for the dark morph is given in the BL.

019. Puffinus carneipes. Flesh-footed Shearwater. Akaashi-mizunagidori.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: One was seen on 28 July 1983 off Nakanougan-jima by Brazil. McWhirter and Nakasone saw one near the Kamiyama Is. on 18 March 1986, and Nakasone probably had another one there on 8 April 1986. The BL has no records from the Ryukyu Is., but this species probably occurs here in small numbers during northward migration.

020. Puffinus tenuirostris. Short-tailed Shearwater. Hashiboso-mizunagidori.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: It is listed on the OL for the middle part of Okinawa I., but no information is given. The species is uncommon going past Miyako in April, May, and October (ML). Two or more were seen off Yonaguni during March 1978 (Otsuka 1978). One was caught on 26 May 1984 in Kin Bay, Okinawa by a fisherman (via M. Kaneshiro). Single birds were sighted on 13, 27 May 1985 near the Kamiyama Is. by McWhirter and others. Although the BL has no records for the Ryukyus, the species seems to be an uncommon spring migrant.

021. Puffinus lherminieri. Audubon's Shearwater. Seguro-mizunagidori.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: One was seen on 25 March 1986 near the Kamiyama Is. by McWhirter. The BL has a record for Ishigaki.

Family HYDROBATIDAE
022. Oceanodroma leucorhoa. Leach's Storm-petrel. Koshijiro-umitsubame.
Status: Straggler?
Record: After a typhoon, one was seen over Awase Heights, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa on 13 October 1980 by McWhirter. Identification guides indicated this species (e.g. Harrison 1983, Naveen 1982), but confusion with Madeiran Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro was possible (see 024). There are no Ryukyu records in the BL.

023. Oceanodroma monorhis. Swinhoe's Storm-petrel. Himekuro-umitsubame.
Status: Straggler or Rare migrant.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa and Ishigaki in the BL.

024. Oceanodroma castro. Madeiran Storm-petrel. Kuro-koshijiro-umitsubame.
Status: Straggler.
Record: In October 1980, after a typhoon, one was captred in Naha-shi (Okinawa-times, 16 October). There are no Ryukyu records in the BL.

025. Oceanodroma matsudairae. Matsudaira's Storm-petrel. Koro-umitsubame.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was captured by a fisherman on 3 November 1979 in the Yaeyama Is. (YL). The BL has no Ryukyu records.

Order PELECANIFORMES
Family PHAETHONTIDAE
026. Phaethon rubricauda. Red-tailed Tropicbird. Akao-nettaicho.
Status: Straggler and uncommon summer visitor in Yaeyama.
Record: The OL notes it for Nakanougan I. with no other information. Kohno & Shoyama (1982) consider the bird common on Nakanougan-jima from June to September, and Kohno and others (1986) recorded 2-8 birds in every year during 1975 to 1984 there. NWBO recorded the bird from Kita- and Minami-daito The BL has no Ryukyu records and labels the species as a straggler to Japan. There is a photograph in WBO, NWBO and CD.

027. Phaethon lepturus. White-tailed Tropicbird. Shirao-nettaicho.
Status: Straggler and uncommon migrant in Yaeyama.
Record: Kohno & Shoyama (1982) regard the species as regular but uncommon at Nakanougan-jima from June to September. One was seen near Iriomote on 23 July 1975 (YL). A skeleton was found near Yagaji, Nago-shi, Okinawa by Toru Mano and Kiyoaki Ozaki on 20 July 1985. The BL cites one old record from "Ryukyus", and considers the species a straggler to Japan.

Family PELECANIDAE
028. Pelecanus crispus. Dalmatian Pelican. Haiiro-perikan.
Status: Straggler.
Record: An old record for Ishigaki is on the BL.

029. Pelecanus onacrotalus. Eastern White Pelican. Momoiro-perikan.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One wild and wary bird was seen on Ishigaki on 26 March 1979, and on Iriomote on 17 April 1979 (YL). On 1983, one was found at Tokasiki-jima on 19 July, then it moved to Kowan, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa on 21-24 July. The bird was doubtfully an escapee, but no escape record of the caged bird near Okinawa exists. WBO and CD contains a picture. This species is not on the BL.

Family SULIDAE
030. Sula leucogaster. Brown Booby. Katsuodori.
Status: Uncommon migrant and breeds on S. Ryukyus.
Record: One was probably seen by Ed LeGrand on 16 December 1978 at Cape Zampa-misaki, Yomitan-son, Okinawa. Two occurred on Okinawa during January 1985. Isamu Matayoshi photographed one at Aja, Naha-shi and Kaneda caught another on film at Nishizaki, Itoman. McWhirter saw an adult at Kadena Air Base on 14 September 1985. Iozawa recorded the bird in March from the coast of Yonaguni. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded one bird from Kita-daito in 1989. Takehara (1993) recorded one bird from Hateruma on January 1993. The BL recorded from Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hanarejima, Nakanouganjima, Senkaku Is., Minami-daito and Oki-daito; winter sightings in Japan may be unusual.

031. Sula dactylatra. Blue-faced Booby. Aotsura-katsuodori.
Status: Uncommon visitor on Yaeyama.
Record: Kohno & Shoyama (1982) regard the species as uncommon on Nakanougan-jima from June to October. BOJ says it is an uncommon breeder on the Senkaku Is. The BL cites only Nakanougan-jima for the prefecture and lists the booby as a straggler to Japan.

032. Sula sula. Red-footed Booby. Akaashi-katsuodori.
Status: Uncommon visitor on Yaeyama.
Record: The species is added for "S. Ryukyu" in the ABL. Kohno & Shoyama (1982) found the bird breeds regularly on Nakanougan-jima. This is a new nesting site for the booby, and the first in the Ryukyu Is. One bird was captured on Henoko, Nago-shi, Okinawa on August 1987 (Okinawa-times, 15 August).

Family PHALACROCORACIDAE
033. Phalocrocorax carbo. Common Cormorant. Kawa-u.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: During 1980-1986, there have been at least five winter records on Okinawa since 2 January 1982 (M. Kaneshiro, Yamashiro, Takashi Nagamine). The last record for these years was a flock which wintered at Yone, Tomigusuku-son in 1985-86. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito. These are new, not unexpected, sites in the prefecture. There are records on Miyako, Iriomote, Yonaguni and Minami-daito in the BL.

034. Phalocrocorax filamentosus. Temminck's Cormorant. Umi-u.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: One or more were found on 11 November 1978 (YL), Ikehara (1983) recorded on Yonaguni with no information, and one was seen on Tokashiki on 5 November 1985 (McWhirter). Kugai (1995) recorded the bird from Ikema. Takehara photographed the bird on December 1990 in Kita-daito (CD). These are new sites in the prefecture. There are records on Okinawa and Kuro-shima in the BL.

Family FREGATIDAE
035. Fregata minor. Greater Frigatebird. Oh-gunkandori.
Status: Straggler.
Record: George Beringer (1976) saw one, after a typhoon, on 3 September 1972 near Oku, Kunigami-son, Okinawa. Another was seen in August in the late 1970's near Tsuken-jima by the Misato H.S. Bird Watching Club. The YL has a record in September 1976 near Ishigaki. An immature probably of this species was seen on 17-18 December 1986, near Nerome, Ohgimi-son, Okinawa by Hanawa, Hiroshi Ikenaga and others. This may be the only winter record from Japan. One was recorded on Nakanougan on 6-9 September 1984 (Kohno and others 1986) and one was recorded on Agarihenna-misaki, Miyako on September 1990 (Okinawa-times, 29 September). Iozawa saw one adult female on 10 March 1989 on Agari-zaki of Yonaguni. The BL has no Ryukyu records.

036. Fregata ariel. Lesser Frigatebird. Ko-gunkandori.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: There are at least seven records from Okinawa during 1980 to 1986, occurring in April, June, September, and October. There is a photo in WBO, NBOW and CD. The ML has the bird as uncommon in May, September, and October. The YL has two records each for Ishigaki and Iriomote; Kohno & Shoyama (1982) regard it as uncommon near W. Iriomote and Nakanougan-jima from June to October. Most of these records are not after typhoons. The BL cites only Minami-daito for the prefecture. There are winter records on the YL; 3 January 1977 at Iriomote and 30 January to 26 February 1982 at Ishigaki These may be the only winter records from Japan.

Order CICONIIFORMES
Family AREIDAE
037. Botaurus stellaris. Common Bittern. Sankano-goi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: One was seen on 4 May 1984 by Ikenaga on Iheya-jima. On Okinawa, one was captured on November 1983 on Miyazato, Nago-shi Okinawa by Tetsuo Tomori; the specimen is in Motobu Museum. During 30 January to 11 February 1987, one was seen on Gushi, Naha-shi by Higa, Ikenaga and others. One was photographed by Higa (NWBO, CD), on 9 February 1988, on Kijoka, Ohgimi-son. These are new prefecture sites. The BL listed Miyako, Irabu, Ishigaki and Yonaguni for the prefecture.

038. Ixobrychus sinensis. Chinese Little-bittern. Yoshi-goi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: One or more were seen on Iriomote on 29 September 1976 and 1 November 1980 (YL). The ML lists it as an uncommon resident, and Kugai (1995) recorded the bird from Ikema. Iozawa recorded one female on Tabaru River, Yonaguni on March 1993. These are new prefecture sites. The BL includes Okinawa, Ishigaki and Daito Is. with no winter records for Japan.

039. Ixobrychus eurhythmus. Schrenck's Little-bittern. Oh-yoshigoi.
Status: Rare migrant and winter visitor.
Record: One was seen on 14 November 1976 on Iriomote (YL). The ML has it as uncommon from November to March. McWhirter saw two on Okinawa, one at Awase, Okinawa-shi on 29 May 1981 and one near Akano, Gushikawa-shi on 13 October 1981. These are new prefecture sites; the Miyako sightings may be the first winter records for Japan. There are records on Ishigaki and Minami-daito in the BL.

040. Ixobrychus cinnamomeus. Cinnamon Bittern. Ryukyu-yoshigoi.
Status: Common resident.
Record: One was seen on 24 April 1982 on Aguni-jima by Kaneda. McWhirter observed one on Tokashiki on 5 November 1985. These are new sites for the prefecture. Recorded on Okinawa, Yagaji, Miyako, Irabu, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Yonaguni, Kita-daito and Minami-daito in the BL.

041. Gorsakius goisagi. Japanese Night-heron. Mizo-goi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa (NWBO, CD), Miyako and Ishigaki in the BL. One was captured on Ie on April 1990 (Takehara & Harato 1992). Shoyama recorded one captured bird from Hateruma on 18 October 1993.

042. Gorsakius melanolophus. Malay Night-heron. Zuguro-mizogoi.
Status: Resident on Yaeyama.
Record: The ML has records on Miyako from October through March; a new prefecture site. These records may represent some post-breeding movement away from Yaeyama. Ishigaki, Iriomote and Kuro-shima are recorded on BL. Iozawa banded one adult on 20 March 1993 on Yonaguni.

043. Nycticorax nycticorax. Night Heron. Goi-sagi.
Status: Winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni in the BL. Kaneda found a dead body on 3 February 1984 on Iheya-jima. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported the bird from Minami-daito, and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded it from Kita-daito. These are new sites for prefecture.

044. Butorides striatus. Green-backed Heron. Sasa-goi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL records the bird from Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni and Daito Is. Ikenaga observed one bird on Iheya on 4 May 1984, and McWhirter saw one on Tokashiki on 8 October 1985. Okinawa may be the most northern wintering site in Japan.

045. Ardeola bacchus, Chinese Pond-heron. Akagashira-sagi.
Status: Uncommon spring migrant and winter visitor.
Record: During 1980-1987, there are at least 11 sets of records for birds on Okinawa the first being on 16 November 1980 at Chibana, Okinawa-shi (Nagamine, M. Kaneshiro, others). Five of the above record sets are from winter with birds staying at one site for up to four months at a time. One was seen by McWhirter on Kijoka, Ohgimi-son on 8 May 1987. One bird was seen on Tokashiki by McWhirter on 3 June 1986. Takehara photographed a summer plumaged bird on Ie on 2 May 1990 (NWBO, CD). Yoshimi (1992) photographed a winter plumaged bird on Irabu on 10 October 1986. These are new prefecture sites; recorded on Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni in the BL. Niikura & Nakamura (1987) reported the present status of the heron in Japan.

046. Bulbulcus ibis. Cattle Egret. Ama-sagi.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records for Japan. Winter flocks of 30-90 birds are not uncommon at several sites on Okinawa I. The ML has no winter records, but the YL indicates the species is regular in winter. There are new site records from small islands near Okinawa I., on Iheya (by Kaneda on 3-5 February 1984), Aguni (by Kaneda on 24 April 1982), Tonaki (by Ikenaga on 10 October 1986), Tokashiki (by McWhirter on 8 October 1985) and Aka (by McWhirter on 13 May 1985). Kenji Kedashiro observed more than 50 birds in Kita-daito on 15-18 May 1986 (also in Miyagi & Takehara 1992). These are new sites for the prefecture. Recorded on Okinawa, Kume, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatoma, Kohama, Yonaguni and Minami-daito in the BL.

047. Casmerodius albus. Great Egret. Dai-sagi.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kuro and Yonaguni in the BL. Kaneda recorded from Iheya on 23 November 1984, Ikenaga observed two in 10 October 1986, McWhirter saw on Tokashiki on 29 April 1986, Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported the bird from Minami-daito and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded from Kita-daito. These are new prefecture sites.

048. Mesophoyx intermedia. Intermediate Egret. Chu-sagi.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no winter records for Japan, but groups of 1-8 birds have been noted at 12 sites on Okinawa I. in winter (McWhirter), and the egret winters on Miyako (ML) and the Yaeyama Is. as well (YL). Kaneda recorded the bird from Iheya on 3-5 February 1984, McWhirter observed on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985 and Ikenaga saw one in Kita-daito on 3 March (also in Miyagi & Takehara 1992). Recorded on Okinawa, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni and Minami-daito in the BL.

049. Egretta garzetta. Little Egret. Ko-sagi.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama and Yonaguni in the BL. Kaneda recorded the bird from Iheya on 3-5 February 1984, McWhirter observed it on Tokashiki on 8 October 1985, Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito, and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito; new prefecture sites.

050. Egretta eulophotes. Chinese Egret. Kara-shirasagi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: There are three unconfirmed records from Okinawa I. (OL, Ikehara 1984, Katsuhiko Tamashiro). Yoshimi (1992) photographed one summer plumaged bird on 15 April on Senaga near Yone, Naha-shi, Okinawa. One on 3 January 1980 at Ishigaki was reported in Yacho 404, and the YL has five additional records for Ishigaki plus two for Iriomote. They range from November to April. A 19 March 1981 sighting for Ishigaki was written up by Fujinami (1982). Iozawa photographed four summer plumaged birds on 10 April 1991 on Hikawa-hama, Yonaguni. The BL has no prefecture records for this rare egret.

051. Egretta sacra. Eastern Reef-heron. Kuro-sagi.
Status: Common resident (both White morph and Dark morph).
Record: Recorded on all Ryukyus in the BL.

052. Ardea cinerea. Grey Heron. Ao-sagi.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: Kedashiro observed one bird on 15-18 May 1986 on Kita-daito (also in Miyagi & Takehara 1992), and Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported the bird from Minami-daito. Kaneda observed the bird on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984. These are new sites for prefecture. Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni in the BL.

053. Ardea purpurea. Purple Heron. Murasaki-sagi.
Status: Uncommon migrant and resident on Yaeyama.
Record: The BL has no Okinawa records, but the island is added on the ABL. There have been at least six records of 1-2 birds during 1981-1986, including one at Namizato, Kin-cho from 12 March to 31 October 1983. Single birds were seen on Tokashiki on 12 March, 29 April 1986 (Takehara, Ikenaga, others) and on Iheya on 4 May 1984 (Ikenaga). One bird was recorded on Kume (Takehara and others 1995c). Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito. These are new prefecture sites; recorded on Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama and Yonaguni in the BL.

Family CICONIIDAE
054. Ciconia boyciana. Oriental Stork. Kohnotori.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: One bird was recorded on Irabu on 28 December 1979 (ML), three birds were recorded on Kohama on 29 November 1981 to March 1982 (YL). Eleven birds were recorded on Yonaguni on 1993-1994 winter, and one bird remained there until July, when it was killed by a severe typhoon (Ezaki & Miyara 1995). One was recorded on December 1993 on Kume by Takehara and others (1994a). On Iriomote, Kenya Tange observed one at Urauchi on 27 February 1981 (Yacho 418), and two were observed on 21 February 1994 by Shoyama. One was observed on 27 December 1992 on Hatoma by Shoyama. One was stayed on Kume during December 1993 to June 1994 (Okinawa-times, 4 July 1994). These are new prefecture sites; recorded on Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki in the BL.

055. Ciconia nigra. Black Stork. Nabe-koh.
Status: Straggler.
Record: On Okinawa, Kosei Gushiken possibly saw one in 1974. An immature was seen flying by Namizato, Kin-cho on 24 November 1985 by Ikenaga, Kedashiro and others. This bird settled at Shioya, Gushikawa-shi from 20 December 1985 to 5 January 1986 where it was seen and photographed by many (WBO, NWBO, CD). Another was recorded on Tokashiki on 3 November 1987 by Katsuo Kaneshiro (Takehara and others 1995b). The BL has records on Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni (see Takara & Kuroda 1969).

Family THRESKIORNITHIDAE
056. Platalea leucorodia. Spoonbill. Hera-sagi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: Okinawa has had 1-2 wintering birds four times since 1975 (OL, WBO, others). At least one occurred on Yonaguni in November of 1976 and 1981 (YL, Yacho 369). One young bird was seen by Brazil and Mitsuru Hyakutake on 3-4 January 1983 on Ishigaki (Yacho 440). One or more were recorded from 10 December 1976 to January 1977, on Irabu (ML). Recently, one was seen by Takehara on 17 December 1995, on Shinto, Minami-daito. The BL contains one old reference for the "Ryukyus" reported by Sho (1918).

057. Platalea minor. Black-faced Spoonbill. Kurotsura-herasagi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has two records for Okinawa and Ishigaki. During 1977 to 1986, 1-2 birds have been seen by many in six winters, usually near Manko and/or Yone, Tomigusuku-son (WBO). The ML has one wintering record from 28 December 1979. On Ikema near Miyako, one was observed on 5 January 1980 (Kugai 1995) and another on 27 November 1993 by Iraha (Takehara 1994). One was seen and photographed on 5 March 1995 on Iriomote by Shoyama. These are new prefecture sites.

058. Nipponia nippon. Japanese Crested Ibis. Toki.
Status: Extinct.
Record: The BL has an old record on the Ryukyus, reported by Sho (1918).

059. Threskiornis meranocephalus. Black-headed Ibis. Kuro-toki.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was seen at Nakama River, Iriomote on 15 January 1987 by Shoyama and Takehara. Iozawa had an information for the bird on Yonaguni on March 1993 from a birdwatcher (uncertain record). The BL has an old record on Ryukyus (reported by Sho 1918), and another record on Ishigaki.

Order ANSERIFORMES
Family ANATIDAE
060. Nettapus coromandelianus. Cotton Pygmy-goose. Nankin-oshi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: A female was seen on Yonaguni on 22,23 March 1972 by Mitsuo Imai (Yacho 319, 364); a new species for Japan. The bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

061. Branta bernicula. Brant. Koku-gan.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: On Okinawa, one was seen and photographed by many (WBO) from September 1981 to 13 March 1982 at Nagahama, Yomitan-son, and another at Kitanashiro, Itoman-shi on December 1990. One was in Tokashiki for several weeks during March 1986 (K. Kaneshiro, others). The BL has no prefecture records; the bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

062. Anser anser. Greylag Goose. Haiiro-gan.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has records for Ishigaki and Yonaguni; the YL adds records for November l976 and 16 April 1979 on Yonaguni; Katsumori Kugai had a 28 April 1982 sighting on Miyako (WBO). Higa photographed one on Namizato, Kin-cho Okinawa on 23 December 1991 (NWBO, CD). Nine birds were recorded on Iriomote on 26 January 1988 (Shoyama 1993).

063. Anser albifrons. White-fronted Goose. Ma-gan.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One or more were seen on 28 December 1976 on Ishigaki (YL). Two adults and two young birds were seen on 28 November 1982 on Ikema by Kugai (1995). On Okinawa, seven flew over Sosu, Kunigami-son on 10 January 1981 (McWhirter, Jenny Burris). One stayed at Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi from 23 to 29 November 1985 (WBO). Two birds were photographed by Higa on Nishizaki, Itoman-shi on 6 December 1986 (NWBO). Takehara saw five birds on 12 December 1995 on Namizato, Kin-cho. Eight birds were photographed by Shoyama on 15 November 1987 on Iriomote. During March 1990, Iozawa saw four birds on Yonaguni. The BL has no Ryukyu records, but states that the goose winters south to Taiwan (see Wang and others 1991).

064. Anser fabilis. Bean Goose. Hishikui.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki in the BL. In Okinawa, one recent bird was recorded on 11 November on Tiima-gawa river near Mihara, Nago-shi by Kokushin Akamine (Takehara 1996). Kugai (1995) recorded one on Ikema on 14 January 1981. Six birds were seen and photographed on Iriomote during November 1995 to March 1996 by Shoyama.

065. Anser cygnoides. Swan Goose. Sakatsura-gan.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was at Namizato, Kin-cho, Okinawa from 23 November to at least 20 December 1983. It was seen and photographed by many (WBO). On Iriomote, four birds were photographed on 4 November 1989 by Shoyama, and three birds were recorded (NWBO) on October 1991. One was recorded by Iraha in Ikema on 31 December 1991 (Kugai 1995). These were new species for the prefecture. The bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

066. Cygnus cygnus. Whooper Swan. Oh-hakucho.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: Three birds were seen on 4 November 1992 on Nagahama-baru, Nago-shi, Okinawa (NWBO), and four birds were recorded on Ishigaki from 15 November 1976 to the spring of 1977, and a dead bird was found on Kohama on 26 November 1972 (YL). The BL has no records for Ryukyu. The bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

067. Cygnus columbianus. Whistling Swan. Ko-hakucho.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: Three were seen on 23 November 1976 in Yanagi Dam, Nago-shi, Okinawa (OL), another was found on Ishigaki in December 1976 (YL), and one was photographed on Izena on 2 November 1981 (Ryukyu-shinpo). Recently, one was recorded on 1 December 1993 in Makiminato, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa (Takehara 1994). This individual was given medical care by the staff of the Okinawa Zoo, but it died three days later. The specimen was collected by the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. Two were reported by Takehara (1994) on 6 December 1993 at Goeku Dam, Okinawa-shi. The BL has no records for Ryukyu. The bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

068. Dendrocygna javanica. Indian Whistling-duck. Ryukyu-gamo.
Status: Japanese population may be extinct.
Record: On the BL, there are records on Okinawa, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Kuro-shima, but no recent record. The last observation recorded may two birds on Kuro-shima in 1963 by Hajime Shu (Takara & Kuroda 1969). Abe (1975) reported an uncertain record from a paddy in Iriomote on June 1973.

069. Tadorna ferruginea. Ruddy Shelduck. Aka-tsukushigamo.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has a record for Ishigaki; there has been three there since the BL was published, the latest in January 1984. One bird was recorded on Yonaguni on 1 November 1976 (Yacho 369). A pair visited Irabu on 11 February 1981 (ML). On Okinawa, a female was seen and photographed on Kohagura/Manko, Naha-shi and Ujidomari, Ginowan-shi, on 7 December 1984 to 17 April 1985 (Higa, WBO), two birds were recorded on 18 November 1988 in Janagusuku, Ohgimi-son, by Masakazu Kudaka (Yacho 521, Takehara 1993b), and four birds were recorded on 10 January 1993 in Kogachi, Nago-shi (Takehara 1993).

070. Tadorna tadorna. Common Shelduck. Tsukushi-gamo.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: One was observed on 30 January 1978 on Ikema (ML, Kugai 1995). One was seen and photographed on 28 October 1990 on Iriomote by Shoyama. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has records on Okinawa and Ishigaki. Noboru Yoshizato recorded eleven birds in Shioya, Gushikawa-shi, Okinawa on 1 January 1994 (Takehara 1994), probably the maximum record for the prefecture.

071. Aix galericulata. Mandarin Duck. Oshidori.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor and breeding resident on northern Okinawa.
Record: The YL has a record for Ishigaki on 15 January 1981. The ML says the duck is uncommon during November and December. Kaneda and others observed the bird on Iheya on 23-25 November 1984. Shoyama recorded one male and three females on 11 March 1984 on Iriomote. Iozawa observed a pair at Kubura-mito Pond, Yonaguni on March 1994. These are new prefecture sites. The BL has records on Okinawa and Minami-daito.

072. Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. Ma-gamo.
Status: Winter visitor and local resident on Daito Is.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni and Minami-daito in the BL. Ikenaga observed 5 male and 3 female on Kita-daito on 2 March 1984 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992). Ikenaga saw a pair in Iheya on 4 May 1984, McWhirter saw on Tokashiki on 14 October 1986. Populations in Daito Is. may be the southernmost relicted breeder in Japan.

073. Anas poecilorhyncha. Spotbilled Duck. Karu-gamo.
Status: Resident and common winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Iheya, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni Kohama and Daito Is. in the BL. Ikenaga observed the bird with chicks on Iheya on 4 May 1984. McWhirter saw on Tokashiki on 7 January 1986. On Kume, Takehara and others (1995) recorded three birds near Maja-gawa river. These are new sites for the prefecture with a breeding record.

074. Anas luzonica. Pilippine Duck. Akanodo-karugamo.
Status: Straggler.
Record: No record on the BL. Two birds were observed on Kubura-mito Pond, Yonaguni on 14 March 1987 by Yasuyuki Kawasumi (Yacho 497, Strix 6 1987) and 6 April 1987 by Hiroyuki Kato (Strix 6 1987). The bird was also recorded in Taiwan in 1985-1988 (Wang and others 1991).

075. Anas crecca. Teal. Ko-gamo. 075-1. Subsp. A. c. crecca. Teal. Ko-gamo.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni and Daito Is. in the BL. Kaneda recorded the bird on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984, McWhirter saw on Tokashiki on 7 January 1986; new sites for prefecture.

075-2. Subsp. A. c. carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. Amerika-kogamo.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: A male was present at the Manko, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa from 17 January to 22 February 1981 (McWhirter, Burris). The subspecies was new for the prefecture.

076. Anas formosa. Baikal Teal. Tomoe-gamo.
Status: Rare migrant or winter visitor.
Record: The ML lists it for October and November. Okinawa has been visited three times: a male at Kin Dam, Kin-cho on 8 November 1981 (McWhirter, Burris), two females at Namizato, Kin-cho from 30 September to 16 October 1983 (Ikenaga, McWhirter), and a female during the winter of 1983 at Manko Tomigusuku-son (Higa). There are no prior prefecture records.

077. Anas falcata. Falcated Teal. Yoshi-gamo.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no prefecture records. Beringer (1976) had a pair at the Manko, Tomigusuku-son, Okinawa, and during 1981 to 1986, there has been at least seven sets of records November to April. A flock of up to 11 wintered near Yagaji, Nago-shi in 1983-84 (Ikenaga, others), Tamotsu Nakamura (1990) has a photograph with a flying male bird in Nago-shi on 1985, and a flock of 14 wintered on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho in 1983-84 (McWhirter, Larry Tolman). The ML has it as uncommon in winter; the YL notes it only for Yonaguni. On Yonaguni, Otsuka (1978) saw a pair in March 1978, and Iozawa observed one female on March 1994 at Kubura-mito. Shoyama recorded two males and one female on 6 March 1984 on Iriomote.

078. Anas strepera. Gadwall. Oka-yoshigamo.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: This duck is on the OL, and during 1981 to 1986, there has been at least nine sets of sightings of 1-6 birds at six sites during migration and winter. The YL notes it for Ishigaki on 21 January 1979 and 26 March 1982. Kaneda and others observed the bird in Iheya on 23-25 November 1984. Shoyama observed four males and three females on 6 February on Ishigaki. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito. Listed only for Yonaguni on the BL, these are new, not unexpected, prefecture sites.

079. Anas penelope. Wigeon. Hidori-gamo.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: On the BL, it was recorded only on the S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Yonaguni, Kohama). After Teal, this is one of the most common wintering ducks in the prefecture (Okinawa, Miyako etc.). Kaneda and others observed the bird in Iheya on 23-25 November 1984. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the bird from Kita-daito.

080. Anas americana. American Wigeon. Amerika-hidori.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: A male was seen at Kin Dam, Kin-cho, Okinawa on 11, 12 October 1981 (McWhirter, Marianne Snook). Another male, and maybe a female were present at Yagaji, Nago-shi, Okinawa from 27 November 1983 to 25 February 1984 (Ikenaga, others). The BL has no Ryukyu records, but the bird was recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

081. Anas acuta, Pintail. Onaga-gamo.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: It was recorded only on the S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Yonaguni, Kohama) and Daito Is. on the BL. Like the Wigeon, it is a common wintering duck on Okinawa. Kaneda and others observed the bird in Iheya on 23-25 November 1984.

082. Anas querquedula. Garganey. Shimaaji.
Status: Uncommon migrant and rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL cites records for the S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Yonaguni, Kohama). Since 1970 (Beringer 1976), there have been numerous sightings of up to 7 birds on Okinawa during winter and migration. See WBO. It is rare in winter. Three were observed on 26 February 1989 on Ishigaki by Shoyama.

083. Anas clypeata. Shoveler. Hashibiro-gamo.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: The YL regards it as regular in winter. Iozawa observed many birds in winter since 1989 on Yonaguni. There are no Yaeyama records on the BL (Okinawa, Miyako and Minami-daito).

084. Netta rufina. Red-crested Pochard. Akahashi-hajiro.
Status: Straggler.
Record: On the BL, Three males were collected in February 1967 on Miyako.

085. Aythya ferina. Pochard. Hoshi-hajiro.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: The duck is added for Okinawa on the ABL. This may refer to a photo taken by Beringer (1976) at the Manko, Tomigusuku-son on 11 November 1970. The species is on the OL with no data. McWhirter and Tolman saw a male on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho on 12 January 1984. Two to four birds were at the Manko, Tomigusuku-son from 25 November 1984 to at least 1 February 1985 (WBO). The ML has it as uncommon in October and November. It is on the YL from Ishigaki for 31 October 1976, 12 November 1977, and 3 February 1979. Iozawa observed several birds every winter since 1989 on Yonaguni. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito. The BL has no Ryukyu records, but it winters to Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

086. Aythya valisineria. Canvasback. Oh-hoshihajiro.
Status: Straggler.
Record: A female was seen at the Manko in Naha, Okinawa on 6 February 1983 by Kaneda, and later on 20 February by McWhirter, Ben King and Jane Robinson. This was the first prefecture record. There was an unusual number of Canvasback seen in Japan that winter (Robinson, pers. comm.). The bird was also recorded in Taiwan on 1980 and 1987 (Wang and others 1991).

087. Aythya baeri. Bear's Pochard. Aka-hajiro.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Iozawa saw one female on Kubura-mito, Yonaguni on 15 March 1994, and one was seen and photographed on 21 February 1996 by Shoyama. These are new records for prefecture.

088. Aythya fuligula. Tufted Duck. Kinkuro-hajiro.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni and Daito Is. in the BL. Ikenaga and Numaguchi observed one in Iheya on 2 November 1985.

089. Aythya marila. Greater Scaup. Suzu-gamo.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki in the BL. Iozawa observed a few birds every winter since 1989 on Yonaguni; a new prefecture site.

090. Aythya affinis. Lesser Scaup. Ko-suzugamo.
Status: Straggler.
Record: A male was clearly seen at close range on 14 December 1983 near Kin Dam, Kin-cho, Okinawa by McWhirter. At the time, there were no records for Japan. (see Appendix).

091. Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. Shinori-gamo.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Zamami in BL.

092. Bucephala clangula. Goldeneye. Hoojiro-gamo.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: One female was observed by Higa on Arakawa, Higashi-son, Okinawa on 2 December 1987. The BL has no prefecture records. The bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

093. Mergellus albellus. Smew. Miko-aisa.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: One or more were seen on 21 January 1979 on Ishigaki (YL). The BL has no prefecture records.

094. Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. Umi-aisa.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa on the BL. One female was photographed on January 1985 on Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa by Kaneda (WBO).

095. Mergus merganser. Common Merganser. Kawa-aisa.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa on the BL. Three female were photografed on March 1994 on Aha Dam, Kunigami-son, Okinawa by S. Agarie (CD).

096. Mergus squamatus. Chinese Merganser. Kourai-aisa.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Not recorded on the BL. After the first record for Japan (Ito 1988), there has been a few records in every winter, mainly from western Japan. One male was observed during December 1995 to February 1996 at Urauchi River, west Iriomote by Toshio Kuniyasu and others; first record for the prefecture. The bird was also recorded in Taiwan (Wang and others 1991).

Order FALCONIFORMES
Family ACCIPITRIDAE
097. Pandion haliaetus. Osprey. Misago.
Status: Winter visitor, rare resident?
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Zamami, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Daito Is. in the BL. Kaneda recorded the bird in Iheya on 3-5 February 1984, Ikenaga observed one on Tonaki on 10 October 1986, and McWhirter saw one on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985. On Yonaguni, Iozawa observed a few birds every winter since 1989.

098. Pernis apivorus. Honey Buzzard. Hachi-kuma.
Status: Uncommon autumnal migrant.
Record: The BL has no records for the Ryukyus. The ML has a record for November, no year given. Kaneda photographed one on 16 October 1982 on Zamami (WBO, CD). During 1980 to 1986, there are at least four records for Okinawa; one over Namizato, Kin-cho on 6 April 1984 (McWhiter), one over Okuni-rindo, Kunigami-son on 21 September 1985 (Kenji Numaguchi), two near Esu, Ohgimi-son on 2 October 1985 (Ikenaga), and one sitting near Makiminato, Urasoe-shi on 19 October 1985 (McWhirter, Walter & Anita Cressler). These data seem to indicate some migration through the prefecture.

099. Milvus migrans. Black Kite. Tobi.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: BL has records on Okinawa and Miyako. On Yonaguni, singles were seen on 10 March 1973 (Yacho 364, YL), and one was observed near Agari-zaki on 24 January 1989 by Iozawa. On Iriomote, the bird was recorded on 6 December 1976 and 6-8 February 1981, Shoyama observed one bird on 22 January 1989 and three birds on 2 February 1995 on Iriomote. These are new, not unexpected, sites for the prefecture. Osawa & Osawa (1995) recorded one bird on Minami-daito during December 1994 to January 1995.

100. Elanus caerulrus. Black-sholdered Kite. Kataguro-tobi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Not in the BL. Shinji Koyama and others photographed and video recorded one bird on 6 January 1995 on Ishigaki (Birder 98, 1995). The subspecies of the bird was E. c. hypoleucus, which is distributed in the Philippines (Koyama, pers. com.). This is the first record for Japan.

101. Haliaeetus albicilla. White-tailed Eagle. Ojiro-washi.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: One was seen on 21 November 1978 at Iriomote (YL, Takara 1979, Kohno & Shoyama 1982); a new site for the prefecture. The BL has records on Okinawa and Miyako. Takehara (1994) reported recent records for the prefecture.

102. Haliaeetus pelagicus. Steller's Sea-eagle. Oh-washi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: On the BL, there is a record from Okinawa.

103. Accipiter gentilis. Goshawk. Oh-taka.
Status: Uncommon autumnal migrant or winter visitor.
Record: The BL cites a prefecture record from Ishigaki. The YL has records for Ishigaki on 19 December 1976 and for Iriomote on 12 February 1980 and 13 February 1984. The last was also in Kohno & Shoyama (1982). The ML has the hawk as uncommon October through March. An immature was reported from northern Okinawa on 23 November 1982 by Atsuhiro Shimabukuro and others. The record is hypothetical. An adult was sighted on 5 March 1986 on Benoki-rindo, Kunigami-son, Okinawa by Hanawa and Yoshikazu Hayama. On Yonaguni, Iozawa observed a few birds every winter since 1989. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito on April 1993.

104. Accipiter soloensis. Chinese Sparrow Hawk. Akahara-daka.
Status: Common autumnal migrant.
Record: The BL regards it as a straggler to Okinawa, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni. However, recent work, especially by Akira Yamamoto (Yacho 413, 423) and Kugai on Miyako, Ikenaga, Numaguchi and Kaneda on Okinawa (Ikenaga 1991) has shown the hawk to be a regular migrant through the prefecture, with thousands of birds being seen on the prefecture. The bird was also recorded on Kume on 27 September 1983 by Kaneda, and another reported by Kugai and others (1995). There are many records of the bird during middle September to early October from Tokashiki (Takehara and others 1995), Tonaki (11 October 1986 by Ikenaga), Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni (Kenichi Shimabukuro and Shoyama pers. com.). Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded three birds on October 1991 on Kita-daito. An adult was observed by McWhirter on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho, Okinawa on 28 January 1986. This may be the only winter record from Japan.

105. Accipiter gularis. Japanese Lesser Sparrow Hawk. Tsumi.
Status: Uncommon resident.
Record: The BL cites records on Okinawa (obs.), Ishigaki, Iriomote and Minami-daito in the prefecture for subsp. A. g. gularis, and records on S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote) for another breeding subsp. A. g. iwasakii. On Okinawa, a breeding record was given by Higa and Ikenaga on Gesashi, Higashi-son, Okinawa from June to July 1983, subsp. uncertain. McWhirter observed the bird in Tokashiki on 5 November 1985. Iozawa has observed a few birds every winter on Yonaguni since 1989. Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded the birds from Kita-daito.

106. Accipiter nisus. Sparrow Hawk. Hai-taka.
Status: Uncommon autumnal migrant or winter visitor.
Record: The BL cites only the Daito Is. for the prefecture, but during 1980 to 1986, there were at least eight good observations of the hawk on Okinawa I., the ML has the bird as uncommon September to December, the YL has it as possibly wintering, and Kohno & Shoyama (1982) indicate it is an uncommon transient in W. Iriomote. Ikenaga and Numaguchi observed one in Iheya on 2 November 1985. Iozawa has observed a few birds every winter on Yonaguni since 1989. The hawk seems to be an uncommon but regular autumn migrant, rare otherwise.

107. Buteo lagopus. Rough-legged Buzzard. Keashi-nosuri.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: One bird was seen on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984 by Kaneda, a new site for the prefecture; recorded on Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki in the BL.

108. Buteo hemilasius. Upland Buzzard. Oh-nosuri.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: One was present near Katsuren Castle, Katsuren-cho, Okinawa from 16-21 March 1981 (Burris, McWhirter, others). Another was reported in good detail from Cape Hedo-misaki, Kunigami-son, Okinawa on 28 April 1983 (James Baird, others). One bird was photographed by Higa on Ameku, Naha-shi, Okinawa on 9 February 1989 (NWBO, CD). Iozawa observed a few birds in winter on Yonaguni since 1989. This hawk is rare in Japan and the BL has no prefecture records.

109. Buteo buteo. Buzzard. Nosuri.
Status: Rare winter visitor and local breeding record on Daito Is.
Record: There are at least four records for Okinawa I., one was seen on 31 December 1984 by Ikenaga near Terukubi-rindo, Kunigami-son, one was seen on 31 March 1985 near Cape Hedo-misaki, Kunigami-son by Kaneda, one was seen on 1 August 1987 on Benoki-rindo, Kunigami-son, and one was photographed by Kamenobu Ohshiro, on Toyohara, Itoman-shi on March 1993 (NWBO). The hawk is regarded as uncommon in April, November, and December on the ML. Shoyama observed one bird on 28 January 1993 on Iriomote. These are new prefecture sites; the BL sites Ishigaki, Yonaguni and Daito Is. (subsp. oshiroi).

110. Butastur indicus. Grey-faced Buzzard-eagle. Sashiba.
Status: Common migrant and winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, etc.), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Kuro, Yonaguni), Daito Is. (Minami-daito) in the BL. Ikenaga observed two birds in Kita-daito on 3 March 1982 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992). Kaneda recorded the bird in Zamami on 16 October 1982, and McWhirter observed on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985.

111. Spizaetus nipalensis. Hodgson's Hawk Eagle. Kumataka.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was seen by Otsuka on Iriomote during 1973 (Yacho 364, YL), the only record for the prefecture.

112. Aquila clanga. Spotted Eagle. Karafuto-washi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was observed by Hideo Shimura during September 1984 at Irabu. Iozawa recorded one bird on 16 February 1990 on Yonaguni. The BL has a record for this straggler to Japan from Okinawa, on 1968.

113. Aquila heliaca. Imperial Eagle. Katashiro-washi.
Status: Straggler or rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has a record from Iriomote during 1969. The YL gives 13 August 1967 as the date (see Takara & Kuroda 1969). One juvenile bird was observed from November 1988 to February 1989 on Ishigaki by Shoyama.

114. Aegypius monachus. Black Vulture. Kuro-hagewashi.
Status: Straggler.
Record: The BL has records from Miyako and Iriomote (see Takara & Kuroda 1969).

115. Spilornis cheela. Crested Serpent Eagle. Kanmuri-washi.
Status: Resident in Yaeyama.
Record: The BL has records from the S. Ryukyus (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni). ML recorded it for Tarama I. as a autumnal straggler.

116. Circus cyaneus. Hen Harrier. Haiiro-chuhi.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has records for Ishigaki and Iriomote. The ML has a record for 23 November 1979. A female was seen on 6 December 1981 near Shioya, Gushikawa-shi, Okinawa by M. Kaneshiro, Tetsuji Matayoshi, and others. One was seen and photographed by Ikenaga and Numaguchi on Iheya on 2 November 1985. During January to March 1990, one female was recorded on Yonaguni by Iozawa. These records indicate a small but regular movement through the prefecture.

117. Circus melanoleucos. Pied Harrier. Madara-chuhi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: Two have been photographed on Ishigaki, one on 7 April 1982 by Koyama (Yacho 430, YL.) and one on 1 May 1983 by Ikenaga (Yacho 444). An immature was closely watched on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985 by McWhirter and the Cresslers, and Kaneda captured its image there on 24 October 1985. On Iriomote, Kaoru Ishie photographed one male on 17 April 1984 (in Birder 7(3) 1993), Shoyama photographed one male on 6 April 1986, Yoshimi (1995) recorded one on 18 April 1986 at Hoshidate, on 21 April 1989 and 23 April 1993 at Sumiyoshi Pasture. The BL has no prefecture records.

118. Circus spilonotus. Eastern Marsh-harrier. Chuhi.
Status: Rare migrant.
Record: Two have been seen on Okinawa one on 7 January near Expo-park, Motobu-cho by McWhirter and another on 18 February 1985 at Namizato, Kin-cho by McWhirter and Sallee. Takehara photographed one on 29 April 1986 on Tokashiki. These are new prefecture sites; recorded on S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni) and Daito Is.(Minami-daito) in the BL.

Family FALCONIDAE
119. Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. Hayabusa.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: Recorded C. Ryukyus (Okinawa), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote), Daito Is. (Minami-daito) in the BL. On Yonaguni, Iozawa has observed a few birds in winter since 1989.

120. Falco subbuteo. Hobby. Chigo-hayabusa.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL has it only on Miyako for prefecture records, but there are at least five records during 1980 to 1986 for Okinawa. Single birds were seen on 12 January 1981 near Awase, Okinawa-shi (McWhirter), 13 September 1981, near Shioya, Gushikawa-shi (McWhirter, Burris, Naoto Teruya), 20 October 1984 and 15 September 1985 near Tano-dake, Nago-shi (Ikenaga), and 3 October 1985 at Esu, Ohgimi-son (Ikenaga). One was observed on 16 March 1994 on Kume (Kugai and others 1995). McWhirter observed one on Tokashiki on 27 March 1987. Shoyama photographed one bird on 28 November 1992 on Iriomote.

121. Falco columbarius. Merlin. Ko-chogenbo.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL has no Ryukyu records. The YL has one for Yonaguni with no date. The ML has it recorded for October and November. McWhirter has seen the falcon four times on Okinawa: one on 7 January 1982 and two on 2 January 1983 at Ishikawa Dam, Ishikawa-shi, one on 22 January 1983 near the old airport of Chatan-cho and one on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho on 2 February 1987. McWhirter and the Cresslers also saw a male on Tokashiki on 20 October 1985.

122. Falco naumanni. Lesser Kestrel. Hime-chogenbo.
Status: Straggler.
Record: This falcon is not on the BL, but there have been several recent records in Japan. On 26 March 1984, Takao Maeda and Atsuko Shimizu observed a female on Iriomote (Yacho 473).

123. Falco tinnunculus. Kestrel. Chogenbo.
Status: Common winter visitor.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatoma, Kuro and Yonaguni in the BL. Kaneda recorded the bird on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984, Ikenaga observed one on Tonaki on 10 October 1986, and McWhirter saw one on Tokashiki on 5 November 1985. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported the bird from Minami-daito, and Miyagi & Takehara (1992) recorded it from Kita-daito. These are new prefecture sites.

Order GALLIFORMES
Family PHASIANIDAE
124. Coturnix japonica. Japanese Quail. Uzura.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: Single free-flying birds were seen on Okinawa on 28 December 1983 on Kadena Air Base, Kadena-cho by McWhirter, and during December 1984 near Ishikawa-shi by I. Matayoshi. There is a possibility that these were feral birds. Iozawa observed a few birds in the winters of 1989, 1990 and 1993 on Yonaguni. The BL has a record for Ishigaki.

125. Phasianus versicolor. Japanese Pheasant. Kiji.
Status: Locally resident (Introduced).
Record: The species was introduced on the Kita-daito (20 males and 40 females in May 1975) and Kurima near Miyako to control sugar cane pests (Takara 1982). It was also introduced to Tokashiki (K. Kaneshiro pers. comm.). There is a photo in WBO.

Order GRUIFORMES
Family TURNICIDAE 126. Turnix suscitator. Barred Bottonquail. Mifu-uzura.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Ie) and S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote Taketomi, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni). Kaneda recorded the bird from Iheya on 3-5 February 1984.

Family GRUIDAE 127. Grus grus. Common Crane. Kuro-zuru.
Status: Straggler.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa in the BL (see Takara & Kuroda 1969).

128. Grus monacha. Hooded Crane. Nabe-zuru.
Status: Straggler.
Record: No record in the BL for the prefecture. One bird was photographed on Namizato, Kin-cho, Okinawa, on 23 November 1992 by Higa (NBOW, CD). One adult was recorded on Nagura, Ishigaki on March 1994 (Okinawa-times and Ryukyu-shinpo, 27 March).

129. Grus vipio. White-naped Crane. Mana-zuru.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was found on Minami-daito during the winter of 1983-1984 (Ryukyu-shinpo, WBO). The BL has a record for Okinawa (see Takara & Kuroda 1969).

130. Grus leucogeranus. Siberian White Crane. Sodeguro-zuru.
Status: Straggler.
Record: The BL has a site record from Okinawa, captured in Yonagusuku-son on 12 November 1969 by Satoru Uejo and others (atn Yonashiro Junior High School).

Family RALLIDAE
131. Rallus aquaticus. Water Rail. Kuina.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The ML has the species as uncommon from October to March. This is a new site for the prefecture; The BL has sites from Okinawa and Ishigaki.

132. Gallirallus okinawae. Okinawa Rail. Yanbaru-kuina.
Status: Endangered resident on northern Okinawa.
Record: A new species, endemic to the forests of northern Okinawa, was described by Yamashina & Mano (1981). Recorded from the northern part of Okinawa only (Kunigami-son, Ohgimi-son, Higashi-son and few possibilities in Nago-shi and the Motobu peninsula).

133. Rallina eurizonoides. Banded Rail. Oh-kuina.
Status: Uncommon resident on Miyako and Yaeyama.
Record: The BL states that the rail occurs in Japan only in Yaeyama (Ishigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Kohama, Kuro, Yonaguni). The ML has it as an uncommon resident. Short (1973) reported two birds at Ada, Kunigami-son, Okinawa from 2-9 February 1972, but it remains a possibility of being an Okinawa Rail. The only recent certain records from the island are of several roosting birds found by Takehara on the Motobu Peninsula from August to October 1985 (Yacho 473, WBO).

134. Porzana pusilla. Baillon's Crake. Hime-kuina.
Status: Uncommon migrant.
Record: The BL cites records for Ie and Ishigaki. These were in 1935 and 1904, respectively (Hachisuka & Udagawa 1953). The ML has it for March and October. On Okinawa there are several observations of 1-7 birds at Namizato, Kin-cho from 24 October to 1 November 1981 (McWhirter, M. Kaneshiro, others), one at Namizato, Kin-cho on 15 September 1984 by Nakasone, and at least one from 6 to 30 October 1985 at Kijoka, Ohgimi-son (Kaneda, Takehara, others). Shoyama found a dead body on 16 October 1990 on Iriomote. The crake seems to be rare but regular.

135. Porzana fusca. Ruddy Crake. Hi-kuina.

135-1. Subsp. P. f. erythrothorax. Hi-kuina.
Status: Migrant or Winter visitor?
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Daito Is. in the BL for the prefecture.

135-2. Subsp. P. f. phaeopyga. Ryukyu Hi-kuina.
Status: Common resident.
Record: Recorded on Okinawa, Ishigaki, Yonaguni and Minami-daito in the BL for the prefecture. Ikenaga observed one on Iheya on 4 May 1984; a new site for the prefecture.

136. Coturnicops exquisitus. Swinhoe's Yellow Rail. Shima-kuina.
Status: Rare winter visitor.
Record: The BL notes two old records from the Ryukyus. One on 27 December 1895 was either from Okinawa or Amami (Hachisuka & Udagawa 1953). The ML regards the rail as uncommon October through March. It is certainly rare to nonexistent in the rest of the prefecture.

137. Amaurornis phoenicurus. White-breasted Waterhen. Shirohara-kuina.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has two records, one each from Kyushu and Honshu. The bird is a common breeding resident in Yaeyama (YL) and Okinawa (many observers, WBO). Curiously, Miyako has only one record (ML). On Yonaguni, Iozawa observed the bird as an uncommon winter visitor. There was a recent breeding record from Kyushu (Tanaka 1983) and sightings on Shikoku (Sawada 1983) and the Bonin Is. (Chiba 1985).

138. Gallinula chloropus. Common Gallinule. Ban.
Status: Common resident.
Record: The BL has sites from the C. Ryukyus (Okinawa, Ie), S. Ryukyus (Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama, Yonaguni) and Daito Is. (Minami-daito). Kaneda observed the bird on Iheya on 3-5 February 1984. Ikenaga saw it on Kita-daito on 3 March 1994 (also Miyagi & Takehara 1992).

139. Gallicrex cinerea. Watrecock. Tsuru-kuina.
Status: Uncommon migrant and locally resident.
Record: The BL has a scattering of records from the prefecture (Okinawa, Ishigaki and Kohama) and suggests the bird only wanders to Japan. The YL indicates it is resident in Yaeyama (Yamamoto, Yacho 423).

140. Fulica atra. Coot. Oh-ban.
Status: Uncommon winter visitor.
Record: It winters regularly in the prefecture in small numbers (YL, ML, OL, WBO). Shoyama observed one bird on 14 November 1982 on Iriomote. Kaneda and others observed the bird in Iheya on 23-25 November 1984. Osawa & Osawa (1995) reported it from Minami-daito. Its status for the prefecture is not clear on the BL; recorded on Okinawa and Yonaguni.

Family OTIDAE
141. Otis tarda. Great Bustard. Nogan.
Status: Straggler.
Record: One was at Hedo, Kunigami-son, Okinawa from 27 December 1967 to 15 January 1968 when it was shot (Takara 1979). A female was photographed on Isobe, Ishigaki on 3 March 1981 by Shigeya Suzuki (Yacho 417). These are the first prefecture records.

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Last modified: April 25, 1997.
Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp