Birding In Okinawa

With its year-round sub-tropical climate and diverse habitat (coastal, tidal flats, wetlands, fields and forests), Okinawa abounds with birds. In less than 3 weeks on the island, I ticked 60 species to include 14 life-birds (BTW, the Japanese word for bird is tori). In addition to the avifauna that lives and breeds on Okinawa throughout the year, many species pass through during the fall and spring migrations or winter on the island. Fall migrants passing through head to points south such as the Philippine Islands, Taiwan or Australia where they spend the winter. During the spring, migrant birds return north to breed in locations as diverse as mainland Japan, western Siberia, Korea or the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

Thanks to an email referral via the “Birding Pals” website, I have had the good fortune to make contact with and befriend an American in Okinawa who is an avid birder. To date, we have made three full-day birding excursions together. Dan has lived on island for over 20 years, knows the island and all of the birding hot spots like the back of his hand and is conversant in Japanese, a definite plus in getting around. He’s the manager of the Camp Courtney Marine Corp base commissary located on the other (Pacific) side of the island. He’s also a very well-rounded naturalist and bird photographer. You can check out his photos at: http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=56176.

Many birders come to Okinawa to seek out 3 species of birds found nowhere else in the world. The Okinawa Rail (discovered in 1981) & Pryer’s Woodpecker are endemic to Okinawa, while the Ryukyu Robin is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa is the largest island of this group). These birds reside in the northern Yambura region, which is covered with dense, jungle-like forest. On my first outing with Dan, we had excellent looks at the elusive Ryukyu Robin - a displaying male and his nearby object of affection partially hidden in some branches.

Ryukyu Robin (male)

We heard Pryer’s Woodpecker calling and drumming on trees but one never showed in the open. Fortunately, there will be more opportunities to visit this beautiful and unspoiled region of Okinawa and to look for these highly regarded birds.

Pryer's Woodpecker

Okinawa Rail

On our second outing, Dan & I headed south to a wetlands area to try for Black-faced Spoonbill, a highly endangered species with a population estimate of only 1,500 left in the wild. This species breeds in Korea where wetlands are disappearing at an alarming pace due to land reclamation. A handful of these migrant birds spend their winter on Okinawa. Luck was on our side that day as we observed several spoonbills feeding in a small estuary pool.

Black-faced Spoonbill

Here are some more pictures of my favorite birds that are common on Okinawa:

Japanese White-Eye

Light-vented Bulbul

Blue Rock Thrush

White Wagtail

Common Kingfisher

Except for my photos of the spoonbills, all other photos were downloaded from the internet.

Good birding!