This is a list of the bird species recorded in Japan. The avifauna of Japan include a total of 731 species, of which 19 are endemic, and 31 have been introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved 25 July 2022.
The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and non-endemic residents.
(A) Accidental – a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Japan (also called a vagrant) (E) Endemic – a species endemic to Japan (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Japan as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (A) Emperor goose, Anser canagicus (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Greylag goose, Anser anser (A) Swan goose, Anser cygnoides (A) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A) Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris Brant, Branta bernicla Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Crested shelduck, Tadorna cristata Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus (A) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata Eurasian wigeon, Marecca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Philippine duck, Anas luzonica (A) Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina (A) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (A) Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Scaly-sided merganser, Mergus squamatus (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta Copper pheasant, Phasianus soemmerringi (E) Green pheasant, Phasianus versicolor (E) Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I) Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica Chinese bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola thoracicus (I) Taiwan bamboo-partridge, Bambusicola sonorivox (I)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock dove, Columba livia (I) Stock dove, Columba oenas (A) Japanese wood-pigeon, Columba janthina Ryūkyū pigeon, Columba jouyi (E) (extinct) Bonin pigeon, Columba versicolor (E) (extinct) Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocta Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica (A) Asian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica White-bellied green-pigeon, Treron sieboldii Whistling green-pigeon, Treron formosae Black-chinned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus leclancheri (A)
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus (A)
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Great bustard, Otis tarda (A) Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (A)
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.
Lesser coucal, Centropus bengalensis (A) Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (A) Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus (A) Long-tailed koel, Urodynamis taitensis (A) Plaintive cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus (A) Large hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx sparverioides (A) Northern hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus (A) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Himalayan swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus House swift, Apus nipalensis
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Brown-cheeked rail, Rallus indicus Corn crake, Crex crex (A) Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata (A) Okinawa rail, Gallirallus okinawae (E) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus (Ex) Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca Band-bellied crake, Zapornia paykullii (A) Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A) Swinhoe's rail, Coturnicops exquisitus (A)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A) Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus (A) Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A) White-naped crane, Antigone vipio Common crane, Grus grus Hooded crane, Grus monacha Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus Pied stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus (A) Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultti Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Long-billed plover, Charadrius placidus Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A) Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly colored.
Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Bristle-thighed curlew Numenius tahitiensis (A) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A) Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis