Birds of Japan spotting and photographing wildlife Animal species across Japan, plus others. To date, over 600 bird species have been spotted and recorded in Japan. I update this page periodically when not in the field birding in Japan's wild nature, so please check back now and again to find new species listed. Thank you for visiting Happy Birding from Blain in Japan

The Red-Crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) Tancho as it is known in Japanese, stands at 150 to158 cm (4ft to 5 ft) tall weighing 8 to 11 kg (17 to 25) pounds with a large wingspan measuring 200 to 260 cm (6.5 ft to 8.5 ft) and live more than 60 years, wow imagine their size and watching the ballet! The population is less than 3,000 birds worldwide, but over 1/3 of the entire Red-crowned Crane population is native to Hokkaido. I photographed these Red-Crowned Cranes in 2019 while leading my annual Hokkaido photography tour.  Wikipedia  

The glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) is the second largest gull in the world which breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and winters South. This dominant gull is usually very pale in all plumages, and mostly with no black on either of the wings or the tail. Blain Photographed this Glaucous Gull while leading a Winter Hokkaido Photography Tour group of international birders. 

Onaga in English Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyana) are from the Corvid family. And they are related to crows and jackdaws, but the Azure magpies are more elegant with beautiful light blue long tails and wings, raspy back, white throats, and black caps. They average 31- 36 cm long; the Japanese name Onaga means "long tail." These birds whistle and trill when in groups fired fast with a distinctive-sounding kwink-kwink-kwink followed by a single krarrah. They occur in large numbers in Japan and eastern Asia. These two I photographed in my backyard in Niigata in winter, but I also have, photographed them while leading a Hokkaido photo tour; I have seen them in flocks of up to 30, and some of my fellow birds have seen them in flocks of up to 80 in Japan.    Wikipedia

Kingfishers or Alcedinidae are a family of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species found outside the Americas. This kingfisher Blain photographed while  leading a Japan birding photography workshop tour in the Kanazawa region.  Wikipedia

The Steller's sea eagle ( Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It was originally described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1811. No subspecies are recognised.  The Steller’ sea eagle is the champion of Raptors, glacial relics that have survived several ice ages. Somehow they seem immune to the passage of time. They are such extremely rare and formidable birds of prey that they have been around since the day of the dinosaurs, representing near evolutionary perfection, and with its deep piercing voice ra-ra-ra-raurau, those who have been in their presence “in the wild” have heard the echoes of the Steller’s dinosaur legacy.  Their plumage is blackish brown-black all over except on the shoulders, rump, tail, thighs, and forehead, which are white. Their HUGE, hooked bill is yellow; when they feed, they do it with raw power.  These Eagles are huge, on average, the heaviest raptor on our planet, weighing up to and over 10 kg (22 pounds). They are also tall, measuring up to 94 cm (3 ft) sometimes even taller, with a huge wingspan of up to 250 cm (8 - 9 ft).  I have personally photographed a Steller’s Sea Eagle I swear had a wingspan eclipsing 10 ft that I witnessed from my chartered helicopter while I was on assignment capturing landscape shots between Hokkaido and Russia. But sorry the raptor would not stop for me to get out my measuring tape.  Namaste, Blain in Japan

The Mejiro or Japanese White-Eye also, known as the warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus) is a very small and super fast passerine bird. Often the specific epithet is written japonica, but this is incorrect due to their species range and being native to Japan, East Asia, Russia, Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines. They have also been introduced International as pest control with mixed results. When I took this shot of this Mejiro sucking the sweet nectar of the Kawazu Sakura Cherry Blossom that blooms in mid to late February, I had just returned from Hokkaido via Tokyo in the morning from my annual Hokkaido photo tour, and by noon I took the shot, I brought along all my Hokkaido photo tour participants to enjoy a rare opportunity to photograph Japans earliest blooming cherry blossom and the Mejiro, they certainly are a beautiful combination. The participants were genuinely amazed; not only did they get to photograph the Steller’s sea eagle, the red-crowned cranes, and other wildlife, they met the Ainu photograph minimalist winter scenes, enjoyed hot springs and Japans wild frontier. Just a few hours south, they got to enjoy cherry blossoms that most only dream of and believe they bloom in early spring March - April.    Wikipedia

The White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is also known as the white-tailed sea eagle, gray eagle, Eurasian sea eagle, which is one of the giant birds of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. The White-Tailed can be photographed all year round in Hokkaido, Japan. During harsh winters in Hokkaido, they co-exist with their bigger cousin The Steller’s Sea Eagle, and they can often be photographed in severe aerial combat or on a land fights, sometimes it's 2or 3 stellers against one white-tailed eagle, fish and food is why they fight, when there is no food shortage, they sit side by side in relative peace. These beautiful majestic raptors are known as the fourth largest eagle in the world; they are the only species known to be more massive in bulk then the Steller’s Sea Eagle, the Harpy Eagle, and the Philippine Eagle. These eagles measure from 65-95cm in length with a wingspan of 170cm to 260cm or about 5ft 5 to 8ft 5 inches. It is said this raptor has the largest wingspan of any living eagle. The male and female are similar in coloring and appearance, the accurate way to tell them apart is by tarsus width and depth and bill depth, but this is next to impossible unless they are captive or captured then released with tracking devices on their legs. I usually tell them apart by their size in which females are generally about 30% heavier and about 15% greater in linear dimensions.  I photographed this White Tailed Eagle while leading my annual Hokkaido Birding Tour Wikipedia  

The brown-checked rail or eastern water rail (Rallus indicus) is a species of bird from the family Rallidae. They breed in Northern Japan, Korea, northeast China, and eastern Siberia; they winter over in southeast Asia and are common to spot during winter in Tokyo, Japan, and across southern Japan. They are mostly migratory. The eastern water rail is a small bird measuring 25 to 30 cm in length and weighing 70 to 190 grams. Their wingspan is 40 to 45 cm. Their body is well adapted for movement among reeds and ponds. The upperparts are brown, and the belly is blueish gray. There is black-brown barring on the flanks. The beak is long and reddish. The legs and toes are long, the tail is short, and the underside is a pale white. A broad brown eye stripe differentiates it from western water rail. Their call is a sharp "kyu" sound. They are omnivorous, feeding on small animals and plant matter. They breed from March to June, nesting on the ground in marches and streams in dense vegetation. I photographed this rail while leading my annual Japan Hokkaido birding tour.   Wikipedia

Daurian Redstart ( Phoenicurus auroreus) is a small passerine bird from temperate Asia. In Japan, it is known as Jobitaki.  Breeding males have a grey crown and nape that is much lighter plus crown sides, face is black, flank belly chest are orange, tail is orange black. Male juveniles are similarly but duller in vibrance.  Its length is 14 to 15 cm, and its weight is 11 to 20 g, females are of similar size.  They were once classed as a member of the thrush family, but they are now known as an Old World Flycatcher (Muscicapidae).  They are divided into two subspecies, the easter P.A. Auroreus and the western P.A. Leucopterus.  The Redstart is close to the Eurasian clade, which also includes the black redstart (P. ochruros), Hodgson's redstart (P. hodgsoni), the white-winged redstart (P. erythrogastrus), which is believed to be closely related to P. auroreus, and the Ala Shan redstart (P. alaschanicus).  They are migratory, and arrive in Japan earlier than other winter birds, usually they arrive in October.  They generally  leave Japan before cherry blossoms begin to flower, but they have been known to breed in Japan.  A great deal of them breed in Far East Russia, and some in South China and the Korean Peninsula.  They can also be found in Taiwan, Okinawa, and northeast India and various parts of Asia.  Most small birds, songbirds form a flock every breeding season, but the Redstarts are solitary.  They reason they do not form flocks is because of their eating habits, in autumn they generally feed on berries, but such Shrikes they feed on insects.  Birds who feed on the abundance of seed, makes sense to form a flock which is advantageous for them to alert each other in case of danger.  But for those birds who feed on insects and small animals, it is more advantageous to be solitary and avoid competing for food.   The Durian Restart prefer open forests, forest edges and are commonly found in parks and gardens.  They are not overly shy to humans, and are somewhat easy to spot and photograph.  They breed in the summer, with a mated pair of the nominated subspecies.  These birds are widespread and somewhat common, and not a threatened species according to the IUCN.  I photographed this male Durian Restart while leading a Japan private birding photo tour during migration season on Sado Island in Japan.  

 Wikipedia

The Female The Daurian Redstart ( Phoenicurus auroreus) is a small passerine bird from temperate Asia. In Japan, it is known as Jobitaki.  Females are light brown above and lighter below.  They have an orange rump and tail sides, the sides of wing with patch is similar to males.  The feet of males and females are both black. I took this image while leading my annual cross country cherry blossom photo tour Japan. - Japan Photography Birding Tour. 

The great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is a medium-sized woodpecker with pied black and white plumage and a red patch on the lower belly.  This species is found across Eurasia and parts of North Africa.  Photographed while leading a Hokkaido wildlife photo tour in northern Japan.   Wikipedia 

The Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) is a huge, white stork with black wing feathers and is in the stork family Ciconiidae.
This Oriental stork is 100–129 cm (39.5–51 in) long, 110–150 cm (43–59 in) tall, a weight of 2.8–5.9 kg (6.2–13.0 lb), with a wingspan of 2.22 m (7.3 ft). This stork has red skin around its eye, with a whitish iris and black bill. Both sexes are similar. The female is slightly smaller than the male. The young are white with orange bills. At one time, the Oriental stork could be found in Japan, Manchuria, Korea, and Siberia. It is now extinct in Japan and the Korean peninsula. However, in May 2007, a hatchling was reported in Japan for the first time in 40 years in the wild. The Oriental stork is a solitary bird except during the breeding season. Its diet consists principally of fish, frogs, insects, small birds, and reptiles, as well as rodents. The Oriental stork is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. I photographed this Oriental Stork in the wild in Niigata, Japan, while leading a private Japan birding workshop. .  Wikipedia

The Whooper Swan (Cygnus Cygnus) is a huge Northern Hemisphere Swan. These swans can be easily identified from other swans by the color of their bill, which has orangey yellow markings. Blain photographed these swans flying through a snowstorm while he was leading a birding wildlife photography workshop on Sado Island Niigata, Japan.  Wikipedia  

The Japanese Weasel (Mustela itatsi) is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family. The Mustelidae is a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, martens, mink, and wolverines, among others. Mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order Carnivora. Blain’s team filmed this Japanse Weasel while on a Wildlife Winter Hokkaido Photography Tour Japan.  Wikipedia  

The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is one of two species of the old world flying squirrels. Native to Japan they inhabit forests and boreal evergreen forests on Honshu and Kyushu islands. During the day these squirrels are comfortable in their den or hole mostly in the coniferous tree, emerging at night to feed. In 2019 - 2020 Blain will be once again leading Japan photography workshop vacation tours to photograph these amazing dwarf flying squirrels in the wild forests an hours drive from the middle of Tokyo.

The Kai Ken is a breed of dog that hails from Japan where it is a national monument and has been bred for centuries. It is a rare dog even in its native land and is one of the six native Japanese dog breeds protected by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai. Hachi is this Kai Ken’s Name and is part of Blain’s family who often accompanies him while Blain and his Team of expert photographers and explorers explore new regions for upcoming new and exciting Japan photography vacation tours & workshops.   Wikipedia  

Kawazuzakura is the earliest blooming Sakura in Japan. The Kawazuzakura/Cherry Blossom tree is well known in the Izu Peninsula and blooms in February. This species of Cherry Blossoms with its beautiful vibrant pink cherry pebble flowers is a must see, "so don't forget to add it to your bucket list." Blain Harasymiw annually leads many Japan hanami photo tours to view these beautiful early bloomers. Blain also leads Japan birding photo tours to photograph the Japanese white-eye, Meijiro bird feasting on the sweet nectar of the Kawazuzakura Cheery Blossom Flower.  The Kawazu Sakura cherry blossom can Blain also, leads Hokkaido photo tour to photograph them.  

Wikipedia 

The Japanese Tree Frog (Hyla Japonica) is a species of tree frog found in Hokkaido to Yakushima Japan and Northeastern China, Korea, Mongolia and the Russian East. Tree frogs are commonly found in rice paddies, and during the day can be found on leaves and vegetation, during the evening they are most active and chase insect and are attracted to lights. Blain photographed this tree frog while leading another Hokkaido photo tour.

The rustic bunting (Emberiza rustica) is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a species now separated mostly from the finches, (Fringillidae). The rustic buntings are a regular migrant of Japan and are a beautiful and fun bird to view and photograph, Blain loves these small passerine birds especially when they raise their hair as they perk their head and neck up. Blain photographed this rustic bunting while leading a private birding Hokkaido Photo Tour. Japan indeed is a birders paradise with over 600 species of bird to date.

The Eastern Spot-Billed Duck looks and sounds similar to it's close relative the mallard duck. You can quickly tell them apart by their bill, the mallard's bill is completely yellow while the spot-billed bill has only a spot of yellow. Aside from the bill, the Spot-billed duck can be identified by the white crescent shape of its wings, and their distinctive blue speculum. Blain photographed this spot-billed duck while he was leading a Hokkaido wildlife-birding photo tour.

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with rich chestnut crown and nape, with a black patch on each mostly pure shite cheek. Males and females have similarly plumaged, and younger birds are a duller version of the adult. The tree sparrow is not endangered globally, but globally there has been a drastic decline in their population due to human activities, and climate change. In many parts of the world, the tree sparrow is seen as a pest, although they are often seen and depicted in the oriental arts. These sparrows feed mainly on seeds and invertebrates, interestingly they have been documented by Blain Harasymiw & other plucking Cherry Blossom flowers and drinking the sweet nectar from the stem of the flower. Blain Photographed this tree sparrow drinking cherry blossom nectar while he was leading his annual group Cherry blossom photography tour in Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Niigata and Hokkaido Japan. The tree sparrow is found throughout Japan, so participants on Blain's cherry blossom photo tour have plenty of opportunities to photograph these adorable birds collecting the sweet nectar of the cherry blossom.

The Japanese Robin or Komadori (Erithacus akahige) is a small passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae. Participants on Blain Harasymiw's Hokkaido wildlife photography tours, and photo tours north of Tokyo, Japan often view and photograph these beautiful Japanese Robin.

The Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus which diversifies in color and is a beautiful bird. They are usually medium grey comparable to Birula's gull and can be much darker in color The head of the Mongolian gull is largely white all year round with just a touch of streaking. The legs are ordinarily pink, and their eyes are usually pale with a red orbital ring. I photographed this stunning gull while leading my annual winter wonderland Hokkaido winter photography tour.

The grey-capped greenfinch or Oriental greenfinch (Chloris sinica) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae that breeds in broadleaf and conifer woodlands of Japan and other parts of East Asia. The grey-capped greenfinch is a medium-sized finch 12.5 to 14 cm (4.9 to 5.5 in) in length, with a strong bill and a short slightly forked tail. It nests in trees or bushes, laying 3-5 eggs. Blain photographed this greenfinch while leading a private birding photo tour Japan.

White cheeked Starling Japan (spodiopsar cineraceus) is a passerine bird of the starling family and common to Japan. They are native to Japan and multiple parts of Asia; there is even a record of one reaching Homer Alaska in 1998 believed to have arrived by ship. They love to eat fruits their favorite food is said to be the Muku tree Nut and various other nuts. The adult male is mainly dark grey-brown with a paler belly and whitish band across the rump. The head is blackish white whiteish cheeks and forehead. Adult females are similar to the males but paler and duller. Blain Harasymiw photographed these white-cheeked starlings while leading his annual Autumn maple leaves highland photography tour in Japan.

The Japanese Rat Snake is a medium-sized snake found in Japan. It is known as “Aodisho” and is a non-venomous snake and is a member of the colubrid family. Generally, they are blue, but colors vary from pale yellow-green to dark blue-green. This is a Juvenile rat snake, and the juvenile has a pattern of brown stripes, which sometimes can be mistaken at the venomous mamushi snake. Japanese rat snakes eat a variety of small animals, rodents, frogs, and lizards, they are good climbers, and they often raid birds nests. I photographed this snake at my Ocean countryside traditional Japanese home in Niigata, Japan.

Shima Enaga (Aegithalos caudatus japonicus), is a uniquely all-white face and is a sub-species of the long-tailed bushtit. The Shima - Enaga occur mostly in Japan. But they inhabit the entire Paleatrictic realm. The long-tailed tit is sometimes referred to as the silver-throated tit or silver-throated dasher. Aegithalos (long-tailed tits) are five species birds with a tail.  Psaltriparus (North America Buishtit), monotypic. Psaltriparus (pygmy bushtit), monotypic. The long-tailed tit is insectivorous throughout the year. The Shima Enaga feed on predominantly arthropods and prefer the eggs and astronomical huge moths and butterflies, and sometimes eat vegetable matter. Outside of the breeding season, they live in flocks from about July to February of half a dozen to two dozen composed of the family (parents and offspring) from the previous breeding season, together with extra adults that help raise the brood. The reason for the flocking behavior is believed due to winter roosting as they are susceptible to cold, and they huddle for warmth on cold nights. When the breeding season begins, the flock brakes up, and the birds attempt to breed monogamous pairs. Females tend to wander into neighboring territories, while males remain within their winter territories. I photographed this Shima Enaga while leading my annual birding and landscape photography tour Hokkaido 2020.

This mature white-tailed eagle, I photographed while leading my annual Hokkaido Photo Tour. The White-Tailed Eagle is also known as the white-tailed sea eagle, gray eagle, Eurasian sea eagle, which is one of the giant birds of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. The White-Tailed can be photographed all year round in Hokkaido, Japan. During harsh winters in Hokkaido, they co-exist with their bigger cousin The Steller’s Sea Eagle, and they can often be photographed in severe aerial combat or on a land fights, sometimes it's 2or 3 stellers against one white-tailed eagle, they especially rumble when fish is on the table. These beautiful majestic raptors are known as the fourth largest eagle in the world; they are the only species known to be more massive in bulk then the Steller’s Sea Eagle, the Harpy Eagle, and the Philippine Eagle. These eagles measure from 65-95cm in length with a wingspan of 170cm to 260cm or about 5ft 5 to 8ft 5 inches. It is said this raptor has the largest wingspan of any living eagle. The male and female are similar in coloring and appearance, the accurate way to tell them apart is by tarsus width and depth and bill depth, but this is next to impossible unless they are captive or captured then released with tracking devices on their legs. I usually tell them apart by their size in which females are generally about 30% heavier and about 15% greater in linear dimensions.
The adult white-tailed eagle is greyish mid-brown colored overall. The plumage is relatively uniform over most of the body and the wings, but the wing coverts are generally paler; the rest of their plumage is usually softer looking from the head, neck, and upper breast is often a desert dawn hue. But colors of the white-tailed eagle can easily range from bright, vibrant, beautiful colors to washed out and spotted. Their bill is massive and can be vibrant orange to dull in color, and it is razor-sharp to rip apart their prey in a hurry, and they are an aggressive bird. And when fishing is terrible, they have been known to prey on rodents, young deer even family pets, young children in Hokkaido are closely watched when outside in areas the birds are plentiful from my over 25 years experience in Japan from Nemuero to Rausu Hokkaido. Once in Hokkaido, during an annual birding festival just outside of Nemuro, myself and other photographers photographed a videographer being attacked, the bird was lifting him up by his shoulders with its talons lodged firmly into his skin, muscle and bone; he spent three days in the hospital, his wounds took months to heal.  The males call is Kyi-Kyi-Kyi-Kli-Kliek-Yak with the head thrown back, and the last call normally ends with a lower Ko-Ko-Ko, the female has a similar call but deeper.
I photographed this White Tailed Sea Eagle in February 2019; we were in Zodiac boats, off the pacific coastline of Rausu Japan.
Namaste, Blain in Japan. 

The tufted duck (Aythya Fuligula) is a smaller diving duck with hundreds of thousands found in Japan, and there over a million found across Eurasia. The adult male is all black except for its white flanks, and their blue-grey bill. An easy field marking for them is their long tuft feathers from the crown of the head, which is rather cool looking similar to a ponytail and, they have bright yellow eyes. The adult female is brown with paler flanks and easily confused with other ducks. The male tufted are mostly silent but call during courtship with a simple “wit-oo,” the female has a harsh call almost a growl “Karr” and mostly in flight. I Blain in Japan photographed this duck while leading a spring Hokkaido photo tour, the tufted duck is common on Hokkaido’s east coastline with the regions many lakes and marshlands, the duck's favorite food is freshwater mussels, and they are abundant in Hokkaido’s East coastline lakes and many marshes.

The Red-Breasted Merganser is in my top favorite birds of all time. This Sawbill is a sea duck and is the fastest of all ducks; it has been recorded at flying at speeds of160KM/h. The birds are 51–62 cm (20–24 in) long with a 70–86 cm (28–34 in) wingspan. It has a spiky crest and long thin red bill with serrated edges. The male has a dark head with a green sheen, a white neck with a rusty breast, a black back, and white underparts. Adult females have a rusty head and a greyish body. The juvenile is like the female, but lacks the white-collar and has a smaller white wing patch. Their female call is a rasping prrak prrak, while the male gives a feeble hiccup-and-sneeze display call. I photographed this one while leading my annual Hokkaido photo tour; I used the Nikon D850 camera, my lens the Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR.

The Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus) is a remember of the thrush family and is closely related to the more southerly breeding Naumann’s thrush both of them have been often regarded as conspecific. They are between double and triple the size of the common tree sparrow. The Dusky Thrush breeds in eastern Siberia to Kamchatka and winters over in Hokkaido, Japan, and some other parts of Asia. I photographed this Dusky Thrush while leading my annual Validates Day Hokkaido Photography Tour.

The Chestnut-Cheeked starling (Agropsar philippensis) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. They are migratory, spending the Spring and summer in Niigata, Japan, and elsewhere along the sea of Japan to Hokkaido from mid-Apri and make their return migration to either the Island of Borneo or the Philippines sometime in September. These Starlings stop-over in Kyushu, Japan, for roughly a week or more to rest and feed upon their arrival to Japan and departure. Their breeding and ecology have been intensively analyzed and studied, and we know what effect climate change has on their breeding season. However, migration due to climate change is still a question mark, as it is with most species migrations. Birders and the Ornithological Society of Japan are working together to answer this question. In Japan, over Six hundred bird species have been recorded to date. The majority, more than 60%, are migratory. Approximately 60 species are endemic or sub-regional endemic. Japan is latitudinally long at over 3,000 kilometers and has 6,852 islands Japan’s flora and fauna are divided by two ecological lines, the Blakiston’s Line, which is between Hokkaido and Honshu, and the Watase Line, which is just below Kyushu. Certain wildlife species are found only north of the Blakiston’s Line, while certain other species are only found South of it. I photographed this Chestnut-Cheked Starling while leading a Japan Birding Tour.

The Ural owl (Strix uralensis) is a rather large species and is a nocturnal owl. It is a member of the Strigidae family. I photographed this mating pair while leading my annual Japan Hokkaido Wildlife Tour - Japan photography workshop. The Ural has a broad, rounded head with a round facial disc, barring a v-shaped indentation. They are not colorful and tend to be a plain pale greying brown to whitish overall. Mature owls length from 50 to 64 cm (20 to 25 in) their wingspan is 110 to 134 cm (3 ft 7 to 4 ft 5 in). Their breeding season is from February to July; the clutch amount of eggs is generally 3 but can be up to 6. Their range includes Japan, Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweeden, Norway, Denmark, and can be found in Alpine regions of Europe.

The White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) is endemic to Japan and parts of Eurasia.   The great spotted woodpecker is similar in color, but the white-backed woodpecker is larger, has a longer bill, underparts are streaked.  I photographed this female white-backed woodpecker while leading my annual Hokkaido Photo tour. 

Blackーfaced bunting (アオジ) (Emberiza spodocephala) is a passerine bird in the bunting family. They bread in Hokkaido Japan, where I photograph them on my annual Hokkaido photo tour in spring and summer, and they also breed in Southern Siberia and northern China. They are migratory and winter over in Kanagawa, Tokyo, Kanto region Japan. They can also be found wintering over in India, Southern China, and other parts of South-East Asia. Buntings are small birds about 16cm long. Breeding males have a dark gray head with a mix of yellow-green and black between the bill and eye; their upper parts are brown and heavily streaked dark in color, upper parts are yellowish with some white and brown flank streaks. Females and juveniles have a lighter head appearance, with olive-grey cheeks and a creamy white supercilious. Their underparts are yellow with heavily streaked dark browns. I photographed this beautiful songbird black-faced bunting while photographing in the backcountry of Kanagawa, about an hour's hike from my home just outside of Tokyo. Camera Nikon Z9, ISO 2000, F/10, 1/2000s, lens 120-300 F2.8 DG OS HSM/Sports, with a X2 teleconverter at 600mm. 

Somei Yoshino or Yoshino cherry 染井吉野 ソメイヨシノ (Prunus yedoensis), this tree is a hybrid from Japan, and it is the most popular, widely planted Cherry blossoming tree in Japan and around the world. Even during my annual Hokkaido photo tour, I can spot and photograph these celestial, zen, calming sakura as part of a blended photography and shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing experience. Somei Yoshino is a clone from a single tree and is propagated by grafting. Somei village, as it was known in the Edo period, is now known as Toshima and is the birthplace of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossom tree, which is a village located in Oshima sub-prefecture Tokyo. During the Edo period, Somei village was a center for plant nurseries; today, the region is one of eight central wards of the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the Kanto region, excessive pesticides are used to deal with the caterpillars and other insects that infest the trees. As a result of the pesticide use, the Eurasian Tree sparrow population has declined by 90% in urban and metropolitan areas. Along the Sea of Japan, from Niigata to Hokkaido going north, the pesticide is not as heavily used, so less than half the sparrow population has been affected. The sparrows can be found in large numbers eating the insect and insect larvae as well as indulging in the sweet, succulent nectar of the sakura bloom. The Somei Yoshino cherry blossom tree is a small, deciduous tree that grows to be 5 to 12 meters (16 – 39 ft) (rarely 15 meters (49 ft)) tall at maturity. It grows well in hardiness zones 5 – 8, which encompasses most of Japan, and does well in full sun and moist but well-drained soil; the cherry blossom trees are often bronze-toned when newly emerged, becoming dark green by summer. I have one of the Somei Yoshino trees in my backyard, and it measures 15 meters, a rare tree indeed. 

Japan’s weeping cherry blossom (Prunus subhirtella) 枝垂れ桜 is a catchall term for several subspecies of weeping cherry blossoms which were derived from the wild species, Edohigan. The weeping cherry blossom is the oldest cultivar among all the confirmed cultivars which are currently recognized in Japan. The wild species of the weeping cherry blossom can exceed 30 m (~100 ft). The leaves are commonly oval-shaped and 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4 in) long, having five petals with white or a creamy pink appearance. In the wild, the weeping variety only blooms once it has reached 10 m (33 ft) in height. The domesticated varieties tended to in shrines, and temple grounds are much smaller compared to their wild species, reaching approximately 5 m (16.5 ft) tall and bloom much more rapidly than their wild counterparts. The weeping cherry blossom variety is resistant to cold temperatures and damage caused by snow. The shidare sakura grows slower than other cultivars, but it has a sturdy trunk, leading to many trees exceeding 1,000 years in age. For example, the Jinda-zakura is more than 2,000 years old, the Usuzumi-zakura is 1,500 years old, and the Daigo-zakkura is more than a century old. The weeping cherry blossom is considered sacred by some and has become a landmark for many Shinto shrines across Japan. Annually I visit and photograph the most sacred weeping cherry blossom trees from my cherry blossom photo tour Tokyo to my Hokkaido photo tour in May.

The Edo Higan (江戸彼岸) Cherry Tree (Prunus subhirtella) is so widespread throughout Japan that it is commonly a part of my annual Cherry Blossom photo workshops as well as my annual Hokkaido photo tour. The trees have the name ‘Edo’ for a previously used name for Japan’s capital, Tokyo, and’ higan’ in Japanese, which means ‘solstice’ because they typically bloom close to the spring equinox every year. The species was, of course, first found in the wild and is considered the ‘traditional’ Japanese cherry blossom tree, but several cultivars have been developed from the original wild species. Depending on the cultivar, the tree can be a more upright and elegant form, or if the weeping cultivar, a more rounded, sweeping branch and tree appearance. The tree’s height and spread vary depending on the cultivar, but the original Edo Higan is medium-sized, reaching 20 - 30 ft (6 - 9 m) tall and 15 - 30 ft (4 - 9 m) when the tree is fully matured. The blossoms themselves start with an intense pink, turning pale and then almost white as snow before they flutter into the wind creating a snow-like appearance at the end of cherry blossom season every year. The blossoms are not considered yaezakura or double blossoming sakura; instead, they are classified as semi-double, with commonly 10 petals per bloom. The original Edo higan cherry blossoms carry a round, swollen calyx, and the hybrids and following cultivars have essentially the same shape.

The Fugenzo Cherry Blossom (Cerasus lannesiana ‘Albo-rosea' Makino) is one of the Oshima Satozakura cherry blossom cultivars that my participants can enjoy during my annual Hokkaido Photo Tour. An agriculturally engineered cultivar, it is thought to have been initially created during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The name 普賢象 (Fugenzo) for this sakura variety contains the kanji characters 普賢 (Fugen), which are the Japanese equivalent of Samantabhadra, a bodhisattva in Buddhism associated with practice and meditation, who rides on a white elephant, what the (象) character represents. A prevailing theory is that the voluminous white petals have the shape of an elephant’s ears. The Fugenzo blossom’s elongated pistil is said to represent an elephant’s trunk, and I encourage all my participants to inspect the blossoms up close to see the variations among the blossoms while photographing them. The variety of pistils and petals is as varied as the elephants themselves. Fugenzo blossoms are similar to the Kanzan and Ichiyo varieties as yaezakura or double blossoms because of the amount of petals each blossoms possesses, 20 to 50 petals, and the overall diameter is close to 5 cm (2 in). The petals are white on the inside but give way to pink on the outside, so their overall appearance is a pale pink. As the blossoms remain on the trees, the pink slowly fades, and they become almost entirely white in appearance. Some rarer varieties are called Shiro Fugen (白普賢 ) which have exclusively white blossoms. The Fugenzo cherry blossom trees are relatively cold-resistant, so they are more common in areas below the Tohoku region of Japan. Blooming later than the more prevalent Somei Yoshino variety, the Fugenzo sakura blossoms from mid-April to early May.

The Ezo Chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus lineatus) is a subspecies of the Siberian Chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus barberi) found mainly on Hokkaido, a species that I often encounter while leading my annual Hokkaido birding Tour. The Ezo Chipmunk has an average measurement of 12–15 centimeters (4.7–5.9 in) from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, which extends a further 11–12 centimeters (4.3–4.7 in) and weighs 71–116 grams (2.5–4.1 oz). As you can see from the photo, its fur is a chestnut brown with five blackish stripes running down the entirety of its back.The Ezo Chipmunk is found on Hokkaido, and the neighboring islands of Rebun, Rishiri, Teuri, Sakhalin, Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Yagashiri. An exhaustive study of its full distribution has not been completed; however, there has been one confirmed cluster of Ezo Chipmunks in the Karuizawa region of Japan’s main island, Honshu. The expansion of the Ezo Chipmunks beyond Hokkaido may be due to them being captured and kept as pets in the 1960s and 1970s but then freed into the wild.Ezo Chipmunks eat various seeds, fruit, flowers, and leaves, and their diet varies depending on the season. During the spring, the chipmunk’s feast on sasa, or broad bamboo leaves and Japanese maple leaves, but later in the year, their diet changes to seeds, cones, and pine nuts, and, of course, acorns, specifically Mongolian oak acorns. When chipmunks are rearing their young, this largely vegetarian species supplements their diet with spiders, cicadas, snails, larvae, and even Japanese bushtit or Shima enaga eggs. The Ezo Chipmunk is just one of the dozens of species participants spot and photograph on my annual Hokkaido birding wildlife tour; other popular species are the Ezo Red Fox, the red-crowned cranes, the Steller’s Sea Eagle, and the White-tailed Eagle, Blakiston’s Fish Owl among others. The photo of this ezo chipmunk and me was taken by my wife Manami during my annual Hokkaido cherry blossom tour.

The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), which is grown as either a deciduous shrub or small tree and most often grows to 6 to 10 meters (20 to 33 ft) in height, on rare occasions, reaches 16 meters (52 ft). During my annual Hokkaido birding Tour, Hokkaido songbirds can be found singing away in these majestic trees with their spell-bounding zen calming song, and even some birds nest in these Maple trees. International and Hokkaido birding photographers flock to photograph these birds; most often, the canopy of the Japanese maple grows into a dome-like shape, especially when the tree has reached full maturity. From my experience scouting and hosting Autumn leaves photo tours, there are huge variations among the hundreds of cultivars of Japanese maple trees. Factors such as leaf size, shape, and color can all wildly vary, and I have seen both the weeping variety, similar to the shidarezakura or weeping cherry blossom, as well as the upright cultivars on my Cross-country Japan photo workshops. The Japanese maple tree has been cultivated locally for centuries in the more temperate regions of Japan since the 1800s, and the first specimen was exported to Britain in 1820. Maples are commonly used to create bonsais and have also been depicted in art both in Japan and abroad. Most commonly, the Japanese maple prefers partial shade when growing, but at higher altitudes can tolerate full sun. Beyond the main species, there are three recognized sure species: Acer palmatum subsp. palmatum, which is most commonly cultivated in central to south Japan; Acer palmatum subsp, amoenum, which is grown at higher altitudes in Japan and South Korea; and finally, Acer palmatum subsp. Matsumurae, which is the prevailing subspecies at higher altitudes in Japan. I felt Mt. Fuji, Japan's most sacred mountain, was the perfect spot to show a variety of Japanese maples; I took the image during my annual Autumn leaves Mt. fuji tour.

The Zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans) originated in the Americas, and a specific variety called the Profusion has both a single or double-flowered zinnia and is cultivated by Sakata of Japan, and it is a variety I often come across during my annual hanami Hokkaido nature tour.  The zinnia flowers widely vary in range from 10 to 100 cm (4 - 40 inches) tall.  The leaves on the zinnia flowers are either linear or ovate in shape, and their coloration is pale to a medium green.  The flowers themselves can be white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, or lilac in color.  Zinnia flowers carry many different meanings, but the ones I find the most significant that pertain most to my experiences during my annual Hokkaido wildlife tour are the following: friendship, endurance, daily remembrance, and lasting affection.  These are some of the same attributes I associate with The First Nations people of Japan, the Ainu, who decorate their Ainu Kotan, their homestead, with these flowers, another symbol of their continued dedication to striking a balance with their natural surroundings and their resilience as a First Nations people.

The Japanese bush warbler (Horornis diphone) also referred to as (Cettia diphone), ウグイス (uguisu) in Japanese is year round resident, but it prefers more temperate climates during winter, so for my Hokkaido nature tours, I can enjoy them in every season except winter.  They are distributed throughout northeastern China, Russia’s far east, and the Korean peninsula beyond the Japanese population.  The Japanese bush warbler is a passerine bird, and is typically ranges in length from 14 - 15.5 cm (5.5 - 6.1 in).  The males of the species are larger than the females weighing between 14.8 - 22. 3 g (0.5 - 0.8 oz) while the females are 10 - 13.7 g (0.35 - 0.48 oz).  Males and females exhibit olive brown upper parts and beige underparts.  Both have cream colored superciliaries.  During my may adventures across Japan and other parts of Asia, I have witnessed variations in plumage among the different subspecies depending on where I find myself conducting a photo workshop.  The most widely distributed sub species is C. d. cantans.  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them as in the group of Least Concern, so during all of my Japan photo tour workshops, I can photograph them across Japan.

Dragonflies (order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera), トンボ in Japanese, start their flight seasons as early as April or early May and are finished by mid-June, with a life cycle between 7 - 56 days, so I spot and photograph them with clients on my annual private Hokkaido nature photo tours during the spring and summer months.  Dragonfly sizes vary greatly from 2.5 - 10 cm (1 - 4 in), and the colors of dragonflies vary greatly as well.  Yellow, red, brown, blue, and many other colors are represented in dragonfly colorations.  Fossil records suggest their species dates back as far as the Early Jurassic Period which spans 201.3 - 145.0 million years ago.  More than 3,000 different dragonfly species exist as of 2010, and there is a possibility that there are far more.  Japan’s history with the dragonfly goes back to the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest history book, published around 700 AD, when Japan was referred to as the Dragonfly island based on the mythical emperor Jimmu, who believed that shape of Japan resembled and アキツ ‘akitsu’ (an archaic name used for dragonflies).  The dragonfly has also venerated for its samurai-like attributes.  Dragonflies are predatory insects, and when they set their sights on prey, they strike following a straight line and never retreat.  I took this image while leading a Hokkaido photo tour. 

The Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) is a small migratory wader with a wide distribution including Hokkaido, Japan.  They are one of the rarer visitors to Japans most northern island, but while leading my annual Hokkaido Nature Tour, I have spotted and photographed them with participants.  The Red-necked stint is strongly migratory and spends its breeding season in Eastern Eurasia with their non-breeding seasons in South East Asia and Australasia.  The Red-necked stints are some of the smallest waders in the world measuring 13 - 17 cm (5.1 - 6.7 in) in length, with a 28 - 37 cm (11 - 15 in)  wingspan and 21 - 51 g (0.74 - 1.8 oz) body mass.  The bird’s plumage changes depending on whether they are breeding or non-breeding.  Breeding adults have a bright orange head  bordered by what seem like hand drawn dots of specks.  The upper wing coverts are a brilliant orange with gold tones.  Non-breeding adults are gray above and pale below.  Red-necked stints are highly social birds and will form flocks with other waders during their non-breeding cycles.  On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Red-necked Stint is considered ‘Near Threatened’ due to the decrease in stop over sites in the Yellow Sea region.  They are just one of the myriad wildlife such as Red-crowned cranes, Steller’s Sea Eagles, White-tailed eagles, Shima Enaga, and others that I spot and photograph  on my seasonal Hokkaido photo tours.

The Yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola) is a member of the passerine bird family found across the Boreal and East Palearctic, and when I am leading my annual Hokkaido nature tour workshop with camera in hand, participants and I sometimes spot and photograph them wintering over on Japan most northern Island Hokkaido.  Yellow-breasted buntings are also seen in Western Europe, but these sightings are exceedingly rare.  It has even been spotted in the Aleutian Islands and Canada.  The Yellow-breasted bunting is a rather large and stocky member of the passerine bird family, ranging from 14 to 16 cm (5.5 to 6.3 in) in length and weighing 17 to 26 g (0.6 to 0.9 oz).  The male has bright yellow underparts with black flank streaks, brown upperparts, a black face and throat bar, and a pink lower mandible.  While the female has a streaked grey-brown back and less striking yellow underparts.  The female’s face is whiter with a dark crown, eye and cheek stripes.  Due to its species favoring cultivated areas such as rice fields and grasslands, the decline in those areas in their wintering areas in Hokkaido have lead to them to be reclassified on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from least concern in 2004 all the way to critically endangered.  They are a rare sight on my Hokkaido birding nature tours, but when passing rice fields or grasslands in Hokkaido, I am always on the lookout to spot a pair or flock of Yellow-breasted buntings wintering over in Japan.

At my 100 year old traditional Japanese home, a kominka in Niigata, Japan.  The first lily variety in my garden is the Lilium longiflorum (Japanese: テッポウユリ, Teppōyuri), often called the Easter lily, which is a plant endemic to both Japan and Taiwan. The second is Lilium formosanum, also known as the Formosa lily or Taiwanese lily, which is a plant species in the lily family, endemic to Taiwan.  It is closely related to the Easter Lilly found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, eastern and northern Taiwan. Originally cultivated and photographed only on the Ryukyu Islands, the Easter lily has been distributed nationwide, as far north as Hokkaido, when I see them during their flowering season on my Hokkaido nature photo tours.  Both species are cultivated for their showy, trumpet-shaped flowers.  Lilium formosanum has become naturalized in scattered locations in Africa, Australia and in the Americas.

The black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae that occasionally winters over  on the south eastern part of Hokkaido, so I have spotted and photographed them during my annual Hokkaido nature birding workshop tours on several occasions sometimes initially mixing them up with the Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) until I see their black legs.  Their average measurements are 41 - 46 cm (16 - 18 in), weighing 400 g (14 oz), with a wingspan of 91 cm (36 in), however there are some standouts far beyond the average.  Adult Black-legged Kittiwake’s have white heads and bodies with grey wings with solid black tipped wings, black legs, and a yellow bill.  It is a coastal breeding bird that builds its nests on high cliffs on the seaside.  Both parents evenly share the incubation responsibilities, and monogamous bird pairs only reproduce once per year with a clutch size of 1 - 2 eggs.  The International Union of Conservation of Nature has classified them as vulnerable.  Their diets consist almost exclusively of fish, so they frequent the high yield fishing areas of Hokkaido when they visit the region.

The Chestnut tiger butterfly (Parantica sita) is found in Japan and across most of Asia, and I also, spot them on my Hokkaido photo tour and throughout Japan they belong to the crows and tigers of danaid group of the brush footed butterfly family.  Their wings are elogate, their upper side is black or fuliginous black, with bluish-white subhyaline markings.  They have a streak from the base in intersapce, and very broad streaks thoughout the basal interspace, and the entire cell  they have five large quadrate discal spots, two long preapical streaks, and three shorter streaks above them, plus a sup terminal serieas of more rounded spots.  Their Hingwings are chestnut red, with subhyaline streaks and spots.  They can be found in mountain the foothills around Japan from spring to Autumn. 

One of the rarer finds on my Hokkaido birding photo workshop tour expedition is the Common moorhen (Gallinule chloropus).  It is sometimes referred to as the waterhen or swamp chicken.  Part of the reason Hokkaido is such a haven for this bird is the fact that Common moorhens inhabit marshes, ponds, canals, and other wetlands, similar to the preferences of the Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis).  The Common moorhen has predominantly black and brown plumage with marked exception of a white under-tail and white streaks on the flanks.  It is related to the common gallinule (Gallinule galeata) or the Americas.  It has what is referred to as a gargling call but will hiss when threatened by predators.  It ranges from 30 to 38 cm (12-15 in) in length with a wingspan of 50 to 62 cm (20-24 in).  Its body mass is between 192 to 500 g (6.8-17.6 oz). Blain in Japan Hokkaido photo tours offer the very best Hokkaido birding opportunities.  

The Siberian rubythroat (Calliope calliope) is a small passerine bird.  Formerly in the classification as a member of the thrush family.  Today it is widely known to be an Old World flycatcher of the family Muscicapidae.  They are migratory, breeding in Hokkaido and and Siberia.  They winter over in southern Japan, Taiwan, and across Asia.  I often photograph them during a Hokkaido photo tour, and an Okinawa Private photo tour.

The ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus).  This is a small bird with a small black head, their throat and back of neck is grayish, their underparts are white. Their bill is a yellowish but appears white in direct sunlight.  These birds nest in colonies I often spot and photograph them on Islands around Hokkaido while leading my annual Hokkaido Photo tour. 

The Japanese tit (Parus minor), known as the Oriental tit or Great Eastern tit, they are a passerine bird which occur in Japan and the Russian far East, included are the disputed Japanese Kuri Islands that Russia holds.  This species was considered a subspecies of the Great tit, also known as Western great tit (Parus major), studies have shown that the two species coexist in Japan and Russia without intermingling and without frequent hybridization.  I took the image of a Japanese tit while leading a Hokkaido Photography Tour.    

 The hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It’s the only species placed in the genus Coccothraustes. And is the closest living relatives to the  Japanese grosbeak (Eophona personata) and Chinese grosbeak  (Eophona migratoria) and of East Asia, and the evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) and hooded grosbeak  (Hesperiphona abeillei) of North America. They breed across Europe and Asia (Palearctic). They mainly reside in Europe, but many Asian birds migrate further south in the winter. It is a rare vagrant to Alaska.  They are found in deciduous or mixed woodland, including parkland, with large trees – especially hornbeam. The hawfinch builds its nest in a bush or tree, and lays 2–7 eggs. The food is mainly seeds and fruit kernels, especially those of cherries, which it cracks with its powerful bill. This large finch species is usually seen in a pair or small group. The 16.5–18 cm hawfinch is a bulky bull-headed bird, which appears very short-tailed in flight. Its head is orange-brown with a black eyestripe and bib, and a massive bill, which is black in summer but paler in winter. The upper parts are dark brown and the underparts orange. The white wing bars and tail tip are striking in flight. The sexes are similar. Their call is a hard chick, which is unobtrusive.  I photographed this bird while leading my annual Hokkaido photo tour. 

 Hokkaido Red Squirrel is a subspecies of the Eurasian red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Japanese (Ezo Risu). When spotted in Hokkaido they are easily distinguished due to their wild "hairstyle" around their ears. This is a juvenile adult Hokkaido Squirrels can grow to be the size of house cats and bigger.  The red squirrel sheds its coat two times a year, from a thin summer coat to a thick winter coat with cool looking long big ear-tufts.  Their coat matches their environment to camouflage them from predators.  These squirrels do not hibernate durning winter they can be spotted and photographed running and playing about in their winter coat.  They mainly eat seeds of trees such as conifer cones, fungi, nuts such as hazelnuts, beechnuts, chestnuts, acorns, they also eat berries, vegetables, flowers tree sap and young shoots, they may also eat birds eggs.  They store their foods in caches called “middens, which are either buried or in holes in trees and they eat this when food is scarce.  They are mainly active during morning and late afternoon to evening, they avoid mid day, due to heat and birds of prey. They are fairly common but fining them at a location where they can be photographed is not easy, so its best to have a local help you spot and photograph them.   I took this image of a Hokkaido Red Squirrel with participants while I was leading my annual Hokkaido photo tour. 

Hokkaido Pony (Do-San-Ko) (Equus caballus) is an old breed of horse. They were brought to Hokkaido by fishermen in the Edo period and left in harsh winters to fend for themselves. The fishermen would return in the spring with fresh horses and would also use the ones that survived for workhorse and traveling. Today Hokkaido pony numbers just over 1000 making theme a rare breed. Now they are used as mainly pleasure mounts as they are great for beginners as these horses are extremely mild tempered and kind. They are also used for Yabusame (流鏑馬) the art of archery from horseback, that was common during Samurai battles.  The Mongolian horse is a close descendant to the Hokkaido horse, they are similar in height of 12 to 14 HH (48-56 inches or 122cm to 142 cm).  They weigh between 500 to 600 pounds, and can be used as workhorses for twenty years, their average life span is 40 years.  Their diet in Hokkaido has not changed since the Edo period they mainly eat bamboo grass.  This image of the Hokkaido Pony was taken while I was leading my annual Hokkaido photo tour.  

The Eurasian ermine, Stoat (Mustela erminea) are native to Japan, Eurasia and northern North America.  They are similar to the Japanese weasel but smaller.  The cute slender male stroat measures 15 - 35cm in body length including head, their tail is from 7 - 13cm.  Males on average weigh 260g, while females weigh 190g the females body measurement is also smaller and this is how to tell them apart.    There are over 30 subspecies known, and with its wide distribution they are listed as Least Concern on the UICN Red List.   During winter they turn pure white and can be difficult to spot and photograph, but they are worth the effort.  I took this image while leading my annual Hokkaido photography tour.   

The White Wagtail (Black-backed) (Motacilla alba lugens) is a small passerine bird from the Motacillidae family. This species breeds in the Palaearctic zone, which includes most of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The Black-backed Wagtail is a slender bird, measuring between 16.5 and 21 cm (6.5 to 8.3 inches) in length, with an average weight of about 30 grams. It is an insectivorous bird often found near water, preferring bare areas for feeding where it can see and pursue its prey. I photographed this Black-backed Wagtail while leading a photography tour in Hokkaido.