日本の市街地や農耕地、水辺などで広く見られる身近な野鳥。全長は約21cmで、細身の体と長い尾羽が特徴です。白い顔と腹部、黒い頭部や背中とのコントラストが美しく、歩きながら長い尾を上下に振る独特の姿で知られています。

日本では北海道から南西諸島まで広く分布し、河川や湖沼などの水辺だけでなく、道路、駐車場、駅前、工場地帯などの人工的な環境にもよく適応しています。

主に昆虫やクモなどの小さな動物を食べ、地面を歩きながら餌を探します。開けた場所を好むため、舗装された道路や駐車場で歩き回る姿も頻繁に観察できます。

繁殖期には建物の隙間や岩のくぼみなどを利用して営巣します。繁殖後には若鳥を含む個体が集まり、水辺や市街地で活動する姿が見られます。

白と黒のはっきりした体色と、軽快に歩き回る姿から識別しやすく、日本の都市部で特に身近な野鳥の一つです。

ハクセキレイ(ペア)

A common wild bird widely found in urban areas, farmland, and along waterways throughout Japan. It measures about 21 cm in total length and is characterized by its slender body and long tail feathers. The contrast between its white face and belly and its black head and back is striking, and it is known for its distinctive gait, in which it walks while bobbing its long tail up and down.

In Japan, it is widely distributed from Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands and has adapted well not only to watersides such as rivers and lakes but also to artificial environments like roads, parking lots, station areas, and industrial zones.

It feeds primarily on small animals such as insects and spiders, foraging for food while walking on the ground. Since it prefers open areas, it is frequently observed wandering around on paved roads and in parking lots.

During the breeding season, they build nests in crevices in buildings or hollows in rocks. After breeding, groups of birds—including juveniles—gather and can be seen foraging along water’s edges and in urban areas.

With their distinct black-and-white plumage and lively, nimble gait, they are easily recognizable and are one of the most common wild birds in Japan’s urban areas.

White Wagtail (Pair)

### メジロ

**Zosterops japonicus**

日本の森林や公園、庭園、住宅地などで見られる小型の野鳥。全長は約12cmで、スズメより一回り小さい体格です。鮮やかな黄緑色の体と、目の周囲を囲む白い輪状の模様が最大の特徴です。

日本では北海道から南西諸島まで広く分布し、平地から山地までさまざまな環境で生活しています。特に春になると、庭木や街路樹などで花の蜜を吸う姿がよく見られます。

主な食物は昆虫やクモ、果実、花の蜜など。特に甘いものを好み、ウメやサクラ、ツバキなどの花を訪れることがあります。

繁殖期には木の枝の間などに小さな巣を作り、つがいで子育てを行います。複数羽で行動することも多く、「チーチー」「チュルチュル」といった高く細かな声で鳴き交わします。

小型で鮮やかな体色を持ち、人の生活圏にも姿を見せることから、日本を代表する身近な野鳥の一つです。

メジロ(ペア)

### Japanese White-eye

**Zosterops japonicus**

A small wild bird found in forests, parks, gardens, and residential areas throughout Japan. It measures about 12 cm in total length and is slightly smaller than a sparrow. Its most distinctive features are its vivid yellow-green plumage and the white ring around its eyes.

In Japan, it is widely distributed from Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands and inhabits a variety of environments, from lowlands to mountainous areas. In spring, in particular, it is often seen sipping nectar from flowers on garden trees and street trees.

Its main diet consists of insects, spiders, fruits, and flower nectar. It has a particular fondness for sweet foods and is often seen visiting the flowers of plum, cherry, and camellia trees.

During the breeding season, they build small nests among tree branches and raise their young in pairs. They often travel in small flocks, calling to one another with high-pitched, delicate sounds like “chee-chee” and “chur-chur.”

With their small size, vivid plumage, and frequent appearances in human-inhabited areas, they are one of Japan’s most familiar and representative wild birds.

Japanese White-eye (Pair)

### シジュウカラ

**Parus minor**

日本の森林や公園、庭園、住宅地などで広く見られる身近な野鳥。全長は約14〜15cmでスズメほどの大きさです。青みを帯びた灰色の背中、白い頬、黒い頭部と喉、そして胸から腹にかけて伸びる黒い縦線が特徴です。

日本では北海道から沖縄まで広く分布し、森林だけでなく都市部の街路樹や庭、公園などにも適応しています。人家の近くでも比較的よく観察できる鳥の一つです。

主に昆虫やクモなどを食べますが、秋から冬にかけては木の実や種子なども利用します。木の枝や幹を移動しながら餌を探す姿がよく見られます。

繁殖期には樹洞や人工の巣箱などを利用して営巣します。「ツピーツピー」「ジュクジュク」など、複数の特徴的な鳴き声を使い分けることでも知られています。

日本の都市部でも観察しやすく、鮮明な模様と活発な動きから、バードウォッチングの入門種としても親しまれている小鳥です。

シジュウカラ(ペア)

### Great Tit

**Parus minor**

A common wild bird widely seen in Japan’s forests, parks, gardens, and residential areas. It measures about 14–15 cm in total length and is about the size of a sparrow. It is characterized by a bluish-gray back, white cheeks, a black head and throat, and a black vertical stripe extending from the chest to the belly.

In Japan, it is widely distributed from Hokkaido to Okinawa and has adapted not only to forests but also to urban environments such as street trees, yards, and parks. It is one of the birds that can be observed relatively frequently even near human dwellings.

It feeds primarily on insects and spiders, but from fall through winter, it also eats nuts and seeds. It is often seen foraging while moving along tree branches and trunks.

During the breeding season, it nests in tree cavities or artificial nest boxes. It is also known for its ability to produce a variety of distinctive calls, such as “tsupi-tsupi” and “jukujuku.”

Easy to spot even in urban areas of Japan, this small bird is popular as an introductory species for birdwatching due to its vivid plumage and lively movements.

Great Tit (Pair)

### ムクドリ

**Sturnus cineraceus**

日本の市街地や農耕地、公園などで広く見られる身近な野鳥。全長は約24cmで、スズメより大きく、ヒヨドリよりやや小型です。灰褐色の体に黒い頭部、黄色〜オレンジ色のくちばしと脚が特徴です。

日本では北海道から南西諸島まで広く分布し、森林だけでなく、都市部の街路樹や公園、農地など人の生活圏にも適応しています。

雑食性で、昆虫やミミズなどの小動物から、果実、木の実まで幅広く食べます。地面を歩きながら餌を探す姿もよく見られ、芝生や農地などでは群れで行動することがあります。

繁殖期以外には大きな群れを形成することがあり、夕方になると街路樹などに多数が集まって「ねぐら」を形成します。都市部では大群による鳴き声や糞害が問題になることもあります。

身近な存在でありながら、群れで一斉に飛翔する姿や、都市環境への高い適応力など、観察すると興味深い特徴を持つ日本の代表的な野鳥です。

ムクドリ(ペア)

### Starling

**Sturnus cineraceus**

A common wild bird widely seen in urban areas, farmland, and parks throughout Japan. With a total length of about 24 cm, it is larger than a sparrow but slightly smaller than a white-eyebrowed thrush. It is characterized by a grayish-brown body, a black head, and a yellow to orange beak and legs.

In Japan, it is widely distributed from Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands and has adapted not only to forests but also to human-inhabited areas such as street trees, parks, and farmland in urban areas.

It is omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of foods ranging from small animals such as insects and earthworms to fruits and nuts. They are often seen foraging while walking on the ground and may move in flocks on lawns and farmland.

Outside the breeding season, they sometimes form large flocks, and as evening falls, large numbers gather on street trees and other locations to form “roosts.” In urban areas, the noise from these large flocks and the mess caused by their droppings can sometimes be a problem.

Although they are a common sight, they are one of Japan’s representative wild birds, possessing fascinating characteristics—such as their synchronized flight in flocks and their remarkable adaptability to urban environments—that make them intriguing to observe.

Starlings (pair)

### ヒヨドリ

**Hypsipetes amaurotis**

日本の都市部や住宅地でもよく見られる身近な野鳥。全長は約27〜29cmで、スズメよりかなり大きく、灰褐色の体に白い頬、長い尾羽が特徴です。雌雄はよく似た外見をしています。

日本では北海道から南西諸島まで広く分布し、森林だけでなく公園や街路樹、住宅地など、人の生活圏にも適応しています。比較的大きな声で「ヒーヨ、ヒーヨ」と鳴くことから、その名前が付けられました。

食性は幅広く、果実や木の実、花の蜜などを好むほか、昆虫などの動物質の餌も利用します。特に冬から春にかけては、庭木や街路樹の果実を食べている姿がよく見られます。

日本では非常に身近な鳥ですが、海外では日本固有種として知られる存在でもあり、日本の野鳥を代表する種類の一つです。

ヒヨドリ(ペア)

### Brown-eared Bulbul

**Hypsipetes amaurotis**

A common wild bird often seen in urban areas and residential neighborhoods throughout Japan. It measures about 27–29 cm in total length, making it considerably larger than a sparrow, and is characterized by its grayish-brown body, white cheeks, and long tail feathers. Males and females look very similar.

In Japan, it is widely distributed from Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands and has adapted to human habitats—not only forests but also parks, street trees, and residential areas. It was named for its relatively loud “hee-yo, hee-yo” call.

It has a broad diet, preferring fruits, nuts, and flower nectar, while also consuming animal-based foods such as insects. It is particularly common to see them feeding on the fruits of garden and street trees from winter through spring.

While it is a very familiar bird in Japan, it is also recognized overseas as a species endemic to Japan and is one of the representative species of Japanese wild birds.

Japanese White-eyes (pair)

### スズメ

**Passer montanus**

日本人なら一度は見たことがあるレベルの超身近な小鳥。全長は約14〜15cmで、栗色の頭部、白い頬に入る黒い斑点、黒い喉が特徴です。雌雄で外見はほぼ同じです。

市街地、住宅地、農耕地など、人の生活圏を中心に生息し、日本では小笠原諸島を除くほぼ全国で繁殖しています。人家と非常に結びつきの強い鳥で、集落がなくなるとスズメも姿を消すことが知られています。

繁殖期には昆虫やクモなどを食べ、その他の時期には植物の種子や果実を主に食べます。秋には水田などで群れをつくる姿も見られます。

日本を代表する身近な野鳥の一種でありながら、環境省の調査では長期的に記録個体数が減少していることも報告されています。

スズメ(ペア)

### House Sparrow

**Passer montanus**

This is an extremely common small bird that virtually every Japanese person has seen at least once. It measures about 14–15 cm in total length and is characterized by its chestnut-brown head, black spots on its white cheeks, and black throat. Males and females look almost identical.

It inhabits areas where people live—such as urban centers, residential neighborhoods, and farmland—and breeds throughout nearly all of Japan, with the exception of the Ogasawara Islands. It is a bird with very strong ties to human settlements, and it is well known that when a settlement disappears, the sparrows vanish as well.

During the breeding season, they feed on insects and spiders, while during other times of the year, their diet consists mainly of plant seeds and fruits. In the fall, they can be seen forming flocks in rice paddies and other areas.

Although they are one of Japan’s most familiar and representative wild birds, surveys by the Ministry of the Environment have reported a long-term decline in recorded population numbers.

Sparrows (pair)

### キジバト（Oriental Turtle Dove）

**学名：** *Streptopelia orientalis*
**英名：** Oriental Turtle Dove
**分類：** ハト目・ハト科・キジバト属

キジバトは、東アジアから南アジアにかけて広く分布するハトの一種です。日本では全国的に見られ、森林や農地だけでなく、都市部の公園や住宅地にも適応しています。

日本で身近に見られるハトの一種ですが、ドバトとは異なる野生種です。ドバトが群れで行動することが多いのに対し、キジバトは単独または少数で行動することが多く、都市部でも比較的落ち着いた姿を見ることができます。

体は全体的に赤褐色から灰褐色で、翼には黒褐色の鱗状の模様があります。首の側面には特徴的な黒と淡色の縞模様があり、ドバトとの識別ポイントになります。

「デーデーポッポー」と聞こえる特徴的な低い鳴き声でも知られています。都市部では早朝などにこの鳴き声を聞くことができます。

**特徴**

* 日本全国で見られる身近な野鳥
* 赤褐色〜灰褐色の落ち着いた体色
* 首に特徴的な縞模様がある
* 「デーデーポッポー」という特徴的な鳴き声
* ドバトより単独行動が多い
* 森林から都市部まで幅広い環境に適応

キジバト(ペア)

### Oriental Turtle Dove

**Scientific name:** *Streptopelia orientalis*
**Common name:** Oriental Turtle Dove
**Classification:** Order Columbiformes, Family Columbidae, Genus Streptopelia

The Oriental Turtle Dove is a species of dove widely distributed from East Asia to South Asia. It is found throughout Japan and has adapted not only to forests and farmland but also to urban parks and residential areas.

Although it is a common sight in Japan, it is a wild species distinct from the feral pigeon. While feral pigeons often move in flocks, the Oriental Turtle Dove typically travels alone or in small groups, and can be observed behaving relatively calmly even in urban areas.

Its body is generally reddish-brown to grayish-brown, with blackish-brown, scale-like markings on its wings. The sides of its neck feature distinctive black and pale stripes, which serve as a key distinguishing feature from the rock pigeon.

It is also known for its characteristic low-pitched call, which sounds like “dee-dee-po-po.” In urban areas, this call can be heard early in the morning.

**Characteristics**

* A common wild bird found throughout Japan
* Subdued reddish-brown to grayish-brown plumage
* Distinctive stripes on the neck
* Characteristic “dee-dee-po-po” call
* Tends to be more solitary than the rock pigeon
* Adapted to a wide range of environments, from forests to urban areas

Japanese Wood Pigeon (Pair)

### カワラバト（Rock Dove）

**学名：** *Columba livia*
**英名：** Rock Dove / Rock Pigeon
**分類：** ハト目・ハト科・カワラバト属

カワラバトは、ヨーロッパ・北アフリカ・西アジアから中央アジアにかけて広く分布するハトの一種です。岩場や崖などを利用して営巣する性質を持ち、古くから人間によって飼育・改良されてきました。

現在、世界各地の都市で見られる「ドバト」は、カワラバトを家禽化した系統が野生化したものとされています。都市環境への適応力が高く、建物や橋梁などを岩場に代わる営巣場所として利用しています。

体色には個体差があり、典型的な個体では青灰色の体に黒い翼帯を持ち、首から胸にかけて緑色や紫色の金属光沢が見られます。一方、家禽化の歴史が長いため、白、黒、茶、斑模様など非常に多様な羽色・形態が存在します。

性格は比較的温厚で、人間の生活環境への適応力が高いことが特徴です。カワラバトを起源として、レース鳩や多数の観賞鳩品種が作出されています。

**特徴**

* 都市環境への適応力が非常に高い
* 個体・品種によって羽色や模様に大きなバリエーションがある
* 古くから家禽・観賞・伝書・競技目的で飼育されてきた
* レース鳩や観賞鳩の基礎となった種
* 高い帰巣性を持つことで知られる

カワラバト(ドバト)ペア

### Rock Dove

**Scientific Name:** *Columba livia*
**Common Name:** Rock Dove / Rock Pigeon
**Classification:** Order Columbiformes, Family Columbidae, Genus *Columba*

The Rock Dove is a species of pigeon widely distributed from Europe, North Africa, and West Asia to Central Asia. It nests on rocky outcrops and cliffs and has been bred and domesticated by humans since ancient times.

The “feral pigeons” now seen in cities around the world are believed to be feral descendants of domesticated Rock Doves. They are highly adaptable to urban environments and use buildings and bridges as nesting sites in place of rocky outcrops.

Plumage color varies among individuals; typical specimens have a bluish-gray body with a black wing band, and a green or purple metallic sheen visible from the neck to the breast. However, due to their long history of domestication, a wide variety of plumage colors and forms exist, including white, black, brown, and mottled patterns.

They are characterized by a relatively docile temperament and a high adaptability to human living environments. Derived from the rock pigeon, they have been bred to produce racing pigeons and numerous ornamental pigeon breeds.

**Characteristics**

* Extremely adaptable to urban environments
* Significant variation in plumage color and patterns depending on the individual and breed
* Has long been raised for poultry, ornamental, homing, and competitive purposes
* The species that served as the foundation for racing and ornamental pigeons
* Known for its strong homing instinct

A pair of rock pigeons (feral pigeons)

### ハシボソガラス（Carrion Crow）

**学名：** *Corvus corone*
**英名：** Carrion Crow
**分類：** スズメ目・カラス科・カラス属

ハシボソガラスは、ヨーロッパから東アジアにかけて広く分布するカラスの一種で、日本では全国的に見られます。農耕地や河川敷、森林周辺から都市部まで幅広い環境に適応しています。

日本で身近に見られるカラスの一種で、同じく都市部でよく見られるハシブトガラスと比較すると、名前の通り嘴が細く、額から嘴にかけてのラインが比較的なだらかなのが特徴です。

全身が光沢のある黒色で、体長はおよそ50cm前後。飛翔時には翼の幅が大きく、地上を歩きながら餌を探す姿もよく見られます。

雑食性で、昆虫や果実、種子、小動物など幅広い食物を利用します。非常に知能が高く、環境への適応力にも優れた鳥として知られています。

**特徴**

* 全身が光沢のある黒色
* ハシブトガラスより細くすっきりした嘴
* 額から嘴にかけてのラインが比較的なだらか
* 農地・河川敷・都市部など幅広い環境に生息
* 雑食性で環境への適応力が高い
* 高い学習能力と問題解決能力を持つことで知られる

**ハシブトガラスとの違い**

ハシボソガラスは、ハシブトガラスと比べて嘴が細く、額の出っ張りが小さいのが特徴です。また、地上を歩いて餌を探すことが多く、鳴き声にも違いがあります。

ハシボソガラス（嘴細烏）ペア

### Slender-billed Crow (Carrion Crow)

**Scientific Name:** *Corvus corone*
**Common Name:** Carrion Crow
**Classification:** Order Passeriformes, Family Corvidae, Genus Corvus

The Carrion Crow is a species of crow widely distributed from Europe to East Asia and is found throughout Japan. It adapts to a wide range of environments, from farmland and riverbanks to the edges of forests and urban areas.

It is a common species of crow in Japan. Compared to the Large-billed Crow, which is also frequently seen in urban areas, it is characterized—as its name suggests—by a slender beak and a relatively gentle curve from the forehead to the beak.

Its entire body is glossy black, and it measures approximately 50 cm in length. It has a wide wingspan when flying and is often seen walking on the ground while searching for food.

It is omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits, seeds, and small animals. It is known as a highly intelligent bird with an exceptional ability to adapt to its environment.

**Characteristics**

* Entire body is glossy black
* Beak is slimmer and more streamlined than that of the Large-billed Crow
* The line from the forehead to the beak is relatively gentle
* Inhabits a wide range of environments, including farmland, riverbanks, and urban areas
* Omnivorous with a high ability to adapt to its environment
* Known for its high learning ability and problem-solving skills

**Differences from the Large-billed Crow**

The Slender-billed Crow is characterized by a slimmer beak and a less prominent forehead compared to the Large-billed Crow. It also frequently walks on the ground to search for food, and its call differs from that of the Large-billed Crow.

A pair of slender-billed crows

### ハシブトガラス（Jungle Crow）

**学名：** *Corvus macrorhynchos*
**英名：** Jungle Crow
**分類：** スズメ目・カラス科・カラス属

ハシブトガラスは、東アジアから東南アジアにかけて分布する大型のカラスです。日本では北海道から南西諸島まで広く見られ、特に都市部や住宅地で身近な存在となっています。

全身が光沢のある黒色で、名前の通り太く大きな嘴を持つのが特徴です。額が前方に張り出しており、横から見ると嘴と額の境界に角度があるように見えます。体格も比較的大きく、都市部で見られるカラスの中では特に存在感のある種類です。

雑食性で、昆虫、果実、種子、小動物、動物の死骸など幅広い食物を利用します。都市環境への適応力が非常に高く、人間の生活圏でも効率よく食物を探します。

知能が高く、道具の利用や複雑な問題解決能力など、カラス類に特徴的な高い認知能力を持つことでも知られています。

**特徴**

* 大型で存在感のあるカラス
* 太く大きな嘴
* 額が前方に張り出している
* 全身が光沢のある黒色
* 都市部への適応力が非常に高い
* 雑食性で幅広い食物を利用
* 高い学習能力と問題解決能力を持つ

**ハシボソガラスとの違い**

ハシブトガラスは、ハシボソガラスよりも体格が大きく、嘴が太く、額が大きく張り出しています。都市部や繁華街などで見かける大型のカラスは、ハシブトガラスであることが多いです。

ハシブトガラス（嘴太烏）ペア

### Jungle Crow

**Scientific name:** *Corvus macrorhynchos*
**Common Name:** Jungle Crow
**Classification:** Order Passeriformes, Family Corvidae, Genus Corvus

The Jungle Crow is a large crow found throughout East and Southeast Asia. In Japan, it is widely seen from Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands and is a common sight, particularly in urban and residential areas.

Its entire body is a glossy black, and as its name suggests, it is characterized by a thick, large beak. Its forehead protrudes forward, and when viewed from the side, the boundary between the beak and the forehead appears angled. It is also relatively large in stature, making it a particularly striking species among the crows found in urban areas.

It is omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits, seeds, small animals, and animal carcasses. It is highly adaptable to urban environments and efficiently forages for food even within human settlements.

It is highly intelligent and known for possessing the advanced cognitive abilities characteristic of crows, such as tool use and the ability to solve complex problems.

**Characteristics**

* A large, imposing crow
* Thick, large beak
* Prominent, forward-projecting forehead
* Entire body is glossy black
* Highly adaptable to urban environments
* Omnivorous, with a wide range of food sources
* Possesses strong learning and problem-solving abilities

**Differences from the Slender-billed Crow**

The Thick-billed Crow is larger in build than the Slender-billed Crow, with a thicker beak and a more prominently protruding forehead. The large crows often seen in urban areas and busy downtown districts are usually Thick-billed Crows.