Small Scopes

Winter birdwatching in Japan

"In the bare oaks and elms of the countryside woodlands, look for mixed flocks of various species of tit. These birds are small--sparrow-sized or even tinier--but are very active. They flit from branch to branch in a seemingly never-ending search for food. Their omnivorous fare includes spiders and insect larva, as well as various seeds and fruits.

Tits (genus Parus) are familiar birds all over the world, with more than 50 species. In the United States they are commonly referred to as chickadees, and here in Japan they are called kara.

Japan is home to five species of tit. One of these, the marsh tit (hashibutogara), lives only in Hokkaido, but the other four species--the willow tit (ko-gara), coal tit (higara), great tit (shijukara) and varied tit (yamagara)--can be seen all over the country. During the breeding season, each pair establishes and aggressively defends a territory around their nest. During the winter months, however, the birds band together and forage in small flocks. Often several species of tit, as well as other types of birds, can be seen traveling and feeding together."

posted by Tako John @ 9:40 AM