Japanese night heron

The Japanese night heron is a species of night heron found in East Asia. It breeds in Japan, and winters in the Philippines and Indonesia. It is also seen in the spring and summer in Korea and the Russian Far East.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

East and Southeast Asia

Typical Environment

The Japanese night heron breeds mainly in Japan in warm, moist forests, especially evergreen broadleaf woodlands with clean, shaded streams. In the non-breeding season it migrates to the Philippines and Indonesia, using lowland forests, riparian thickets, and nearby wetlands. It is occasionally recorded in Korea and the Russian Far East during spring and summer passage. The species favors dense understory for cover and foraging, and may also use forest edges and traditional rice paddies near woodlands.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Subtropical

Characteristics

Size50–57 cm

Wing Span80–95 cm

Male Weight0.55 kg

Female Weight0.5 kg

Life Expectancy12 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This elusive forest heron is most active at dusk and dawn, often slipping silently through dense understory near streams. Its dependence on mature evergreen broadleaf forests makes it highly sensitive to logging and river alteration. Habitat loss across both breeding and wintering grounds is the main driver of its decline. Its deep, hooting calls at dusk can reveal its presence even when it remains unseen.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats followed by low glides through trees

Social Behavior

Typically solitary or in pairs during the breeding season. Nests singly or in very loose groups, placing a stick platform in trees near streams. Both sexes likely share incubation and chick-rearing duties. Outside breeding, it remains unobtrusive and dispersed.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Vocalizations are low, booming hoots and harsh croaks, most often given at dusk or at night. Calls carry through forest understory and can be the best clue to its presence.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Japanese pygmy woodpecker

The Japanese pygmy woodpecker or simply pygmy woodpecker is a species of woodpecker. It is found in coniferous and deciduous forests in Russia, China, Korea and Japan. This species has also been placed in the genus Dendrocopos or Picoides. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.

Japanese quail

The Japanese quail, also known as the coturnix quail, is a species of Old World quail found in East Asia. First considered a subspecies of the common quail, it is now considered as a separate species. The Japanese quail has played an active role in the lives of humanity since the 12th century, and continues to play major roles in industry and scientific research. Where it is found, the species is abundant across most of its range. Currently, there are a few true breeding mutations of the Japanese quail. The varieties currently found in the United States include Pharaoh, Italian, Manchurian, Tibetan, Rosetta, along with the following mutations: sex-linked brown, fee, roux, silver, andalusian, blue/blau, white winged pied, progressive pied, albino, calico, sparkly, as well as non-color mutations such as celadon.

Japanese sparrowhawk

The Japanese sparrowhawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. The bird is known by many alternative names such as the Japanese lesser, Asiatic, or Eastern sparrowhawk. This species is a small raptor with broader and rounder wings and a shorter tail. Its total length measures 23–30 centimetres (9.1–11.8 in). It has a dark back and whitish underside with brown-grey barring and red-brown colouring on the sides in males, and with heavier brown barring on the abdomen in females. Both sexes have a stripe across the throat, but its more obvious in the female. Is it typically identified by its appearance, but occasionally produces a chattering kiki-kik-kik... sound. This species generally breeds in parts of Russia, Korea, Japan, and China. There are three subspecies of Japanese sparrowhawk that differ by distribution and appearance. The species is globally listed as least concern, although it is listed as endangered in Japan and protected in China.

Japanese thrush

The Japanese thrush is a species of bird in the thrush family Turdidae. The species is also known as the grey thrush or the Japanese grey thrush. The species was once split into two subspecies, with birds breeding in China being treated as the subspecies T. c. lateus,, but today differences are attributed to natural variation and the species is treated as being monotypic.