Japanese robin

The Japanese robin is a small passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae. This species was formerly named Erithacus akahige, or Komadori. Its range extends from the south of the Kuril and Sakhalin Islands throughout Japan.

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Distribution

Region

East Asia

Typical Environment

Breeds in cool, moist broadleaf and mixed forests with dense understory, often along shaded ravines and near streams. Prefers mature woodland with thick ground cover, bamboo or shrub tangles where it forages on the leaf litter. Outside the breeding season it uses lower-elevation forests, thickets, and well-vegetated secondary growth. It occurs from southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands through Hokkaido, Honshu, and other Japanese islands, wintering farther south within East Asia.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size14–15 cm

Wing Span22–24 cm

Male Weight0.016 kg

Female Weight0.015 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Formerly placed in the genus Erithacus, the Japanese robin is now classified as Larvivora. In Japanese it has been called 'komadori,' a name also associated with the closely related Ryukyu robin after taxonomic splits. It breeds from southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands through much of Japan and is celebrated for a clear, fluting song that carries through shaded forests.

Gallery

Japanese robin

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically solitary or in pairs during the breeding season, holding well-defined territories in dense forest. The nest is a cup of moss and leaves placed on or near the ground among roots or low shrubs. Pairs are monogamous for the season, and both adults feed the nestlings.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Rich, fluty whistles delivered from shaded perches, often a series of clear, ringing notes that carry far through the forest. Calls include thin, high contact notes and sharper alarms from the understory.

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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

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