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Japanese Bird Names		J Bird Name Components		Pronunciation Guide

Japanese Bird Names

Below is a guide to the meanings of the Japanese names of some birds in the Okhotsk region. Though kanji characters exist for most bird names, they are normally written in the katakana phonetic script. Learning the meanings of the names might help you to remember them more easily. "Gen" in the Notes column refers to general terms. For the more difficult names, I referred to "Yachou no Namae (Names of Wild Birds)" by Naoya Abe (Yama-kei, 2008), marked by (*) when cited. Japanese bird guides typically divide the bird world into Water Birds and Land Birds, so I follow this convention here. [more birds will come]

For a guide to the pronunciation of Japanese bird names (refreshingly easy compared to many other languages), have a look at the Pronunciation Guide page.
The table on the Name Components page focuses on the more common components of Japanese bird names that appear in the Meaning column below.

Water Birds        Land Birds

    Water Birds

E Name	J Name (ro)	J Name (ka)	Meaning	Notes
Geese, Swans, Ducks, Mergansers, Grebes, Loons/Divers, Cormorants, Herons & Egrets
Bean Goose	Hishikui	ヒシクイ	hishi: Water chestnut; kui: Eating
White-fronted Goose	Ma-gan	マガン	ma: True; gan: Goose	Gen: gan = goose
Snow Goose	Haku-gan	ハクガン	haku: White; gan: Goose	White also "shiro/jiro"
Brant/Brent Goose	Koku-gan	コクガン	koku: Black; gan: Goose	Black also "kuro/guro"
Swan Goose	Sakatsura-gan	サカツラガン	saka: Saké; tsura: Face; gan: Goose	Reddish face makes it look like it had a drink (*)
Whooper Swan	Oo-hakuchou	オオハクチョウ	oo: Large; haku: White; chou: Bird	White also "shiro/jiro"; Bird also "tori/dori"
Tundra Swan	Ko-hakuchou	コハクチョウ	ko: Small; haku: White; chou: Bird	Gen: hakuchou = swan
Mallard	Ma-gamo	マガモ	ma: True; gamo: Duck	Gen: kamo = duck
Northern Shoveler	Hashibiro-gamo	ハシビロガモ	hashi: Bill; biro: Wide; gamo: Duck
Northern Pintail	Onaga-gamo	オナガガモ	o: Tail; naga: Long; gamo: Duck
Teal	Ko-gamo	コガモ	ko: Small; gamo: Duck
Tufted Duck	Kinkuro-hajiro	キンクロハジロ	kin: Gold; kuro: Black; ha: Wing; jiro: White	Gold eye, Black overall, White wings (*)
Greater Scaup	Suzu-gamo	スズガモ	suzu: Bell; gamo: Duck	Sounds like bells when flock takes flight (*)
Harlequin Duck	Shinori-gamo	シノリガモ	shinori: Star; gamo: Duck	Shinori is name of a star (*)
Black Scoter	Kuro-gamo	クロガモ	koku: Black; gamo: Duck
Common Goldeneye	Hoojiro-gamo	ホオジロガモ	hoo: Cheek; jiro: White; gamo: Duck
Long-tailed Duck	Koori-gamo	コオリガモ	koori: Ice; gamo: Duck
Common Merganser	Kawa-aisa	カワアイサ	kawa: River; aisa: Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser	Umi-aisa	ウミアイサ	umi: Sea; aisa: Merganser
Little Grebe	Kaitsuburi	カイツブリ	kaitsuburi: Grebe
Red-necked Grebe	Akaeri-kaitsuburi	アカエリカイツブリ	aka: Red; eri: Neck; kaitsuburi: Grebe	eri = collar, neckband
Great Crested Grebe	Kanmuri-kaitsuburi	カンムリカイツブリ	kanmuri: Crested; kaitsuburi: Grebe
Horned Grebe	Mimi-kaitsuburi	ミミカイツブリ	mimi: Ear; kaitsuburi: Grebe
Eared Grebe	Hajiro-kaitsuburi	ハジロカイツブリ	ha: Feather; jiro: White: kaitsuburi: Grebe	ha羽: Normally feather, sometimes wing
Pacific Loon/Diver	Shiroeri-oohamu	シロエリオオハム	shiro: White; eri: Neck; oohamu: Loon/Diver	Gavia pacifica
Yellow-billed Loon (US) White-billed Diver (UK)	Hashijiro-abi	ハシジロアビ	hashi: Bill; jiro: White; abi: Loon/Diver	Gavia adamsii
Great Northern Loon/Diver	Hashiguro-abi	ハシグロアビ	hashi: Bill; guro: Black; abi: Loon/Diver	Gavia immer; One sighting only, in Wakkanai (2003)
Great Cormorant	Kawa-u	カワウ	kawa: River; u: Cormorant
Japanese/Temmink's Cormorant	Umi-u	ウミウ	umi: Sea; u: Cormorant
Grey Heron	Ao-sagi	アオサギ	ao: Blue; sagi: Heron	Gen: sagi = heron/egret
Great (White) Egret	Dai-sagi	ダイサギ	dai: Great; sagi: Egret
Intermediate Egret	Chuu-sagi	チュウサギ	chuu: Middle; sagi: Egret
Little Egret	Ko-sagi	コサギ	ko: Little; sagi: Egret
Black-faced Spoonbill	Kurotsura-herasagi	クロツラヘラサギ	kuro: Black; tsura: Face; hera: Spatula; sagi: Heron	Gen: herasagi = spoonbill [rare and on RDB list]
Red-crowned Crane	Tanchou	タンチョウ	tan: Red; chou: Top	kanji: 丹頂 ("red peak")
Sandhill Crane	Kanada-zuru	カナダヅル	kanada: Canada; zuru: Crane	Gen: tsuru/-zuru = crane
Plovers, Sandpipers, other shorebirds
Pacific Golden Plover	Munaguro	ムナグロ	muna: Breast; guro: Black	Black also "kuro", "koku"
Black-bellied Plover (US) Grey Plover (UK)	Daizen	ダイゼン	dai: Large; zen: Food tray	Favored at banquets as it had a lot of meat (*)
Little Ringed Plover	Ko-chidori	コチドリ	ko: Little; chidori: Plover	Gen: chidori = plover
Lesser Sand Plover / Mongolian Plover	Medai-chidori	メダイチドリ	me: Eye; dai: Large; chidori: Plover
Greater Sand Plover	Oo-medai-chidori	オオメダイチドリ	oo: Large; me: Eye; dai: Large; chidori: Plover
Latham's Snipe	Ooji-shigi	オオジシギ	oo: Large; ji: Land; shigi: Sandpiper	Breeds in open areas on land (*)
Black-tailed Godwit	Oguro-shigi	オグロシギ	o: Tail; guro: Black; shigi: Sandpiper	Gen: shigi = sandpiper, stint, snipe, godwit, etc.
Bar-tailed Godwit	Oo-sorihashi-shigi	オオソリハシシギ	oo: Large; sori: Slide: hashi: Bill; shigi: Sandpiper	Sori = a slide children play on
Eurasian Curlew	Daishaku-shigi	ダイシャクシギ	dai: Large; shaku: Ladle; shigi: Sandpiper	Bill shaped like a ladle
Whimbrel	Chuushaku-shigi	チュウシャクシギ	chuu: Medium; shaku: Ladle; shigi: Sandpiper	Smaller than curlew
Far Eastern Curlew	Houroku-shigi	ホウロクシギ	houroku: Baking pan; shigi: Sandpiper	Plumage is the color of a baking pan (*)
Common Redshank	Akaashi-shigi	アカアシシギ	aka: Red; ashi: Leg; shigi: Sandpiper
Common Greenshank	Aoashi-shigi	アオアシシギ	Ao: Green; ashi: Leg; shigi: Sandpiper	ao sometimes = blue
Grey-tailed Tattler	Kiashi-shigi	キアシシギ	ki: Yellow; ashi: Leg; shigi: Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs	Oo-kiashi-shigi	オオキアシシギ	oo: Large; ki: Yellow; ashi: Leg; shigi: Sandpiper
Terek Sandpiper	Sorihashi-shigi	ソリハシシギ	sori: Slide: hashi: Bill; shigi: Sandpiper	Sori = a slide children play on
Common Sandpiper	Iso-shigi	イソシギ	iso: Seashore; shigi: Sandpiper	[Easily mistaken here for Grey-tailed Tattler]
Ruddy Turnstone	Kyoujo-shigi	キョウジョシギ	Kyoujo: Kyoto woman; shigi: Sandpiper	Plumage like kimono of Kyoto woman (*)
Rufous-necked Stint	Tounen	トウネン	tounen: This year	New "shigis" born this year, still small, passing through (*)
Long-toed Stint	Hibari-shigi	ヒバリシギ	hibari: Skylark; shigi: Sandpiper	Plumage like a skylark (*)
Dunlin	Hama-shigi	ハマシギ	hama: Beach; shigi: Sandpiper	Seen mainly at beaches and seashores (*)
Spoon-billed Sandpiper	Hera-shigi	ヘラシギ	hera: Spatula; shigi: Sandpiper	[rare and on RDB list]
Red-necked Phalarope	Akaeri-hireashi-shigi	アカエリヒレアシシギ	aka: Red; eri: Neck; hiré: Web; ashi: Leg/Foot; shigi: Sandpiper	[more at sea than at shore]
Red Phalarope	Haiiro-hireashi-shigi	ハイイロヒレアシシギ	haiiro: Gray; hiré: Web; ashi: Leg/Foot; shigi: Sandpiper
Gulls, Terns, other seabirds
Mew Gull	Kamome	カモメ	Kamome: Gull
Herring Gull	Seguro-kamome	セグロカモメ	se: Back; guro: Black; kamome: Gull
Slaty-backed Gull	Oo-seguro-kamome	オオセグロカモメ	oo: Large; se: Back; guro: Black; kamome: Gull
Glaucous Gull	Shiro-kamome	シロカモメ	shiro: White; kamome: Gull
Ross's Gull	Hime-kubiwa-kamome	ヒメクビワカモメ	hime: Princess; kubi: Neck: wa: Ring; kamome: Gull	kubiwa = collar (for animals)
Black-headed Gull	Yuri-kamome	ユリカモメ	yuri: Lilly; kamome: Gull
Black-tailed Gull	Umineko	ウミネコ	umi: Sea; neko: Cat	Call sounds like a cat (*)
Black-legged Kittiwake	Mitsuyubi-kamome	ミツユビカモメ	mitsu: Three; yubi: Toe; kamome: Gull	"yubi" is also finger指 but here it is toe趾.
Red-legged Kittiwake	Akaashi-mitsuyubi-kamome	アカアシミツユビカモメ	aka: Red; ashi: Leg; mitsu: Three; yubi: Toe; kamome: Gull
Common Tern	Ajisashi	アジサシ	aji: Horse mackerel; sashi: Pierce	Gen: ajisashi = tern
Little Tern	Ko-ajisashi	コアジサシ	ko: Little; ajisashi: Tern
Whiskered Tern	Kurohara-ajisashi	クロハラアジサシ	kuro: Black; hara: Belly; ajisashi: Tern
Short-tailed Shearwater	Hashiboso-mizunagidori	ハシボソミズナギドリ	hashi: Bill; boso: Narrow; mizu: Water; nagi: Mowing; dori: Bird	Gen: mizunagidori = shearwater Named for the way it takes off across water (*)
Laysan Albatross	Ko-ahoudori	コアホウドリ	ko: Small; ahou: Idiot; dori: Bird	Easily-hunted "idiot bird" (*); [on RDB]; Gen: ahoudori = albatross
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel	Haiiro-umitsubame	ハイイロウミツバメ	Haiiro: Gray; umi: Sea; tsubame: Swallow	Gen: umitsubame = storm-petrel
Northern Fulmar	Furuma-kamome	フルマカモメ	furuma: Fulmar; kamome: Gull
Common Murre	Umigarasu	ウミガラス	umi: Sea; garasu: Crow	Gen: umigarasu = murre/guillemot Gen: crow = karasu
Thick-billed Murre	hashibuto-umigarasu	ハシブトウミガラス	hashi: Bill; buto: Thick; umigarasu: Murre
Spectacled Guillemot	Keimafuri	ケイマフリ	(Ainu) kema: Leg; huré: Red (*)	[on RDB list]
Ancient Murrelet	Umisuzume	ウミスズメ	umi: Sea; suzume: Sparrow	[RDB]; Gen: umisuzume = murrelet/auklet
Crested Auklet	Etorofu-umisuzume	エトロフウミスズメ	Etorofu: Iturup Is.; umisuzume: Auklet	Iturup Island in So. Kuriles
Least Auklet	Ko-umisuzume	コウミスズメ	ko: Small; umisuzume: Auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet	Utou	ウトウ	uto: Hole; u: Cormorant	In No. Honshu dialect, uto = hole; digs horizontal hole like cormorant for nest (*)
Tufted Puffin	Etopirika	エトピリカ	(Ainu) eto: Bill; pirika: Beautiful (*)	[on RDB list]

To Top

    Land Birds

E Name	J Name (ro)	J Name (ka)	Meaning	Notes
Owls, Raptors
Blakiston's Fish-Owl	Shima-fukurou	シマフクロウ	shima: Island; fukurou: Owl	only Hokkaido
Ural Owl	Ezo Fukurou (ssp)	エゾフクロウ	Ezo: Hokkaido; fukurou: Owl	Ezo = old name for Hokkaido Gen: fukurou = owl
White-tailed Eagle	Ojiro-washi	オジロワシ	o: Tail; jiro: White; washi: Eagle	White also "shiro", "haku"
Stellar's Sea-Eagle	Oo-washi	オオワシ	oo: Large; washi: Eagle	Gen: washi = eagle
Black Kite	Tobi	トビ	orig "flight" but diff kanji	鳶 is current kanji
Peregrine Falcon	Hayabusa	ハヤブサ	orig "fast wing"	隼 is current kanji
Woodpeckers
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Aka-gera	アカゲラ	aka: Red; gera: Woodpecker	Gen: woodpecker = kitsutsuki 啄木鳥 ("tree-pecking bird"); these kanji are also used in woodpecker names but are pronounced "gera" when part of a name.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Ko-aka-gera	コアカゲラ	ko: Small; aka: Red; gera: Woodpecker
White-backed Woodpecker	Oo-aka-gera	オオアカゲラ	oo: Large; aka: Red; gera: Woodpecker
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker	Ko-gera	コゲラ	ko: Small; gera: Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker	Yama-gera	ヤマゲラ	yama: Mountain; gera: Woodpecker
Eurasian Wryneck	Arisui	アリスイ	ari: Ant; sui: Suck	Member of woodpecker (kitsutsuki) family
Cuckoos, Pigeons, Doves, Grouses
Common Cuckoo	Kakkou	カッコウ	Name comes from the male's call.	French: Coucou; German: Kuckuck; Dutch: Koekoek; Spanish: Cuco
Oriental Cuckoo	Tsutsu-dori	ツツドリ	tsutsu: Pipe; dori: Bird	Male's call sounds like bamboo pipe when hand is tapped at the open end (*)
Japanese Green Pigeon	Ao-bato	アオバト	ao: Blue/green; bato: Pigeon	Hato 鳩 = pigeon Pronounced "bato" when part of a name.
Oriental Turtle Dove	Kiji-bato	キジバト	kiji: Pheasant; bato: Pigeon
Hazel Grouse	Ezo-raichou	エゾライチョウ	Ezo: Hokkaido; raichou: Grouse	Ezo 蝦夷 = old name for Hokkaido
Kingfishers
Common Kingfisher	Kawa-semi	カワセミ	kawa: River; semi: Kingfisher	Kanji for "kawasemi" 翡翠 is also used for "semi" as in Yama-semi 山翡翠, and pronounced "shoubin" when used in name for Aka-shoubin. Also means "jade", pronounced "hisui".
Crested Kingfisher	Yama-semi	ヤマセミ	yama: Mountain; semi: Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher	Aka-shoubin	アカショウビン	aka: Red; shoubin: Kingfisher
Swallows, Martins, Swifts
Barn Swallow	Tsubamé	ツバメ	Tsubamé: Swallow	Tsubamé = swallow 燕
Sand Martin	Shoudou-tsubamé	ショウドウツバメ	Shoudou: "small cave"; Tsubamé: Swallow	Small swallow that has its nests in caves (*), i.e. holes in sand embankments
Asian House Martin	Iwa-tsubamé	イワツバメ	iwa: rock/crag; Tsubamé: Swallow	Breeds not only in rocks and crags but also under bridges near towns, Abashiri, too!
Pacific Swift	Amatsubamé	アマツバメ	Amatsubamé: Swift	Ama+tsubamé 雨燕 Kanji = "rain swallow"
White-throated Needletail	Hario-amatsubamé	ハリオアマツバメ	hari: Needle; o: Tail; amatsubamé: Swift
Skylark, Wagtails, Waxwings, Bulbul, Shrikes, Dipper
Eurasian Skylark	Hibari	ヒバリ	Hibari: Skylark	Hibari 雲雀 Kanji = "cloud sparrow"
Gray/Grey Wagtail	Ki-sekirei	キセキレイ	ki: Yellow; sekirei: Wagtail	Seki+rei 鶺鴒 Each kanji separately also means wagtail (according to Nelson's 1974).
Yellow Wagtail	Tsumenaga-sekirei	ツメナガセキレイ	tsume: Nail; naga: Long; sekirei: Wagtail
White Wagtail	Haku-sekirei	ハクセキレイ	haku: White; sekirei: Wagtail	White also "shiro", or "jiro" when part of a name
Japanese Wagtail	Seguro-sekirei	セグロセキレイ	se: Back; guro: Black; sekirei: Wagtail	Black also "kuro", "koku"; "guro" when part of a name
Bohemian Waxwing	Ki-renjaku	キレンジャク	ki: Yellow; renjaku: Waxwing	Ren+jaku 連雀 Kanji = "together sparrow", since they fly as a group (*)
Japanese Waxwing	Hi-renjaku	ヒレンジャク	hi: Scarlet; renjaku: Waxwing
Brown-eared Bulbul	Hiyodori	ヒヨドリ	"hiyo bird"	Hiyodori 鵯 Name from familiar call that sounds like "hiyohiyo" (*)
Bull-headed Shrike	Mozu	モズ	"100 tongues" bird	Mozu 百舌 (100 tongues) Because it mimics the calls of a wide variety of birds (*)
Brown Shrike	Aka-mozu	アカモズ	aka: Red; mozu: Shrike
Brown Dipper	Kawa-garasu	カワガラス	kawa: River; garasu: Crow	Kawa+garasu 河烏 Crow = karasu, "garasu" when part of a name
Wren, Stubtail, Warblers
Eurasian Wren	Misosazai	ミソサザイ	"small bird" (sazai) in a "channel" (miso) (*)	Misosazai 鷦鷯; Kanji have ancient origins.
Goldcrest	Kiku-itadaki	キクイタダキ	kiku: Chrysanthemum; itadaki: Received	Kiku+itadaki 菊戴; Got a chrysanthemum on its crest (*)
Asian Stubtail	Yabusamé	ヤブサメ	yabu: Grove; (s)amé: Rain	Yabu+same 薮雨; Call like soft rain falling in a grove (*)
Japanese Bush Warbler	Uguisu	ウグイス	"Bird that calls 'u ku i'" (*)	Uguisu 鶯; Also called "Hokkekyo" from its call.
Gray's Grasshopper Warbler	Ezo-sennyuu	エゾセンニュウ	Ezo: Hokkaido; sennyuu: GW	Ezo+sennyuu 蝦夷仙入 sennyuu = "becoming a hermit", moves freely in tall grass (*)
Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler	Shima-sennyuu	シマセンニュウ	shima: Island; sennyuu: GW	Shima+sennyuu 島仙入
Lanceolated Grasshopper Warbler	Makino-sennyuu	マキノセンニュウ	makino: Meadow; sennyuu: GW	Makino+sennyuu 牧野仙入
Black-browed Reed Warbler	Ko-yoshikiri	コヨシキリ	ko: Small; yoshikiri: RW	Ko+yoshikiri 小葦切; yoshi 葦 = reed
Oriental Reed Warbler	Oo-yoshikiri	コヨシキリ	oo: Large; yoshikiri: RW	Oo+yoshikiri 大葦切; yoshi 葦 = reed
Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler	Sendai-mushikui	センダイムシクイ	sendai: (unclear*); mushi: Insect; kui: Eat	Sendai+mushikui 仙台 (千代？*) 虫食
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler	Ezo-mushikui	エゾムシクイ	Ezo: Hokkaido; mushi: Insect; kui: Eat	Ezo+mushikui 蝦夷虫食; Sakhalin: large island north of Hokkaido in Russia.
Kamchatka Leaf Warbler	Oo-mushikui	エゾムシクイ	oo: Large; mushi: Insect; kui: Eat	Oo+mushikui 大虫食; Kamchatka: large peninsula ne of Hokkaido in Russia.
Members of the Flycatcher family (Hitaki-ka)
Siberian Rubythroat	Nogoma	ノゴマ	no: Field/Meadow; goma: Horse	No+goma 野駒; Koma 駒 = horse/pony; Pronounced "goma" when part of a name
Japanese Robin	Komadori	コマドリ	koma: Horse; dori: Bird	Koma+dori 駒鳥; Pronounced "dori" when part of a name
Siberian Stonechat	No-bitaki	ノビタキ	no: Field/Meadow; bitaki: Flycatcher	No+bitaki 野鶲; hitaki 鶲 is "bitaki" when in a name
Red-flanked Bluetail	Ruri-bitaki	ルリビタキ	ruri: Lapis lazuli blue; bitaki: Flycatcher	Ruri+bitaki 瑠璃鶲
Siberian Blue Robin	Ko-ruri	コルリ	ko: Small; ruri: Lapis lazuli blue	Ko+ruri 小瑠璃
Blue-and-white Flycatcher	Oo-ruri	オオルリ	oo: Large; ruri: Lapis lazuli blue	Oo+ruri 大瑠璃

[by Douglas Braat]