ABOUT
About Ryukyu Robin
About 14 cm long, weighing about 18 g. A species endemic to Japan that breeds from the Danjo Islands through the Tokara Islands, Amami Oshima and its surrounding islets, to Tokunoshima; designated a Natural Monument in 1970. It is a year-round resident on Amami Oshima, but males sing especially often to proclaim territory during the breeding season from March to June, so following the song early in the morning is the best way to find one at that time of year. Males have a vivid orange-red head, back, and tail, and the black patches on the breast and flanks look like a "beard," which gives the species its Japanese name. Females are overall plainer in color. It forages for insects on the forest floor of evergreen broadleaf forest. A different species lives in northern Okinawa Island, but the two ranges do not overlap.
SAFETY
Observation Safety Notes
Please enjoy Amami's wildlife through photographs. Some species are protected by law or local ordinance, and capturing or removing them is prohibited. In special protection zones within the national park, collecting any wildlife is prohibited entirely. Please check the notes on this page, and confirm local rules before visiting any site.
Wild birds aren't something to catch and take home — they're best enjoyed by observing and photographing them without disturbing them. Keep a good distance, and avoid using playback calls or food to lure them in. Parent birds and chicks are especially sensitive while nesting or breeding; approaching too closely or making noise can cause the nest to be abandoned or the chicks to fail to fledge successfully. Avoid flash or strong lights when photographing at night, and don't share information online that could reveal a nest's exact location.
This bird is subject to: “Capture and transfer prohibited (Natural Monument)”. Its capture, collection, or transfer is prohibited by law.
