ABOUT
About Blue Rock Thrush
About 23 cm long. Males and females look very different: males are blue from the head to the back with reddish-brown underparts, while females are grayish-brown with dark scaly barring. A year-round resident on Amami Oshima, it traditionally favors rocky coastlines and harbors — as its Japanese name ("rocky shore thrush") suggests — but in recent years it has been spreading inland and into towns across Japan, and on Amami it is increasingly seen around houses, on rooftops, power lines, and in parking lots. A strongly predatory bird, it feeds on crustaceans, insects, lizards, and even small rodents, and sings a high, clear, elaborate song. It is solitary and holds a year-round territory; breeding is thought to begin around March.
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.
