ABOUT
About Amami Thrush
About 30 cm long. A resident bird found only on Amami Oshima, with a yellowish-brown ground color marked with black, tiger-like blotches. Designated a national Natural Monument and a Nationally Rare Wild Species. It prefers the dim forest floor of mature broadleaf forest and feeds on earthworms and the like. During the breeding season from February to early April, it sings a clear, beautiful "kyoroon, tsi-i" call in the dim light before dawn and at dusk. It once declined so sharply due to logging and the impact of invasive species that it was called a "phantom bird," but as the forest has recovered, its population has been on a recovering trend in recent years, and in March 2026 the Ministry of the Environment's 5th Red List downgraded its status from Vulnerable (VU) to Near Threatened (NT).
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.
