ABOUT
About Northern Lapwing
About 32 cm long, with a long crest on the head, a back with a glossy greenish-black sheen, and a white belly. Its elegant appearance has earned it the nickname "winter lady." It breeds across Eurasia and visits Japan as a winter migrant. On Amami Oshima it begins to appear in open farmland such as rice paddies and fields from around late October, staying through the winter until around late March or April of the following year. It moves in flocks, foraging in the soil for earthworms and insects. Unlike the creatures of the night forest that this site mainly features, it is a messenger of winter that is easy to observe by day in open farmland.
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.
