Birds to See in Japan in February
139 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Dusky Thrush and Great Cormorant. New this month: Wood Sandpiper, Pomarine Jaeger, Fulmar and Hoopoe and 5 more.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
From Japan’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 139 birds in February
139 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Feb
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Feb
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Feb
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.65% in Feb
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Feb
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Feb
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.78% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.67% in Feb
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Feb
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Feb
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Feb
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Feb
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.13% in Feb
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Feb
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Feb
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Feb
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Feb
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Feb
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.74% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.72% in Feb
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Feb
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Feb
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Feb
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.61% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Feb
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.53% in Feb
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.53% in Feb
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Feb
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.47% in Feb
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.46% in Feb
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Feb
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusWinter visitorUncommon85–105 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.45% in Feb
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Feb
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Feb
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.40% in Feb
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Feb
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Feb
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.37% in Feb
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.37% in Feb
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.36% in Feb
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Feb
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Feb
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Feb
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Feb
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.29% in Feb
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Feb
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.25% in Feb
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.25% in Feb
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Feb
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.24% in Feb
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Feb
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.21% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.20% in Feb
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Feb
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Feb
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Feb
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Feb
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.15% in Feb
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.14% in Feb
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Feb
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Feb
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Feb
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Feb
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Feb
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.10% in Feb
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Feb
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Feb
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Feb
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.08% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Feb
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Feb
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Feb
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Feb
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Feb
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Feb
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Feb
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.04% in Feb
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Feb
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Feb
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Feb
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Feb
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.03% in Feb
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Feb
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Feb
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Feb
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Feb
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.02% in Feb
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.02% in Feb
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Feb
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Feb
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorRare53–57 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxPassage migrantRare54–67 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Feb
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Feb
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Feb
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Feb
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Feb
FieldfareTurdus pilarisPassage migrantRare22–27 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Feb
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusScarceRare53–65 cmRegularly Feb · 0.00% in Feb
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Feb
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisPassage migrantRare16–20 cmRegularly Feb · 0.00% in Feb
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Feb
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Feb
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.00% in Feb
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made