Birds to See in Japan in March
140 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Dusky Thrush and Great Cormorant. New this month: Barn Swallow, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and Common Tern and 3 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
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 140 birds in March
140 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Mar
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Mar
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in Mar
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.76% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in Mar
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Mar
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.99% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.70% in Mar
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Mar
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Mar
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.13% in Mar
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Mar
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Mar
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.83% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.80% in Mar
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Mar
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.73% in Mar
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Mar
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.58% in Mar
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Mar
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Mar
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.49% in Mar
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Mar
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.40% in Mar
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Mar
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.31% in Mar
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Mar
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Mar
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.22% in Mar
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Mar
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.18% in Mar
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Mar
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Mar
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.17% in Mar
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.15% in Mar
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.15% in Mar
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Mar
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.11% in Mar
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusWinter visitorUncommon85–105 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Mar
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Mar
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Mar
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.08% in Mar
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Mar
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Mar
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Mar
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Mar
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Mar
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Mar
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Mar
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in Mar
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Mar
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Mar
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.04% in Mar
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Mar
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.02% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Mar
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Mar
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Mar
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Mar
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Mar
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Mar
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Mar
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in Mar
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Mar
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.01% in Mar
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.01% in Mar
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Mar
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Mar
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Mar
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Mar
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in Mar
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Mar
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxPassage migrantRare54–67 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.00% in Mar
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
FieldfareTurdus pilarisPassage migrantRare22–27 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Mar
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