Birds to See in Japan in November
135 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in November
Of these, the most often recorded are Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow and Great Cormorant. New this month: Goldeneye, Steller's Sea-eagle, Smew and Northern Lapwing and 17 more.
On the move in November
GBIF · NovArriving
At their peak
Eurasian WigeonBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jun
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Sep–Jun
Greater White-fronted GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Taiga Bean GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Cackling GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Snow GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
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 135 birds in November
135 birds
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 3.66% in Nov
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.42% in Nov
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 3.06% in Nov
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.88% in Nov
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Nov
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.51% in Nov
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Nov
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Nov
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Nov
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 2.03% in Nov- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 2.00% in Nov
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Nov
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Nov
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Nov
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Nov
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.22% in Nov
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Nov- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.06% in Nov
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Nov
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Nov
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Nov
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Nov
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Nov
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.85% in Nov
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.73% in Nov
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.70% in Nov
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Nov
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Nov
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Nov
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Nov
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Nov
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Nov
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Nov
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Nov
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.29% in Nov
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.28% in Nov
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Nov
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Nov
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Nov
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Nov
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.24% in Nov
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Nov
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Nov
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.21% in Nov
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Nov
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Nov
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Nov
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Nov- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Nov
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in Nov
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.16% in Nov
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Nov
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Nov
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Nov
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Nov
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Nov
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Nov
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Nov
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.13% in Nov
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Nov
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.11% in Nov
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Nov
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Nov
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.10% in Nov
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Nov
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Nov- Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Nov
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Nov
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Nov
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Nov
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Nov
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Nov
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Nov
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Nov
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Nov
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusWinter visitorUncommon85–105 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Nov
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Nov
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Nov
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Nov
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Nov- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Nov
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Nov
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Nov
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Nov
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in Nov
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Nov- Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Nov
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Nov
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in Nov
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Nov
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Nov
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Nov
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Nov
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Nov
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Nov
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Nov
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Nov
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Nov
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Nov
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Nov
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorRare53–57 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Nov
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Nov
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Nov
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Nov
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Nov
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Nov
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Nov
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Nov
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Nov
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Nov
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Nov
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Nov
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.00% in Nov
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Nov
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Nov
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Nov
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in Nov
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Nov
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Nov
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Nov
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Nov
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantRare15–16 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Nov
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Nov
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