List of birds on stamps of Japan

This page identifies and classifies the birds found in Japan and featured on Japanese stamps and by some other countries showing Japanese sceneries on their postage stamps.

Each species' name is followed by the chronological list of postage stamps featuring it, with the date of issue, value, and catalogue numbers (M = Michel, Sc = Scott, SG = Stanley and Gibbon, YT = Yvert et Tellier)

Family classification follows Sibley, Monroe and Ahlquist.

Phasianidae (pheasants)

• Jungle fowl (Gallus gallus)

  1950, 5 y. (long-tailed)

  1973, 50 y. (by J. Ito)

  1988, 60 y. (International Congress)

• Japanese pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) - Japanese kiji

  1978, 100 y. (detail of door painting)

• Copper pheasant (Syrmaticus soemmerringii) - Japanese yamadori

  1961, 80 y. (with Nippon)

  ?, 80 y. (without Nippon)

• Blue peacock (Pavo cristatus)

  1975, 50 y. (after K. Ogata)

• Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus japonicus) - Japanese raichô

  1963, 10 y.

  9/10/1990, ?

Anatidae (swans, geese and ducks)

• Whistling swan (Cygnus columbianus jankowskii) - Japanese ko-hakuchô

  1/10/1990, ? (Miyagi prefecture)

• Mute swan (Cygnus olor) - Japanese kobu-hakuchô

  1971, 5 y.

• White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons frontalis) - Japanese ma-gan

  15/9/1946, 1,30 y.

  1/9/1947, 4 y.

  1993, ? (Ansner instead of Anser)

• Graylag goose (Anser anser rubrirostris) - Japanese haiiro-gan

  ?, 8

• Snow goose (Anser caerulescens hyperboreus) - Japanese haku-gan

  15/9/1946, 1,30 y.

  1/9/1947, 4 y.

• Bean goose (Anser fabalis) - Japanese hishikui

  1875, 12 s.

• Brant (Branta bernicla orientalis) - Japanese koku-gan

  1949, 8 y.

• Hutchins goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) - Japanese shijûkara-gan

  25/11/1983, 60 y.

• Baikal teal (Anas formosa) - Japanese tomoe gamo

  1993, ?

  25/5/2001, ?

• Wigeon (Anas penelope) - Japanese hidori-gamo

  1/2/2001, 50 y.

• Spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha) - Japanese karu-gamo

  1992, 90 y.

  1994, 90 y. (SG 2223)

• Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) - Japanese oshidori

  1952, 5 y.

  1985, 60 y. (traditional handicraft)

  1992, 41 y.

  1993, 62 y.

  1998, 110 y. (YT 2473)

Picidae (woodpeckers)

• White-backed woodpecker (Davecopos leucotos owstonii) - Japanese ô-aka-gera

  1984, 60 y. (SG 1742)

• Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) - Japanese kumagera

  Liberia, 1971, 3 c. (Hokkaidō scenery)

  1995, 80 y. (SG 2401)

• Pryer's woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii) - Japanese noguchi-gera

  Ryukyu, 15/2/1966, 3 c.

  Madagascar, 16/9/1975, 25 f. (YT 567)

  25/11/1983, 60 y.

  Mongolia, 25/3/1987, 4 t.

Alcedinidae (kingfishers)

• Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis bengalensis) - Japanese kawasemi

  1993, ?

• Greater pied kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris) - Japanese yamasemi

  13/1/1994, ?

  24/1/1994, ?

  1/8/2001, ?

  25/3/2002, ?

• Ruddy kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) - Japanese aka-shôbin

  1992, 62 y.

Cuculidae (cuckoos)

• Common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus telephonus) - Japanese kakkô

  1986, 60 y.

• Little cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus) - Japanese hototogisu

  1952, 3 y.

  1988, 60 y. (SG 1944)

Strigidae (owls)

• Blakiston's fish-owl (Ketupa blakistoni blakistoni) - Japanese shima-fukurô

  1984, 60 y.

  23/7/1999, 50 y. (Hokkaidō prefecture)

• Ural owl (Strix uralensis) - Japanese fukurô

  8/10/1979, 100 y. (SG 1546)

• Oriental scops owl (Otus sunia japonicus) - Japanese konoha-zuku

  18/9/1973, 20 y. (forest lane) (SG 1330)

  ?, 62 y. (Aichi prefecture)

Columbidae (pigeons)

• Japanese wood pigeon (Columba janthina nitens) - Japanese karasu-bato

  1984, 60 y. (SG 1735)

• Ryukyu wood pigeon (Columba jouyi) - Japanese ryukyu-karasu-bato

  2000, 80 y. (YT 2766)

• Collared turtle dove (Streptopelia decaocto decaocto) - Japanese shirako-bato

  1/5/2000, ?

• Rufous turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis) - Japanese kiji-bato

  1963, 10 y.

  6/10/1981, 130 y.

  1992, 62 y.

Gruidae (cranes)

• Japanese crane (Grus japonensis) - Japanese tanchô

  1953, 10 y.

  1959, 10 y. (flying)

  1961, 100 y. (without Nippon)

  1966, 15 y.

  1966, 100 y. (with Nippon)

  1974, 20 y.

  1974, 20 y. (flying)

  1975, 20 y.

  1990, 62 y. (Hokkaidō prefecture)

  1993, 62 y. (with chicks)

  1993, 62 y. (flock)

  2000, ? (Okayama prefecture) (YT 2769)

  2000, ? (Okayama prefecture) (YT 2772)

  2001, 80 y. (YT 2978)

  2001, 80 y. (YT 2979)

• Hooded crane (Grus monacha) - Japanese nabe-zuru

  1991, 62 y.

• White-naped crane (Grus vipio) - Japanese mana-zuru

  1993, 62 y.

Rallidae (rails)

• Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus indica) - Japanese ban

  2003, 80 y.

• Okinawa rail (Gallirallus okinawae) - Japanese yanbaru-kuina

  1983, 60 y.

Scolopacidae

• Spotted greenshank (Tringa guttifer) - Japanese karafuto-aoashi-shigi

  1984, 60 y.

• Latham's snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) - Japanese ôji-shigi

  1991, 62 y.

Rostratulidae (painted snipe)

• Painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis benghalensis) - Japanese tama-shigi

  1992, 62 y.

Charadriidae (plovers)

• Snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis) - Japanese shiro-chidori

  1994, 80 y. (préfecture ; Futamiura sea)

• Little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) - Japanese ko-chidori

  ?, 110 y. (SG 2223a)

Laridae (gulls, terns and puffins)

• Black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) - Japanese umineko

  1965, 10 y.

  1991, 62 y. (SG 2162)

• Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) - Japanese etopirika

  1992, 62 y.

  23/7/1999, 50 y. (Hokkaidō prefecture)

• Common guillemot (Uria aalge inornata) - Japanese umigarasu

  Liberia, 1971, 10 c. (Hokkaidō scenery)

Accipitridae (hawks)

• White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) - Japanese ojiro-washi

  1993

• Steller's sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus pelagicus) - Japanese ô-washi

  23/7/1999, 50 y. (Hokkaidō prefecture)

• Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos japonica) - Japanese inu-washi

  1971, 90 y. (SG 1237)

  2002, 80 y. (SG 3005)

• Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela perplexus) - Japanese kanmuri-washi

  1983, 60 y. (SG 1730)

• Black kite (Milvus migrans - Japanese tobi

  1997, 50 y. (SG 2497)

• Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) - Japanese ô-taka

  ?, ?

• Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) - Japanese hai-taka

  2002, 80 y. (SG 3006)

Falconidae (falcons)

• Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus fruitii) - Japanese hayabusa

  1984, 60 y.

Podicipedidae (grebes)

• Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei) - Japanese kaitsuburi

  1991, 62 y.

Sulidae (boobies)

• Brown booby (Sula leucogaster plotus) - Japanese katsuodori

  1991, 62 y.

Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants)

• Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) - Japanese kawa-u

  1959, ? (SG 808)

• Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) - Japanese umi-u

  1952, 100 y.

  1959, 10 y.

Ardeidae (herons)

• Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) - Japanese ama-sagi

  1993, 62 y.

Threskiornithidae (ibises)

• Crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) - Japanese toki

  1960, 10 y.

  1981, 60 y.

  16/7/1999, 80 y. - This stamp features two toki (Youyou and Yangyang) given by China (YT 2597).

  16/7/1999, 80 y. - Kin, the last Japanese toki (YT 2598).

Ciconiidae (storks)

• Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) - Japanese kônotori

  1963, 10 y.

  1984

  1994, 50 y. (Hyogo prefecture)

  1999, 80 y. (YT 2660)

Procellariidae (shearwaters and albatrosses)

• Streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) - Japanese ô-mizunagidori

  1992, 62 y.

• Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) - Japanese ahôdori

  ?, 20 y.

  Ryukyu, 1972, 5 c.

  1975, 20 y.

Songbirds

• Laniidae
  • Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus) - Japanese mozu

    1986, 60 y. (YT 1840)

    1998, 120 y. (SG 2223b ; YT 2417)

• Corvidae
  • Crow (Corvus corone) - Japanese hashiboso-garasu

    Dominica, 15/5/2001, 1,65 $ (painting of Tsuji Kakô)

  • Rook (Corvus frugilegus pastinator) - Japanese miyama-garasu

    6/10/1976, 100 y.

  • Lidth's jay Garrulus lidthi - Japanese ruri-kakesu

    1963, 10 y. (SG 929)

    Madagascar, 1975, 300 f. (YT BF 8)

  • Magpie Pica pica sericea - Japanese kasasagi

    1987, 60 y.

• Muscicapidae
  • Blue-and-white flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana) - Japanese ô-ruri

    1982, 60 y. (afforestation campaign)

  • Narcissus flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) - Japanese ki-bitaki

    1996, ? (SG 2413)

    1996, ? (SG 2414)

  • Black paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) - Japanese sankôchô

    1993, 41 y. (Shizuoka prefecture)

  • Ryukyu robin (Erithacus komadori) - Japanese akahige

    1976, 50 y.

  • Dusky thrush (Turdus naumanni) - Japanese tsugumi

    22/12/2000, ?

• Paridae
  • Great tit (Parus major) - Japanese shijû-kara

    1971, 15 y.

    1997, 70 y. (SG 2220a)

  • Varied tit (Sittiparus varius) - Japanese yama-gara

    1948, 5 + 2,5 y. (au nid, nourrissant ses petits)

    1992, 72 y.

• Hirundinidae
  • Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) - Japanese tsubame

    12/12/1946, 1 y.

    Centrafrique, 20/5/1997, 430 f. (work of Hiroshige)

    Palau, 2/6/1997, 32 c.

    Guyana, 22/6/1999, 80 $ (work of Hokusai)

    Micronesia, 25/3/2002, 60 c.

    1/4/2003, 80 y.

  • Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica) - Japanese ryukyu-tsubame

    Ryukyu, 10/5/1966, 3 c.

• Zosteropidae
  • Bonin islands white-eye (Apalopteron familiare hahashima) - Japanese meguro - Endemic to Ogasawara (Bonin) islands. Formerly classified with honeyeaters.

    1975, 20 y.

  • Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonica) - Japanese mejiro

    1992, 50 y.

    13/1/1994, 50 y.

    24/1/1994, 50 y.

    24/1/1994, 50 y.

    Gambia, 20/5/1997, 5 d. (work of Hiroshige)

    Gambia, 20/5/1997, 25 d. (work of Hiroshige)

    21/4/2000, 50 y. (afforestation)

    Gambia, 17/4/2001, 5 d.

    1/8/2001, ?

    25/3/2002, ?

• Sylviidae
  • Bush warbler (Cettia diphone) - Japanese uguisu

    196?, 10 y.

    1992, 41 y. (Fukuoka prefecture)

  • Japanese marsh warbler (Megalurus pryeri pryeri) - Japanese ô-sekka

    1984, 60 y.

• Passeridae
  • Tree sparrow (Passer montanus saturatus) - Japanese suzume

    10/2/2003, ?

  • Russet sparrow (Passer rutilans rutilans) - Japanese nyûnai-suzume

    6/10/1999, 90 y. (SG 2639 ; YT 2665)

  • White wagtail (Motacilla alba) - Japanese haku-sekirei

    1/1/1875, ?

    19/5/2000 (features the stamp of 1875)

  • Japanese wagtail (Motacilla grandis) - Japanese seguro-sekirei

    Dominica, 31/8/1989, ? (art japonais)

• Fringillidae
  • Japanese grosbeak (Eophona personata personata) - Japanese ikaru

    16/2/1998, 140 y. (YT 2418)

  • Red crosbill (Loxia curvirostra) - Japanese isuka

    Gambia, 7/7/1989, 5 d.

  • Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) - Japanese uso

    Antigua and Barbuda, ?, 5 d. (work of Hiroshige)

    25/4/1994, 130 y.

• Emberizidae
  • Siberian meadow bunting (Emberiza cioides ciopsis) - Japanese hôjiro

    1/5/1964, 10 y.

    Bhutan, 10/3/2003, 90 n.

Sources

• Wild Bird Society of Japan, A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, Tokyo, 1982 (for names in Japanese)

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