The Snow Fairy: Hokkaido’s Long-tailed Tit

Hokkaido’s Long-tailed tit (A. c. japonicus)

The Long-tailed tit in Hokkaido is Aegithalos caudatus japonicus, a sub-species of the Long-tailed tits found on Honshu. Unlike the tits of the mainland, the Hokkaido tits do not have thick black eyebrows, so their faces are all white.

Youtube : Long-tailed tit

Hokkaido’s Long-tailed tit (A. c. japonicus)

With a white face like a snowball, a small beak, round eyes, and yellow eyelids, the Hokkaido long-tailed tits are called “snow fairies” because they are so cute in their appearance. It became quite popular when it was featured in Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), and a variety of souvenir goods. They can be observed all year around in Hokkaido, but in the cold winter months, they will puff out their feathers to stay warm. Many wild bird photographers are aiming to capture them in that cute, round shape.

Hokkaido’s Long-tailed tit (A. c. japonicus)
Hokkaido’s Long-tailed tit (A. c. japonicus)
Hokkaido’s Long-tailed tit (A. c. japonicus)

From mid-February to early March, once the bitter cold starts to loosen its grip, the parts of the trees that are damaged will start to drip out sap, which freezes into sweet icicles. Small birds, such as the Long-tailed tits, can be seen hovering around the trees, licking the sap as a precious source of sugars in their bodies.

Hokkaido’s Long-tailed tit (A. c. japonicus)

Photograhy & text : Kaito IMAHORI (Shiretoko Serai)

*Contact us, Saiyu Travel for more information about wildlife and bird watching in Hokkaido. We can make various arrangements for your trip. We have our guesthouse Shiretoko Serai in Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Please see other article from Kaito IMAHORI about Wildlife of Hokkaido

Rausu : Where the Killer Whales Gather

Blakiston’s fish owl that lives in the forest of Shiretoko

Experiencing Autumn From the Notsuke Peninsula to Tokachi Plain: Seeing Flocks of Snow Geese, Brandt, and Pika (Part 1)

Experiencing Autumn From the Notsuke Peninsula to Tokachi Plain: Seeing Flocks of Snow Geese, Brandt, and Pika (Part 2)

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Long-tailed Tit : Winter Photography Tour (Nemuro, Hokkaido)

シマエナガ Long-tailed tit Birds of Japan, Birds of Hokkaido

This is a report of the Winter Eastern Hokkaido Photography Tour.

After getting photos of the Steller’s sea eagles and white-tailed eagles at Lake Furen, we moved on to a chance to photograph the Long-tailed tits. While we were getting our cameras setup, the first bird we encountered was a Eurasian nuthatch. The species Sitta europaea asiatica, which inhabits Hokkaido. And then, the Japanese tit, and the great spotted woodpecker made an appearance and then finally we could hear the calls of the long-tailed tits! In Hokkaido, the long-tailed tit is a subspecies of Aegithalos caudatus japonicus, which is one of the 4 subspecies in Japan. It has a head of all white and looks really cute!

They came to the feeding station and the Japanese bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus which was prepared for the photographer…this set up really highlighted the cuteness of the long-tailed tit.

Long tailed tit シマエナガ|西遊旅行 Saiyu Travel

This winter, there were new things to look forward to in Eastern Hokkaido!

In Nemuro, we observed the Steller’s sea eagles, white-tailed eagles and other birds at Lake Furen, and in Habomai Port, we could see ducks and some seabirds (though at a far distance) at Cape Nosappu’s Northern territory. It was a very pleasant and fulfilling journey!

Image & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2021, Nemuro, Hokkaido
Special Thanks: Lodge “Lake Sunset”

*Contact  us, Saiyu Travel for more information about wildlife and bird watching in Hokkaido. We can make various arrangements for your trip. We have a guesthouse, Shiretoko Serai, in Rausu, Shiretoko Peninsula.

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Icy Lake Furen: Steller’s Sea Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle (Lake Furen, Hokkaido)

Lake Furen Hkkaido Steller's sea eagle 風蓮湖 オオワシ Wildlife of Japan

2021 Report from Winter in Hokkaido Photography Tour

In mid-February, the temperatures were high and with less snow on the ground, we were worried if that would mean less ice formation on Lake Furen. However, the Lake’s sunset show was spectacularly set at always. Best of all, with only a few foreign tourists around, it was not crowded at all.

After 8am, the Steller’s sea eagle and white-tailed eagle were waiting in standby on the lakeside trees, and a crow was waiting impatiently on the ice.

Sea Eagles on Ice lake Furen 風蓮湖の鷲|西遊旅行

Video & text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2021, Lake Furen, Hokkaido
Special Thanks : Lodge “Lake Sunset”

*Contact us, Saiyu Travel for more information about wildlife and bird watching in Hokkaido. We can make various arrangements for your trip. We have our guesthouse Shiretoko Serai in Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

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