Japanese Robin

The Japanese robin (Larvivora akahige) is a diminutive passerine, a member of the Muscicapidae family, measuring approximately 14-15 centimeters. Exhibiting a striking plumage, the males are characterized by an olive-brown dorsum, an orange visage and neck, with a grey breast and underside. Their tail is a reddish-brown hue, legs of a pinkish-brown, and a bill of ebony. Females are similar in appearance, albeit with a more subdued color palette. Juveniles share the adult form but are distinguished by dark breast spotting, pale rufous feathers from crown to mantle, and a rufous buff.

Habitat

The Japanese robin favors the damp, dense, and shaded undergrowth found along valleys and streams. It thrives in broadleaf and deciduous forests across the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, and Yakushima, and migrates to Southeast Asia during the winter months.

Distribution

This species is indigenous to the southern reaches of the Kuril and Sakhalin Islands and is widespread throughout Japan.

Diet and Feeding

The Japanese robin, aptly named for its predilection for caterpillars, is an omnivore that dines on a variety of beetles, insects, milled worms, small crickets, fruits, and other diminutive invertebrates.

Breeding

Breeding season for the Japanese robin occurs in May and June within central Japan. The nest, an assemblage of moss, twigs, dry leaves, ferns, and roots, becomes the cradle for 3-5 greenish eggs, laid sequentially, one per day. The female incubates these eggs for approximately two weeks. Post-hatching, the chicks are tended to for a month before they venture out independently. These robins do not mate for life, pairing only for the spring breeding season.

Song & Calls

The Japanese robin's vocalization begins with a loud, singular note that gradually softens. Its call resembles a telephone ring, consisting of well-spaced, simple phrases and short chattering. Females vocalize during nest construction and incubation, while males reduce their singing once the eggs are laid.

Conservation status

The Japanese robin is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.