One of great attraction of Mt. Takao is to be able to observe all kinds of birds. Its number is almost 150 kinds which is one third of the species confirmed in all over Japan. Mt. Takao is the paradise for birds and one of the best place for bird watching. Various kinds of birds and its lifestyle could be observed including summer birds come in spring time, winter birds come from the higher altitude and hearing beautiful bird songs during breeding season.
This is in the Ardeidae family and breeds during summer only in Japan. They live alone or in pairs in shady forests near streams of low elevations. The body color is dark brown for both males and females. They rest under shrubs during daytime and become active in the late afternoon. They hunt for earthworms, crayfish, frogs and fish in streams or ponds. When feeling danger, they lift a bill upward and stand still camouflaging their body to tree branches. The breeding season is from May to July and the males chirp “boo boo” with low voices repeatedly to ask females to mate. They build a dish-shaped nest with twigs on a branch extended over streams and lay four to five eggs in a season. After parenting in summer, they fly to Southeast Asia to spend winter.
●Body Length about 49 cm
●Season April to September (resident bird: a bird that stays in the same area all year round)
●Body Length about 49 cm
●Season April to September (resident bird: a bird that stays in the same area all year round)