"Our Tokyo" Birds in Tokyo

Birds Seen in Central Tokyo

Although Tokyo is lined with high-rise buildings and houses, you may see many birds. The most familiar to Tokyoites may be the sparrow. Sparrows may be seen all year round because they live close to where humans do. Their heads look like they are wearing a brown hat. There are black patterns around their cheeks, and they are about 12 to 14 cm long.
A slightly smaller bird than the sparrow is the white-eye. It was named "white-eye" because of the white around its eyes. Its body is yellowish-green and very beautiful. Like sparrows, they can be seen all year round. However, white-eyes are easier to find in autumn and winter. The white-eyes, which love nectar from flowers, fly in search of flowers that bloom in winter. Careful observation of sasanqua and camellia trees will give you a chance to see white-eyes.

Birds Seen at Mt.Takao

There are about 550 species of birds in Japan, and about 150 of them may be seen at Mt.Takao. From autumn to winter, bullfinches fly here. They are slightly larger than a sparrow; 15 to 16 cm long. The male birds are characterized by a reddish color from the cheeks to the throat. The song of the bullfinch is very similar to that of a person whistling. The Japanese word for "bullfinch" is "Uso". In old Japanese, the word for "whistling" used to be "Uso". It is said that the name "Uso" originated from the fact that the bird sings as if whistling. Bullfinches like cherry buds and tree buds, and eat the new buds as they come out. If you go to Mt. Takao and hear a whistling sound, it may be a bullfinch singing.

Measures Against Crows Scavenging Garbage

Black birds seen scavenging at rubbish collection points are crows. Most of the crows in Tokyo are Jungle crows, with thick beaks. Jungle crows are omnivores, and eat anything, animal or plant. Food waste produced by people is a feast for crows. Crows are early risers, and start their activities 30 minutes before sunrise. To prevent inconveniences caused by crows, please do not put your garbage out the day before collection. Only put it out at the designated time, in the morning. Crows have good eyesight, and can find food in garbage bags. It is a good idea to wrap leftover food in paper, so that food waste cannot be seen from the outside. And, if you cover the entire pile of garbage bags with netting, this will prevent crows from rummaging through it.