Sinai Rosefinch

Furtive, large, ground-dwelling shorebird endemic to the broadleaf forests of northern Okinawa Island and the Amami Islands. Similar to Eurasian Woodcock but darker overall, with notably longer legs and a thicker bill base. Patch of bare pinkish skin around the eye is diagnostic but absent in winter. Black bands on the top of the head not as thick and conspicuous as in Eurasian, which is a winter visitor. Like other woodcocks, displays both on the ground and in circular aerial displays. Flushes slowly and directly ahead.

Tiny duck with a petite, thin bill. Males have a brown head with a wide green swatch behind the eye, creamy speckled breast, and mostly gray body. Females are brown, darker overall than other dabbling ducks. Forages by dabbling and tipping-up to reach submerged aquatic vegetation. Also regularly walks around mudflats to feed.

A medium-sized parrot that usually looks all dark. With a good view, note the deep bluish-purple color overall with bronzy wings, messy pink splotches on the upper breast, and red undertail coverts. In flight, the bright blue underwings often stand out. Also look for the very deep wingbeats that seem to almost touch on the downstroke and barely come above horizontal on the upstroke – this helps separate members of the Pionus genus from the larger Amazona parrots. Bronze-winged is fairly common in forest and adjacent clearings in lowlands and foothills, up to around 2,500m. It is usually found in small flocks, most often seen in flight but also perched in the canopy or around fruiting trees.