Bird Names in Japanese
In this article, HIH Princess Takamado delves into the fascinating origins of bird names in Japanese, exploring their cultural significance, historical context, and the intricate connections between language, nature, and tradition in Japan’s rich ornithological heritage.
Photos and text by HIH Princess Takamado
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” is a famous line from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. This may be somewhat out of the scope of this story, but as a Shakespeare lover, I would like to quote this line when talking about today’s theme. In Japan, there is a long-standing custom of assuming the name of a predecessor or master, or using a trade name, and recently there has been a lot of discussion about “separate surnames for married couples”. So, in this article, I would like to introduce some stories related to bird names.
Cattle Egret
The first is the “Amasagi” (“Ama” means “flaxen”, “sagi” means “egret”. English name: Cattle Egret). The name comes from the flax-coloured breeding plumage, as shown in the photo, which is produced during the courtship season. In the San-in region of western Honshu (including Tottori prefecture and Shimane prefecture), the fish called “Wakasagi” is actually called “Amasagi”. This “ama” means “tasty” and this “sagi” means “small fish”, making the “Amasagi” one of the seven delicacies of Lake Shinji. The San-in region is the only place where both the bird and the fish “Amasagi” exist together. The “Shimaaji” (English name: Garganey, not illustrated), a member of the duck family, also flies to Shimane Prefecture. There is also a fish called “Shimaaji”(English name: Striped Jack), which means that there are at least two birds and fish with the same name in the San-in region.
This species is widespread, mainly as a resident bird, from Europe, Africa to India, South-East Asia, Australia, southern North America and South America.
In Japan, it is a summer bird from Honshu to Kyushu and a winter bird in the Nansen Islands. Summer plumage includes flaxen feathers from the head to the breast and back.
Pacific Reef-Egret (Reef Heron)
The next is a “Kurosagi” (“Kuro” means “black” in Japanese. English name Pacific Reef-Egret or sometimes Reef Heron), which is found on coastal reefs. I first encountered them roughly 35 years ago, when I was birdwatching from a boat while Prince Norihito Takamado was diving. There was a white egret among the black egrets on the reef, and I asked my companion what it was called; the answer was “a white specimen of the black egret!” The name says it all, but that is indeed not this case. I muttered to myself, “Isn’t this a scam?” (Another Japanese word that is also pronounced “sagi” means scam!)
This species is found on the coasts of South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Micronesia.
In Japan, it is a resident bird south of Honshu.
There are two main colour forms: dark and white. A small number of intermediate types have also been recorded.
Japanese Sparrowhawk
This is “Tsumi” (written in kanji as 雀鷹. The character 雀 represents “sparrow”, often implies something small. The character 鷹 represents “hawk”. English name: Japanese Sparrowhawk.) Although it looks large in the photo, this is the smallest bird of prey in Japan. The female in the photo is about the size of an Oriental Turtle-Dove, while a male is only about the size of a Brown-eared Bulbul. Even so, they are excellent hunters. When they are heard, the predatory birds instantly stop singing and remain still in the shadows. As the female and male were once thought to be different species, the female’s Japanese name was “Tsumi” (雀鷹), whereas the male’s was “Etsuya” (written in kanji as悦哉). I am curious as to why the name chosen was the female example.
This species breeds from Lake Baikal in Russia to Primorsky Krai, Sakhalin, northern China, and the Korean Peninsula, and migrates to southern China and South-East Asia in the winter.
In Japan, it is a resident bird throughout the country. They nest in urban areas, and their numbers have been increasing in recent years. The photo shows a female.
Common Hoopoe
Next up is a “Yatsugashira” (English name: Common Hoopoe). This bird, which amuses us with its distinctive appearance and movements, has the same name as a variant of the taro. “Yatsugashira” taro is used in festive dishes to wish for the prosperity of offspring as its auspicious name and as the parent and offspring do not separate, but instead form a lumpy mass. It is a bit funny to see the coincidence of the same name being given to two creatures that both have unique appearances.
They are distributed in Europe, Africa, India, South-East Asia, China, and the Russian Primorsky Territory. Those in the north are summer birds.
In Japan, it is observed in many parts of the country as a stray bird during the migration season. The breeding also observed and became newsworthy. They feed on insects.
Eurasian Bullfinch
Last but not least, “Uso” (English name: Eurasian Bullfinch). Because they chirp with a clear, piping voice, the name “uso” is said to have come from the ancient Japanese word “usobuku”, meaning “whistling” (Japanese has another word pronounce “uso” which has the meaning of lie). Usos are beautiful birds, both in appearance and voice.
They are often depicted in paintings and their thin, melancholy and lonely call has long been loved. The red coloration from cheek to throat is characteristic of the male, and the vividness of this coloration differs from one individual to another. There is also another sub-species with a reddish coloration that extends to the abdomen. Birders’ lenses are always looking for photogenic redder individuals. The pun “A complete Uso/lie” is very popular.
In this article, I have introduced some bird names. Each name must have its own origin, but there are many aspects of the name that we do not know how it came to be. However, as in Shakespeare’s line mentioned above, the names of birds are, in a manner of speaking, self-given by humans. It may be meaningless to pry into the origin of their names, but there are other “true stories that seem to be lies (Uso),” and I hope to introduce them some other time.
15.5cm
FAMILY: Fringillidae
This bird is distributed from Europe through central Eurasia to Sakhalin and Kamchatka. Northern species migrate south in winter.
In Japan, resident in Hokkaido, central Honshu and northwards, winter bird in southern Honshu to Kyushu. They breed in coniferous forests in the subalpine zone and migrate to lower mountains in winter.