Birds that benefit from Pyracantha
In this festive article, HIH Princess Takamado shares photos of birds in red berries, for a variety of reasons!
“Through the Lens” Fujingahou Magazine, December, 2024
Photos and text by HIH Princess Takamado
Photo edited by Koichi Fujiwara (NATURE’S PLANET）
Edited by Yuki Masuda (Fujingahou)
As the garden’s hues grow dreary with the onset of winter, the colourful berries of Pyracantha enrich the landscape across Asia. Since this is the season when we often see Holly and bird motifs as Christmas decorations, I would like to take this opportunity to show you some photos of Pyracantha red berries and birds.
24cm Family: Turdidae
This species breeds from northern Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula. During winter, it migrates to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Taiwan, and southern China.
In Japan, it is a common winter bird found nationwide. In autumn, it arrives in flocks in mountainous forests, gradually moving to open areas such as fields and riverbanks through spring.
Both photos on this page show birds eating berries. The photo above is of a Dusky Thrush eating a Pyracantha berry. These birds migrate long distances from Siberia in the fall for the fruits that are available in abundance in the warmer regions of Japan. In spring, they also feed on insects.
The photo below is of a Brown-eared Bulbul. In winter, they feed mainly on Pyracantha and other berries. They seem to prefer sweet foods such as fruits and nectar, but are often seen boldly eating whole flowers, shoots, leaves, and insects. Although familiar to Japanese birders, it is a very rare and popular bird among international birders.
27.5cm Family: Pycnonotidae
This species is distributed in limited regions, including Japan, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
In Japan, it is commonly seen, but its population is smaller in neighboring countries. During winter, birds from northern areas migrate south to overwinter.
58-65cm Family: Ardeidae
Widely distributed across most of the world, including into Japan. It is a resident bird all-year-round.
The photo above is a Black-crowned Night-Heron – I was really surprised when I found it! They are nocturnal, so they must have settled down to sleep in a convenient tree before the park opened. It was sleeping soundly with its beak tucked under its wing, unnoticed by anyone but the birders, next to a bridge where many people pass. The photo was taken when the bird was startled by the loud voices of kindergartners running past and opened its eyes.
17cm Family: Alcedinidae
The distribution ranges from southern and central Europe to Japan excluding the Himalayan region across the central and southern regions of the Eurasian continent.
Northern populations migrate during winter to areas such as northern Africa and Indonesia.
In Japan, it is a resident bird commonly found near watersides across the country, but it is a summer bird in Hokkaido.
The last photo is of a Common Kingfisher; it is swallowing a caught fish and trying to spit out the undigested bones. Except for this very moment of the photo when it opened its mouth wide, it was so still and motionless that I wondered if it was still alive. The kingfisher used the Pyracantha not to eat the berries, but as a good perch from which to target fish in the pond. The plant was bursting with an abundant harvest this year, and even the brightly coloured kingfishers occasionally lost their place. If it is difficult for the fish in the pond to see it, it proves to be favourable for these birds. They may have decided to perch among the berries for camouflage.
Pyracantha was introduced to Japan in the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912). The species that bears red berries is native to southern Europe and western Asia and called ‘Tokiwa-Sanzashi‘ in Japan. In Japanese, ’Tokiwa’ means ’unchanging’ or ‘evergreen’ , coming from the fact that its leaves are always green. The species which bear orange-coloured berries originate from southwestern China and its Japanese name is ’Tachibana-Modoki’. In Japanese, ’Tachibana’ is a tree in the Rutaceae family that bears orange-toned fruit and ’Modiki’ means ’pseudo’. It is said that it was planted as a hedge to prevent crime because it is evergreen and has many thorns.
When berries and nuts ripen in late fall and winter, birds are attracted to them. Most of the berries found in the fields and mountains during this season are red, as are Pyracantha and Viburnum awabuki in parks. Roadside tress such as Benthamidia florida and Sorbus commixta also bear small red berries about the size of a centimeter. From the plant’s point of view, it is a strategy to make its fruits conspicuous so that many birds will peck at them and contribute to seed dispersal. At the same time, they provide a source of nourishment for birds to survive the winter.
When I see plants and birds coexisting and living together, I am convinced of their rationality, but I am also moved in a certain way. When I observe birds through a telephoto lens, I am drawn into their world, and before I know it, I find myself becoming a part of that world! It is a blessing to be able to spend a dreamlike moment. I would be happy if I could continue to share with you the world as I see it through the lens.