Birds that Breed in Oku-Nikko
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Observable year round
Mallards migrate to Japan in the winter and leave in the spring, although some birds do remain behind. The mallards and their ducklings can be seen in the Yugawa River, along the wooden walkway at the Senjogahara Wetland, and at the Izumiyado Pond, and are very popular with birdwatchers, photographers, and travelers. In the winter, mallards are frequently observed at the Yunodaira Marsh, as well as at the northeastern part of Lake Yunoko where natural hot springs prevent the water from freezing over.
Summer migratory birds
A songbird chorus
The bird-watching at Oku-Nikko is excellent because so many birds migrate to Japan during the summer to breed. Highlights include the common stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) and the long-billed Latham’s snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) in the wetlands, and the brightly-colored red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus) in the forests.