クイナ
Common moor hen / Gallinula chloropus / Ban / バン クイナ科の中型の鳥で体長30～38cmで、主に田んぼや沼地、河口などの淡水域に生息する。体は濃いグレーで背中は茶色く、両側に白いいびつな線が走っている。鮮やかな赤いくちばしは先端が黄色く、顔面から頭上へ延長した額板がある。バンは渡り鳥であるが、奄美大島に生息するものもいる。長距離を飛ぶことができるが、歩く姿や泳ぐ様子の方が優雅である。雑食で水生植物も動物も食べ、餌は陸上と水中で取る。
Eurasian coot / Fulica atra / Oban / オオバン オオバンは渡るものもいれば、奄美大島で越冬するのもいる。クイナ科のなかでは体長36～39cmと最も大きく体は丸く、体重は1kgにもなる。羽は灰黒色で、赤い目を持ち、顔面から頭上へ伸びた白い額板がある。雑食で、淡水の水生植物や昆虫、魚などを15秒ほど潜水し、捕食する。不器用な飛び方が特徴的で、つま先を出しながら、水しぶきをあげて飛び立つ。
Rails
Common moorhen / Gallinula chloropus / Ban / バン
The common moorhen is a medium-sized (30 to 38 centimeters long) member of the rail family. It is usually found in freshwater habitats, including rice paddies, swamps, and near the mouths of rivers. It has a charcoal-gray body and a brownish back with a ragged stripe of white on the side. The bright-red bill (with a yellow tip) extends on a shield up the face to the top of the head. The moorhen is migratory, though some are resident on Amami-Oshima. Despite its ability to fly long distances, the bird is more graceful walking or swimming than in flight. It is omnivorous, eating both aquatic plants and animals, and forages on land and in the water.
Eurasian coot / Fulica atra / Oban / オオバン
The Eurasian coot is both migratory and a winter resident on Amami-Oshima. It is the largest (36 to 39 centimeters long) and roundest member of the rail family, weighing as much as 1 kilogram. Its plumage is a sooty black, and it has red eyes and a striking white bill extending to a frontal shield on its forehead. It feeds on freshwater aquatic vegetation as well as insects and fish, which it catches on underwater dives that can last up to 15 seconds. The bird is also noticeable for its clumsy takeoff, which it accomplishes with dangling toes and a lot of splashing.
