VOL.215 MAY 2026
[SPRING SPECIAL ISSUE] ENJOYING JAPAN’S SPRING BY LOCAL TRAINS
[Native Creatures of Japan] Lidth’s Jay
Lidth’s jay (Garrulus lidthi) is a bird of the crow family that inhabits in the forests of Amami Oshima and its surrounding islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, and a species native to Japan. At roughly 38 cm in body length, it is slightly larger than a dove, and has plumage combining deep lapis lazuli blue with rich chestnut brown. It has a hard, sharp ivory colored beak and a diverse diet including nuts, insects, and plant roots. It also stores acorns in tree hollows and under the soil—a habit that also contributes to forest regeneration. Lidth’s jays live their daily lives in flocks and communicate with companions far away by making loud “gya-gya” calls. During the breeding season from February to April, they build nests in grass and tree hollows, and sometimes in houses and under the eaves. As a result of population declines caused by overhunting for its beautiful feathers, habitat loss due to deforestation, and predation by non-native species such as mongooses, Lidth’s jay has been designated as a Natural Monument of Japan and is protected as an endangered species.
Photo: PIXTA
