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Japanese Murrelet Synthliboramphus wumizusume
Common. Endemic. Their breeding sites are confirmed on Nanatsu-jima (Ishikawa), Kutsu-jima (Kyoto), Hoshinokami-shima (belonging to Oki Islands, Shimane), Okino-shima, Koya-shima, Eboshi-jima (above islands are in Fukuoka), Birou-jima (Miyazaki), Kou-shima (Kochi), Mimiana-jima (Mie), Tori-shima, Kojine (Hachijo-kojima), O-nohara-jima, Onbase-jima, Tadanae-jima, Nefuzaki (Nii-jima), Mikomoto-shima (above islands belonging to Izu Islands, Tokyo). In addition to this, there is a possibility they breed in Tobi-shima (Yamagata).
Recent studies show that Japanese Murrelets migrate annually around Japan. After breeding season they go towards the east and north on the Pacific Ocean with their chicks. In the summer, they are often seen at sea off Hokkaido, the Russian Far East, Sakhalin. After that (by the fall) they go towards the South on the Sea of Japan or the Pacific Ocean. In the winter, they go back to their breeding sites.
