Bird Survey of Mt. Kisokoma, Central Honshu

Abstract

Mt. Kisokoma (2, 956m above sea level) is the highest peak of the Chuo Alps, Central Honshu.Bird censuses were made throughout a year from February 1977 to February 1978 in the mid-mountain zone at 900-1, 650m altitude. Line transect method along the road is used in the census work. The total number of birds recorded was 1, 525 individuals belonging to 43 species (Table 1). The number of species and that of birds showed similar seasonal changes, i.e., maximum in the breeding season and minimum in winter. The dominant species were Pale-legged Willow Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes, Siberian Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides, Bush Warbler Cettia diphone, and Blue-and white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana in breeding season and Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus, Willow Tit Parus montanus, Coal Tit Parus ater, Great Tit Parus major, and Nuthatch Sitta europaea in non-breeding season. A marked expansion of range in vertical distribution was noted for Siberian Blue Robin Erithacus cyane, Bush Warbler Cettia diphone and Blue-and-White Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana. Mixed flocks of tits were encountered in every censuses except for the three breedingmonths, and all five species of tits formed mixed flocks.