Birds · Passeriformes · Cetiidae

Japanese Bush-Warbler

Cettia diphone

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Japanese bush warbler is a brown, unobtrusive bird of the East Asian understorey, far easier to hear than to see. Its song is one of the best-loved sounds of Japanese culture: a pure, rising whistle followed by a trill, taken as the announcement that winter is over and associated with plum blossom.

Weight

14 g – 22 g

Size

14 cm – 17 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestMountainInsectivore Diurnal Solitary Bird Temperate forest Mountain

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Fun facts

Its song is one of the best-loved sounds of Japanese culture: it announces the end of winter and has been linked with plum blossom in classical poetry for more than a thousand years.
In the temples of Kyoto there are what are known as nightingale floors: boards designed to squeak underfoot in imitation of its song, an alarm system that stopped intruders moving in silence.
Its droppings have been used for centuries in Japan in facial cosmetic treatments, a traditional practice that is still sold commercially.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Dense understorey, bamboo stands, scrub and gardens of Japan, Korea, China and eastern Russia
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/