Mizogoi (Mizogoi) - Japanese night heron

Japanese: ミゾゴイ(溝五位) - ミゾゴイ（英語表記）Japanese night heron

A bird of the Heronidae family in the order Ciconiiformes. Total length is about 50 cm. The head and neck are reddish chestnut, and the back below the back is dark reddish brown with fine insect bite patterns. The underside is light yellowish brown, but the throat and belly have dark vertical stripes. A semi-endemic species of Japan, breeding in Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and the Izu Islands. In winter, it migrates to southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, etc., but some apparently spend the winter in southern Japan. It migrates to Honshu around April, living alone in pairs in dark mountain forests. It does not form flocks. It often rests during the day, coming out in the evening or before sunrise to forage for food in streams and ditches in the forest.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

コウノトリ目サギ科の鳥。全長約50cm。頭頸（とうけい）部は赤栗色，背以下の背面は暗赤褐色で細かい虫くい模様がある。下面は淡黄褐色だが，のどと腹には暗色縦斑がある。日本の準特産種で，本州，四国，九州，伊豆諸島で繁殖する。冬季には中国南部，台湾，フィリピンなどに渡るが，南日本で越冬するものもいるらしい。本州には4月ころ渡来し，暗い山林に単独かつがいですむ。群れはつくらない。日中は休んでいることが多く，夕方や日の出前に出て，林の中の渓流や溝で餌をあさる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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