Two recommended field guides for bird watchers are listed below. All titles are in English.
Brazil, Mark: Birds of East Asia, Helm, just published in Jan 2009- a new guide covering all species from eastern Siberia to Taiwan, including all of Japan's islands. Includes informative text with many interesting updates on newly revised species and groups, and also excellent distribution maps for each species.
Arlott, Norman: Birds of the Palearctic, 2 vols, Collins, 2007- don't let the two volumes put you off: this guide comes in a handy size and weight, and covers all species found in Japan and also the rest of Eurasia: a great buy if you are planning to travel elsewhere on the continent. The illustrations are excellent.
Shimba, Tadao: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Japan and North-east Asia,
Helm, 2007- a new photo guide that also includes bird species found in nearby Korea, China and Russia.
In addition, there are a number of good photo guides to the birds of Japan that are available only in Japanese but have English names for each species. These can be found in large bookstores in Tokyo. The best of these guides is Birds of Japan: 550 Guide, 2nd ed. (2004), which is sold in two portable volumes: one for water birds and one for land birds.
Brazil, Mark: Birds of East Asia, Helm, just published in Jan 2009- a new guide covering all species from eastern Siberia to Taiwan, including all of Japan's islands. Includes informative text with many interesting updates on newly revised species and groups, and also excellent distribution maps for each species.
Arlott, Norman: Birds of the Palearctic, 2 vols, Collins, 2007- don't let the two volumes put you off: this guide comes in a handy size and weight, and covers all species found in Japan and also the rest of Eurasia: a great buy if you are planning to travel elsewhere on the continent. The illustrations are excellent.
Shimba, Tadao: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Japan and North-east Asia,
Helm, 2007- a new photo guide that also includes bird species found in nearby Korea, China and Russia.
In addition, there are a number of good photo guides to the birds of Japan that are available only in Japanese but have English names for each species. These can be found in large bookstores in Tokyo. The best of these guides is Birds of Japan: 550 Guide, 2nd ed. (2004), which is sold in two portable volumes: one for water birds and one for land birds.