1.
winter bird; winter visitor; migratory bird that arrives in winter
A bird species that migrates to Japan (or another region) to spend the winter, then returns to its breeding grounds in the north for summer. Contrasts with 夏鳥, which arrives for summer.
Compound of 冬 ('winter') and 鳥 ('bird'). The counterpart of 夏鳥, classifying migratory birds by the season they spend in Japan. Well-known winter birds in Japan include 白鳥 (swans), マガモ (mallard ducks), and ツグミ (thrushes).
Usage
- Used in birdwatching, nature education, and environmental monitoring
- Winter bird observation is a popular seasonal activity at lakes and wetlands across Japan
- The arrival and departure dates of winter birds are tracked as indicators of climate change
Common collocations
- 冬鳥が飛来する: winter birds arrive
- 冬鳥を観察する: to observe winter birds
- 冬鳥の飛来地: winter bird arrival site
- 冬鳥が北へ帰る: winter birds return north