Editing Japanese robin

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Japanese robin
| image = Japanese Robin 9625.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2017 |title=''Larvivora akahige'' |volume=2017 |page=e.T103767606A111165066 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103767606A111165066.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Larvivora
| species = akahige
| authority = ([[Coenraad Jacob Temminck|Temminck]], 1835)
| synonyms = ''Erithacus akahige''<br />''Luscinia akahige''
}}

The '''Japanese robin''' ('''''Larvivora akahige''''') is a small [[passerine]] bird in the family [[Muscicapidae]]. This species was formerly named ''Erithacus akahige'', or ''Komadori''. Its range extends from the south of the [[Kuril Islands|Kuril]] and [[Sakhalin Islands]] throughout [[Japan]].

The name "Japanese robin" is also sometimes used for the [[red-billed leiothrix]] (''Leiothrix lutea''). The specific name ''akahige'' is, somewhat confusingly, the common name of its relative ''[[Larvivora komadori]]'' in Japanese. {{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

The Japanese robin, together with the [[Ryukyu robin]] and the [[European robin]], was previously placed in the [[genus]] ''[[Erithacus]]'' . A 2006 [[molecular phylogenetic]] study found that the two east Asian species were more similar to the [[Siberian blue robin]], at the time in ''[[Luscinia]]'', than to the European robin.<ref>{{ cite journal | last =Seki | first =Shin-Ichi| year =2006| title =The origin of the East Asian ''Erithacus'' robin, ''Erithacus komadori'', inferred from cytochrome ''b'' sequence data | journal = Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution| volume =39 | issue =3 | pages =899–905 | doi = 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.01.028 | pmid =16529957| bibcode =2006MolPE..39..899S}}</ref> In 2010 a large study confirmed this result and also found that ''Luscinia'' was [[monophyletic|non-monophyletic]]. The genus ''[[Larvivora]]'' was therefore resurrected to accommodate a [[clade]] containing the Japanese robin, the Ryukyu robin, the Siberian blue robin and several other species that had previously been placed in ''Luscinia''.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Sangster  | first1=G. | last2=Alström | first2=P. | last3=Forsmark | first3=E. | last4=Olsson | first4=U. | year=2010 | title=Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=57 | issue=1 | pages=380–392 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.07.008 | pmid=20656044| bibcode=2010MolPE..57..380S }}</ref><ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | year=2016 | title=Chats, Old World flycatchers | work=World Bird List Version 6.2 | url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/chats/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union| access-date=20 May 2016 }}</ref> 

== Description ==
The Japanese robin is about 14-15 centimeters in size.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Collar|first1=Nigel|last2=del Hoyo|first2=Josep|last3=Kirwan|first3=Guy M.|last4=Christie|first4=David|editor1-first=Guy M|editor1-last=Kirwan|title=Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige)|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|journal=Birds of the World|year=2021|doi=10.2173/bow.japrob1.02|s2cid=244434353|language=en|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-date=2022-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172447/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref> This bird species is mainly gray and bright orange.<ref>{{Citation|title=Robin Facts and Fiction|date=1999-12-31|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7560/791237-003|work=The American Robin|pages=9–12|publisher=University of Texas Press|doi=10.7560/791237-003 |isbn=9780292759862 |access-date=2021-10-17|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The male Japanese robin is olive brown from the top of the head to [[Rump (animal)|rump]], with an orange face and neck, and a grey breast and underside. Their tail is reddish-brown, their legs are pinkish brown, and they have a black [[Beak|bill.]] The female Japanese robin looks very similar to the male, but their orange and brown color characteristics are much duller and less extensive. The juvenile Japanese robin also looks very similar to the adult, but has dark spotting on the breast, pale rufous feathers from crown to mantle, and a rufus buff.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Collar|first1=Nigel|last2=del Hoyo|first2=Josep|last3=Kirwan|first3=Guy M.|last4=Christie|first4=David|editor1-first=Guy M|editor1-last=Kirwan|title=Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige)|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|journal=Birds of the World|year=2021|doi=10.2173/bow.japrob1.02|s2cid=244434353|language=en|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-date=2022-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172447/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Habitat ==
The Japanese robin lives in natural habitats such as islands, lakes, mountains, and [[temperate forest]]s. These habitats are abundant with species of small insects and plants that the Japanese robin eats. More specifically, this species lives in damp, dense, and shady areas such as [[undergrowth]] along valleys and streams. Many Japanese robins are located in [[Broadleaf forest|broadleaf]] and [[deciduous]] forests throughout the Japanese islands of [[Honshu]], [[Shikoku]], [[Hokkaido]] and the Sakhalin Islands, and [[Yakushima]], and during the winters in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Collar|first1=Nigel|last2=del Hoyo|first2=Josep|last3=Kirwan|first3=Guy M.|last4=Christie|first4=David|editor1-first=Guy M|editor1-last=Kirwan|title=Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige)|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|journal=Birds of the World|year=2021|doi=10.2173/bow.japrob1.02|s2cid=244434353|language=en|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-date=2022-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172447/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== Izu Islands ===
The population of Japanese robins on the [[Izu Islands]] in southeastern Japan are so geographically remote that they are usually considered a distinguishable subspecies, ''L. akahige tanensis'', from the mainland populations, ''L. akahige akahige'', based on phenotypic characteristics, such as feather colouration.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Seki |first=Shin-Ichi |date=February 2023 |title=Genetic structure of the Japanese Robin (''Larvivora akahige'') endemic to East Asian islands |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ibi.13197 |journal=Ibis |language=en |volume=165 |issue=3 |pages=875–889 |doi=10.1111/ibi.13197 |issn=0019-1019|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Additionally, while the mainland Japanese robin usually inhabits deciduous and mixed coniferous forests in the summer, the Izu Islands subspecies migrates to lowland, warm-temperature forests instead.<ref name=":0" /> Due to the distance between the two populations, [[gene flow]] between the two subspecies is rare and inbreeding within the Izu Islands populations is relatively common.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
The Japanese robin is an [[Abundance (ecology)|abundant]] species of robin from the islands of Japan. The Japanese robin, along with the [[Ryukyu robin]], can be traced back to 1835 when they were placed into one of the [[Coenraad Jacob Temminck]]'s works under the name ''Erithacus akahige''. After the 2006 molecular [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] study, the species was placed into a [[clade]] under ''[[Larvivora]],'' meaning "caterpillar eater," giving it half of its current scientific name.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-14|title=New BirdLife report: 1 in 5 bird species in Europe is threatened by extinction|url=https://www.birdlife.org/news/2021/10/14/press-release-european-red-list-of-birds-2021/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=BirdLife International|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Diet ==
The Japanese robin, as hinted by its scientific name meaning "caterpillar eater," is known for feeding on beetles, insects, milled worms, small crickets, fruits, and other small insects. Given their diet, they are considered [[Omnivore|omnivorous]].

== Reproduction ==
The Japanese robin [[Reproduction|reproduces]] throughout May and June in [[Chūbu region|central Japan]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Collar|first1=Nigel|last2=del Hoyo|first2=Josep|last3=Kirwan|first3=Guy M.|last4=Christie|first4=David|editor1-first=Guy M|editor1-last=Kirwan|title=Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige)|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|journal=Birds of the World|year=2021|doi=10.2173/bow.japrob1.02|s2cid=244434353|language=en|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-date=2022-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172447/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Their nest typically consists of moss, twigs, dry leaves, ferns, and roots. When the female is ready, she lays about 3-5 eggs of greenish color, one egg per day, and [[Egg incubation|incubates]] them for roughly 2 weeks. Once born, the young chicks are [[nurture]]d for a month, or 31 days, before they leave the nest and become independent. The robin does not mate for life and only finds a partner during the spring mating season.

== Bird song ==
The Japanese robin can be considered a small [[songbird]]; however, it has a single note that is extremely loud at first, but tones down throughout the song. The robin's call is similar to a telephone ring: well-spaced and simple phrases, along with short chattering. Females tend to sing during nest building and during the incubation period. Males will sing, but their [[frequency]] will drastically reduce once eggs have been laid.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Collar|first1=Nigel|last2=del Hoyo|first2=Josep|last3=Kirwan|first3=Guy M.|last4=Christie|first4=David|editor1-first=Guy M|editor1-last=Kirwan|title=Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige)|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|journal=Birds of the World|year=2021|doi=10.2173/bow.japrob1.02|s2cid=244434353|language=en|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-date=2022-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172447/https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/japrob1/cur/introduction|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Larvivora akahige}}
*[[File:4G4A4890.jpg|thumb|Japanese robin]][http://pikanakiusagi.web.fc2.com/english/index.html Recordings of the robin's song]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q27075673}}

[[Category:Larvivora|Japanese robin]]
[[Category:Birds of Japan]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1835|Japanese robin]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Coenraad Jacob Temminck]]