David in Miyazaki
February 29th, 2008, 12:48 AM
Saw this bird in Arasaki, Izumi Shi, Kagoshima Ken, Japan on 28 Feb 08. I was told by a Japanese birder who was also taking photos of it, that he had been told that this was an Oh-hayabusa, which when I checked after I got home is Falco peregrinus pealei . This bird is not on any Japanese bird list that I can make out, and that was also what this gentleman also said. It has obviously been seen in Japan before, as there is a Japanese name for it, and this man was able to identify it. The skull cap is almost complete. I would be interested in any comment from folk, both on its identification, and also on its rarity in Japan.
the link to two photos is
the link to two photos is