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Leiothrix lutea

Basic information
Scientific name Leiothrix lutea

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ソウシチョウ
Common names Red-billed leiothrix, Peking robin
Higher taxon Sylviidae, Passeriformes, Aves
Natural range S continental China, N Vietnam, N Myanmar, Assam of India, W Himalaya.
Habitat Breeding in deciduous bamboo forest with 1000m or higher altitude. Overwinter in lowland bamboo forest.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Breedings were recorded in Ibaraki, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Wakayama, Osaka, Nara, Hyogo, Mie, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Oita, and Miyazaki Prefs. In addition, distribution records were in Yamagata, Tochigi, Gumma, Saitama, Nagano, Giu, Fukui Prefs., and entire Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu Districts. Range in Japan
Origin Unknown.
Date The first record of establishment was in 1931, Mt. Futatabi, Hyogo Pref. This species have occurred in early 1980s or later, n the other region, .
Route Deliberate: Release of pet animal.
Impact Competition with native birds. Recent population expansion can large impact on native species. Reduction of native birds Hawaii may partially due to introduced of this species in 1910s to 1920s.
Native organism(s) affected: Native birds such as Zosterops japonicus, Erithacus akahige, Luscinia cyane, Cettia diphone, etc.
Regulation in Japan Import, transport and keeping are prohibited by the Invasive Alien Species Act.
Introduced range in other countries Hawaii, Hong Kong
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Eguchi & Amano (1999) Naturalization of exotic birds in Japan. Jpn J Ornithol. 47, 97-114 (in Jpn)
  • Eguchi & Amano (2002) Nest-site selection of Red-billed Leiothrix and Japanese Bush Warbler in Japan. Ornithol Sci. 1, 101-110.
  • Eguchi & Amano (2004) Spread of exotic birds in Japan. Ornithol Sci. 3, 3-12.
  • Eguchi & Fujimaki (eds) (2000) Check-List of Japanese Birds Sixth Revised Edition. The Ornithological Society of Japan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Eguchi & Masuda (1994) A report on the habitats of peking robin Leiothrix lutea in Kyushu. Jpn J Ornithol. 43, 91-100 (in Jpn with Englis abst)
  • JWRC (ed) (2008) A Photographic Guide to the Invasive Alien Species in Japan. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Kawakami & Kanouchi (2012) The Handbook of Introduced Birds in Japan. Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Lepage (ed) (2003-2012) Avibase – the world bird database (Accessed on 2012-6-11) http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/
  • Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The Invasive Alien Species Act (Accessed on 2010-12-21) http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/as.html
  • etc.
  • Long (1981) Introduced Birds of the World. David & Charles, Newton.