Iriomote Tit

Iriomote Tit (Sittiparus olivaceus) is a small dark-headed tit distinguished from the related varied tit by its more olive-toned back and island distribution. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is endemic to Japan's Yaeyama Islands, including Iriomote, where it forages through subtropical forest for insects and seeds and uses tree cavities for nesting. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).