[Length 16 in. Wingspan xx in.]

This female Greater Pied Kingfisher was photographed near Izumi on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 25.25 in. Wingspan 59 in.]

The Black-eared Kite is a large hawk which breeds throughout much of northern Asia and Japan. It was formerly considered the eastern or Asian race of the Black Kite, which is common throughout much of southern Asia and Europe. It feeds primarily on carrion and dead fish, but will also take small animals. It essentially fills the niche usually occupied by Vultures in the New World. This Black-eared Kite was photographed in winter as it hunted over a coastal marsh on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 13.75 in. Wingspan xx in.]

This Grey-headed Lapwing was photographed on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film pushed to 800. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 8.75 in. Wingspan 33 in.]

This Northern Lapwing was photographed on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film pushed to 800. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 5 in. Wingspan xx in.]

This Eurasian Nuthatch was photographed on a feeder at a nature center near Nemuro on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 18 in. Wingspan 31 in.]

This drake Common Pochard was photographed in a small pond on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 18.25 in. Wingspan xx in.]

These Rooks were photographed on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 16 in.]

This Common Sandpiper was photographed in the hand after it was rescued when it had swallowed a fisherman's bait and hook on Amami Island, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 180mm EDAF f2.8 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)