イカルのマメ回し：Japanese grosbeak (Eophona personata)

イカルは古来から日本人に親しまれてきた鳥です。斑鳩の郷は日本書紀にも記載があるとか。京都では夏には姿を見ませんが、秋から春にかけては集団で採餌する姿がよく見られます。また、澄んだ声で「キキコキー」と鳴く声はよく通って、冬の透明感のある空気と景色になじみます。

イカルは「マメ回し」の異名を持つように、その大きな嘴でカエデやエノキなどの固い木の実を砕いて食べます。静かな林の中で、パリパリと乾いた音がする方向を見上げると、イカルの集団がいたり、エノキの樹下に数百羽の群れが採餌している様子を見ることもあります。大きな嘴はおそらくアトリの仲間では最強の強さを持つと思われます。

Ikaru is a bird that has been familiar to the Japanese people since ancient times. Ikaruga no Sato (The village where Ikaru dwell) is mentioned in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). In Kyoto, they are not seen in summer, but can often be seen foraging in groups from autumn to spring. They also have a clear voice that goes well with the cool clear air and scenery of winter.

Ikaru, also known as the "bean spinning" bird, uses its large bill to crush and eat hard seeds such as maple and enoki. In a quiet forest, if you look up in the direction of a crispy, dry sound, you may see a group of Ikaru or you may encounter a flock of several hundred birds foraging under an enoki tree. Their large bills are probably the strongest of the finch family.

*****

Photos 2022-01-14