- Chinese compound word adopted to write bird name -

Simple Japanese Bird Names

Examples where a Chinese compound word (two or more characters) was adopted to write a Japanese bird name

Japanese word	Meaning	Chinese compound	Chinese Reading	Chinese Meaning	Notes
kuina	'rail'	秧鶏	yāng jī	'seedling fowl'
kuina	'rail'	水鶏	shuǐ jī	'water-fowl/chicken'
atori	'brambling'	花鶏	huā jī	'flower fowl'
atori	'brambling'	猲子鳥	hé zǐ niǎo (?)	?
isuka	'crossbill'	交喙	jiāo-huì	'cross beak'	Also written with a Japanese-made character
ikaru	'masked hawfinch'	桑鳲	sāng-shī	'mulberry shi'	Also written with a Japanese-made character
ikaru	'masked hawfinch'	斑鳩	bān-jiū	'pied pigeon'	Also written with a Japanese-made character
kera	'woodpecker'	啄木鳥	zhuó-mù-niǎo	'peck-wood bird'	Also read ki-tsutsuki ('wood-pecker')
ahiru	'domestic duck'	家鴨	jiā-yā	'house duck'	Also written 鶩.
semi / kawasemi	'kingfisher'	翡翠	fěi-cuì	'kingfisher'	See main page for more on 'kingfisher'
semi / kawasemi	'kingfisher'	魚狗	yú-gǒu	'fish-dog'	See main page for more on 'kingfisher'
shōbin	'kingfisher'	翡翠	fěi-cuì	'kingfisher'
toki	'crested ibis'	朱鷺	zhū-lù	'red heron'	Have yet to confirm Chinese source for 桃花鳥.
toki	'crested ibis'	桃花鳥	táo-huā-niǎo	'plum-flower bird'	Have yet to confirm Chinese source for 桃花鳥.
shime	'hawfinch'	蝋嘴	là-zuǐ (possibly xī zuǐ)	'wax bill'	Also written with Japanese-made characters
mozu	'shrike'	百舌鳥	bǎi-shé-niǎo	'hundred tongue bird'	Also written 鵙.
mozu	'shrike'	百舌	bǎi-shé	'hundred tongue'	Also written 鵙.
binzui	'tree-pipit'	木鷚	mù-liù	'tree pipit'
zuku	'(eared) owl'	木菟	mù-tù	'tree + rabbit' (ancient character usage)	木菟 is no longer current in Chinese. Also 木兔 'tree-rabbit'