Mason,
Here is my experience with field guides for Japan. The classic Birds of
Japan published by the Wild Bird Society of Japan (or something like
that) is now out of print as far as I know. It can be found used at a
high price but the fact is that the illustrations weren't that good
anyway. I have seen an English guide to Birds of Korea which looks
pretty good. However the best thing to do if it is possible is to go to
a good book store in Japan and buy a guide there. There are several
well illustrated guides available IN JAPANESE. I can't name a
particular one because even the ones I have aren't with me and I can't
read the titles anyway. Most, if not all, of these guides have English
names in them in addition to the Japanese names and text. So you won't
be able to read the text but you will be able to read the bird's name
and put it with the illustration. Of course they also have Latin names
which are spelled out in Roman alphabet.

On an unrelated note there was a pair of Lazuli Buntings together along
the power line trail at the Kent Ponds (Green River NRA) yesterday.
Several people have reported seeing or hearing males their in the last
few weeks but I don't recall seeing any reports of females. The male
was singing and was then perched on the same small plant as the female
so perhaps they are considering breeding.

Jim Elder
Seattle, WA (at work in Kent)

Responding to:

>>>Message: 13
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:13:38 -0700
From: "Mason Flint" <masonflint at hotmail.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] RFI - Field Guide to Birds of Japan and Europe
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <BAY106-W503DDEA351A40863912F0C8850 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I'm traveling to Asia next month and haven't found any field guide to
the birds of Japan that looks good. I'd appreciate any
recommendations.Also, I have the Peterson Birds of Europe but I'm not
super impressed. If anyone knows of a good field guide for Britain and
Europe I'd appreciate ideas on that as well. ThanksMason
FlintSnoqualmie, WA