ML644018153

Observation details

*I (Will) have probably never been more excited, physically and emotionally, by a bird in my life. This aggressive individual has been known from this stretch of mountain road since at least 2023, information which we uncovered on Twitter (basyoku_omotan, 2025). It wasn’t until our fourth time passing through his territory at 12:30 PM, however, that the “King of Tanzawa” made himself known to us. He chased us VERY aggressively over ~450 feet, a very specific territory, from (35.42608, 139.17597) to (35.4260833, 139.1759722), at times lunging almost to the point of biting us, at other times foraging at a respectful distance but still watching us. The multiple joggers that passed through as we enjoyed his company were all duly investigated. An adrenaline-inducing experience indeed, to be attacked by a rare island endemic pheasant.