渡り鳥

• Reading: わたりどり
• Romaji: wataridori
• Kanji breakdown: 渡 (watari/to) — cross, travel over; 鳥 (tori) — bird
• Pronunciation: /wa.ta.ɾi.do.ɾi/

Meaning

Migratory bird; bird of passage. A bird species that seasonally relocates between breeding and wintering grounds, often travelling thousands of kilometres.

A compound noun combining 渡り (crossing, travelling over) and 鳥 (bird). Japan lies on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, one of the major global migration routes, making 渡り鳥 observation a popular pastime. The word carries poetic associations with seasonal change, transience, and long journeys. In figurative use, 渡り鳥 can describe a person who moves from place to place without settling, similar to 'rolling stone' in English.

Examples

1. 毎年この湿地には数千羽の渡り鳥が飛来し、越冬のために長期滞在する。 Every year, thousands of migratory birds fly to this wetland and stay for an extended period to overwinter.
2. 渡り鳥はほとんど休まずに何千キロもの旅をする、驚異的な生命力を持つ。 Migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres with barely a rest, possessing a remarkable vitality.
3. 渡り鳥の飛来ルートにあたる岬では、バードウォッチャーが望遠鏡を向けて待ち構えている。 At capes lying along migratory bird flight routes, birdwatchers stand ready with their telescopes.

Usage Guide

Context: ornithology, ecology, birdwatching

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

Native Japanese compound. 渡り (watari) from 渡る (wataru, to cross or travel over water) and 鳥 (tori, bird). Together they describe a bird that crosses vast distances — typically oceans, seas, or continents — to reach seasonal habitats.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal