lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus); mountain cuckoo
Only when written 山杜鵑
Refers specifically to the lesser cuckoo, especially when found in mountainous areas. Cross-referenced with 時鳥 (ほととぎす), the common cuckoo.
See also: ホトトギス
The lesser cuckoo migrates to Japan as a summer bird.
Tricyrtis macropoda; a species of toad lily
A perennial plant of the lily family, native to Japan. The kanji 山杜鵑草 is used for this plant, but kana is more common.
Tricyrtis macropoda blooms with spotted flowers in autumn.
The call of the lesser cuckoo is a little different from other cuckoos.
Tricyrtis macropoda grows wild in moist mountainous areas.
Refers to the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in general, while 山杜鵑 specifies the lesser cuckoo, especially in mountain habitats.
Kanji spelling for the bird sense; rarely used in modern Japanese. This sense is usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling for the plant sense; rarely used in modern Japanese.
The name combines 山 (mountain) and 杜鵑/時鳥 (cuckoo), literally 'mountain cuckoo'. The plant name likely derives from the spotted flowers resembling the cuckoo's breast pattern.