This bird of prey breeds across Japan and spends its winter in Southeast Asia. Several thousands of Oriental honey-buzzards pass over Kitakyushu City during their autumn migration. Tracking by satellites has revealed that they cross the East China Sea (approx. 700 km) from the Goto Islands to the continent without stopping. In spring, they fly to Kitakyushu City via the Korean Peninsula and spread out to their respective breeding sites. Their main food is the larvae of hornets, wasps and bees, which is taken out from nests of these insects.