Crested Ibis

The crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), also called the Japanese crested ibis, Asian crested ibis or toki (トキ), is a species of bird in the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is the only species in the genus Nipponia. The crested ibis was once widespread across eastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, but by the late 20th century its wild population had become restricted to Yangxian in Shaanxi Province, China. Reintroduction programs have since established populations in South Korea and in Japan on Sado Island and the Noto Peninsula. == Description == It is a medium-sized to large ibis, 55–78.5 cm (21.7–30.9 in) long, with a bare red face, and a dense crest of plumes on the nape. The plumage varies with seasons; in winter, it is largely white with salmon-pink tones on the wings and tail; in summer, it is pale grey above and on the breast, with a darker grey shawl across its back, and white with a salmon-pink tinge below. In flight, the upper side of the wings and tail are white; the underside of the flight feathers on the wing and tail are strongly flushed pink. The bill is long and strongly downcurved, black with a red tip…