1.
Japanese crested ibis (Nipponia nippon)
A large white wading bird with pinkish-white plumage and a long, downward-curving black bill. Once widespread in Japan but driven to near extinction in the 20th century; now the focus of a major reintroduction program on 佐渡島.
Scientific name Nipponia nippon — the species name itself reflects the bird's strong association with Japan. Once common across the country, the wild population went extinct in 2003, but reintroduction from Chinese stock has restored a breeding population on 佐渡島.
Related words
- 朱鷺色: ibis-pink — a traditional color name for pale salmon-pink
- 朱鷺の舞: the flight/dance of the ibis
- トキ: katakana spelling commonly used in scientific and conservation contexts
The kanji 朱鷺 is rarely used outside this word; トキ in katakana is more common in modern writing.