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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.
朱鷺は絶滅危惧種だ。
The Japanese crested ibis is an endangered species.
佐渡で朱鷺の保護活動が行われている。
Conservation activities for the Japanese crested ibis are conducted on Sado.
朱鷺の淡いピンク色の羽根は「朱鷺色」と呼ばれている。
The pale pink feathers of the crested ibis are referred to as 'ibis color'.
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 TERMS:
- 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.