A note on the plumage color of the Japanese Crested Ibis

Abstract

The anther had already reported this opinion (1957, '61, '63) that grey type of Nipponia nippon is not a color phase but the nuptial coloration plumage. This was again confirmed in two young birds kept to adult in captivity cone died later since 1965.
The young is dirty white first (not pure white as in adults) asuming pinkish wash in later autumn. The outer two primaries have brown edgings. Though the second year including the breeding season, the plumage was white, and in the third year, it became grey on the crest, neck to the back from February. This grey plumage was replaced by molting by pure white feathers in late September. It is unknown by what cause this pure white feathers become washed with grey in February.