Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a dark, long-legged ibis with a slender downcurved bill and iridescent bronze, green and purple tones visible in good light. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It probes mud and shallow water in marshes, flooded fields and estuaries for insects, worms, crustaceans and other small animals, often feeding and nesting in groups. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).