Black-Headed Ibis

The black-headed ibis, also called the Oriental white ibis, breeds in South and Southeast Asia from India east to Japan. It is the only native ibis in its range with all-white plumage and a black neck and head, and its down-curved bill and legs are also black. Adults are 65 to 76 cm long, and in the breeding season bare patches under the wing turn blood-red and grey tail plumes turn black (Wikipedia, general species account).

The sexes look alike; juveniles have greyish neck feathering and speckled brown-grey wings and back. Though often called a wetland bird, it forages in a range of natural and man-made habitats and nests only in the rainy season. Like storks and spoonbills it has no true voice, giving only ventriloquial grunts at the nest (Wikipedia, general species account).