Wild-Born Crested Ibis Dies of Head Injury

Japan’s last rare crested ibis born in the wild has died in captivity at age 36, officials said.

The bird, named Kin, had appeared to be in good health the day before, but was found dead by a caretaker on her remote island home, the Environment Ministry said in a statement.

The crested ibis -- with its snowy, pink-tinged feathers, red face and sloping black beak -- was once a common sight in rice paddies all over the country.

Officials examining the bird said that for some reason she apparently had flung herself headfirst into her cage door, causing a fatal brain hemorrhage.