Abstract Natal dispersal is common among many bird species with females usually dispersing farther than males. We examined postfledging and natal dispersal ecology of Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) in the Qinling Mountains, China by marking nestlings with either color bands or radio transmitters. Family groups, consisting of juveniles after fledging and their parents, dispersed progressively farther from nest sites after fledging in a southerly direction with a mean (± SD) direction of 189.2 ± 46.5° and a mean distance of 20.3 ± 7.0 km. Mean natal dispersal distance of females (9.6 km) was significantly greater than for males (5.9 km) (t = 2.14, P = 0.03). Most individuals moved southeasterly from natal areas and dispersal movements of individual ibis were concentrated at the mean direction (μ = 185.6°, s = 86.1°). First reproduction by females (3.64 ± 1.36 years) was not significantly earlier than for males (4.17 ± 1.47 years). The results of this study will be useful for reintroduction programs ...