Grus japonensis

(Müller, 1776)

Vernacular names
English : Red-crowned crane
French : Grue du Japon

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Gruiformes
Family : Gruidae
Notes : No subspecies known

Identification
Adults can reach a size of 150 cm for a weight up to 12 kg and a wingspan of 2.50 m. Black legs, dirty yellow bill. Bright red crown. Plumage mostly snowy white except from head, neck and tail feathers which are black.

Range and habitat
The species breeds in north-east China, east Mongolia, south-east Russia and north Japan. It winters in central-eastern China and Korea. Lives in marshes, meadows, boggy areas, wetlands and mudflats.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species is highly threatened by habitat degradation, both on breeding and wintering grounds. Mainland populations declining, stable in Japan.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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