The Fascinating Red-crowned Crane!
The red-crowned crane also known as the Japanese crane or Manchurian crane is a large East Asian crane species. The red-crowned crane is considered to be one of the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, it is known as a symbol of luck longevity, and fidelity.
The red-crowned crane is a tall bird typically measuring over 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in wingspan. The body plumage is predominantly white with black on the wings. The primaries and secondaries are particularly long extending past the tips of the tail when the bird is standing. The red-crowned crane has a loud trumpeting call that carries for long distances.
Red-crowned crane habitat
Red-crowned cranes inhabit wetlands such as marshes swampy grasslands and floodplains. In East Asia, they breed on the Liaodong Peninsula Korea, in northeast China, and winter in central and southern China Taiwan, and Japan. In Russia, they breed on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands and winter in east Siberia and Khabarovsk Krai. They are also found in Mongolia. The largest breeding populations are in China and Russia. A small breeding population also exists in North Korea. The cranes typically lay two eggs which both parents help to incubate. The chicks fledge (leave the nest) at around 6–7 weeks old.
Red-crowned crane facts
The red-crowned crane is a large East Asian crane among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, it is known as a symbol of luck longevity, and fidelity. The red-crowned crane is sexually dimorphic with the males slightly larger than the females on average.
The body length of an adult can range from 140 to 158 cm (55 to 62 in) with a wingspan of 205 to 230 cm (81 to 91 in). Males typically weigh 4.6 to 10 kg (10 to 22 lb) while females weigh 4.1 to 8.4 kg (9.0 to 18.5 lb). The maximum recorded wild lifespan of a red-crowned crane is 37 years and 6 months for a captive individual in Japan.
What does the red-crowned crane symbolize?
Since ancient times the red-crowned crane has been revered in Asia as a symbol of longevity good fortune and fidelity. In China, the crane is one of the “Four Gentlemen” of the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West along with the plum blossom orchid and bamboo. In Japan, the crane is a national treasure and is featured on the Japanese 1000 yen bill. The red-crowned crane is also the state bird of North Korea.
How many red-crowned cranes are left in the world?
The red-crowned crane is a large East Asian crane among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, it is known as a symbol of luck longevity, and fidelity. According to the most recent estimate, there are only about 3,600 red-crowned cranes left in the wild. The majority of the population (2,250-2,750 birds) breeds in eastern Siberia and winters in northeast China and Korea. A small number of birds also breed in Mongolia and central Siberia and there is a non-breeding population of 100-200 cranes in Japan.
Are red-crowned cranes rare?
Yes, red-crowned cranes are considered rare. They are a migratory species that breeds in Siberia and winter in northeastern China Japan and the Korean Peninsula. The total world population is estimated to be about 3,000 to 5,000 birds. The primary threat to the red-crowned crane is the loss of wetland habitat due to human activity. In China, their main wintering area has been converted to farmland and in Japan, many of the wetlands where they once fed have been turned into rice paddies.
Where is a red-crowned crane found?
The red-crowned crane is found in East Asia specifically in countries like China Japan and North Korea. In China, the red-crowned crane is considered a national treasure and is protected by law. The Chinese people also believe that the red-crowned crane brings good luck and is a symbol of long life. The bird is also the official mascot of the Chinese city of Shenyang.
