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Red-Crowned Cranes

March 13, 2013 by · Comments Off on Red-Crowned Cranes 

Red-Crowned Cranes, The Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis), also called the Japanese Crane or Manchurian Crane ), is a large east Asian crane and among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, it is known as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity.

Adult Red-crowned Cranes are named for a patch of red bare skin on the crown, which becomes brighter in the mating season. Overall, they are snow white in color with black on the wing secondaries, which can appears almost like a black tail when the birds are standing, but the real tail feathers are actually white. Males are black on the cheeks, throat and neck in males, while females are pearly gray in these spots. The bill is olive green to greenish horn, the legs are slaty to grayish black, and the iris is dark brown.

This species is among the largest cranes, typically measuring about 150 to 158 cm (4 ft 10 in to 5 ft 2 in) tall and 120-150 cm (3 ft 10 in-4 ft 10 in) in length (from bill to tail tip). Across the large wingspan, the Red-crowned crane measures 220-250 cm (7 ft 3 in-8 ft 2 in). Typical body weight can range from 7 to 10.5 kg (15 to 23 lb), with males being slightly larger and heavier than females and weight ranging higher just prior to migration. On average, it is the heaviest crane species, although both the Sarus and Wattled Crane can grow taller and exceed this species in linear measurements. The maximum known weight of the Red-crowned Crane is 15 kg (33 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord measures 56-67 cm (22-26 in), the exposed culmen measures 13.5-16.7 cm (5.3-6.6 in) and the tarsus measures 25.5-30.1 cm (10.0-11.9 in).

Red-Crowned Crane

February 18, 2012 by · Comments Off on Red-Crowned Crane 

Red-Crowned Crane, The Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis), also called the Japanese Crane or Manchurian Crane , is a large east Asian crane and among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, it is known as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity.
Adult Red-crowned Cranes are snow white with black to the wings (appears almost like a black tail when standing, but the real tail feathers are white), blackish to the head and neck, and a patch of red skin on the crown.

This patch of skin becomes brighter red when the crane becomes angry or excited. This species is among the largest cranes, typically measuring about 158 cm (62 in) tall, 136 cm (54 in) in length (from bill to tail tip) and spanning 242.5 cm (95.5 in) across the wings. Typical body weight can range from 7 to 10 kg (15 to 22 lb), with males being slightly larger than females and weight ranging higher just prior to migration.

On average, it is the heaviest crane species, although both the Sarus and Wattled Crane can grow taller and exceed this species in linear measurements. The maximum known weight of the Red-crowned Crane is 15 kg (33 lb).
In the spring and summer, the migratory populations of the Red-crowned Crane breed in Siberia (eastern Russia), northeastern China and occasionally in northeastern Mongolia (i.e., Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Area). Normally the crane lays 2 eggs, with only one surviving. Later, in the fall, they migrate in flocks to Korea and east-central China to spend the winter. Vagrants have also been recorded in Taiwan. In addition to the migratory populations, a resident population is found in eastern Hokkaid?? in Japan. The habitats used are marshes, riverbanks, rice fields, and other wet areas.

The crane eats small amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, insects, and plants that grow in marshes and swamps.

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