What kind of bird is the Mane-naped Crane? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Mane-naped cranes are a type of bird that live in Siberia and China. They have a fairly large and strong appearance, but in fact they are a critically endangered species.
What is a The White-necked Crane? Basic Stats
The White-necked Crane is a bird that belongs to the Gruidae family. Its scientific name is Grus vipio, and its English name is White-necked Crane. Its total length is 120-150cm and its weight is 5-6kg. The list of information is as follows.
| Japanese（和名） | マナヅル |
| English（英名） | White-necked crane |
| scientific name(学名) | Grus vipio |
| classification（分類） | Aves、 Gruiformes、 Gruidae、Grus 鳥綱、ツル目、ツル科、ツル属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | VULNERABLE |
| Length（体長） | 120-150cm |
| Weight（体重） | 5-6kg |
Habitat
White-naped cranes are found in Japan, northeastern Mongolia, the Amur River area in Russia, northeastern China, and the Korean Peninsula.
What are its characteristics? What kind of creature is it?
The white-naped crane is gray or dark gray all over its body, with white from the top of its head to the back of its neck and the base of its neck. The feathers covering its ear holes (ear feathers) are dark gray. Its legs are pink or dark red, and its coverts are bluish gray. White-naped cranes breed in northern Mongolia and other places, and fly to Japan as winter birds to spend the winter, so they are migratory birds. They live in marshes in river basins, and in their wintering areas, they prefer riverbanks, tidal flats, marshes, and farmland. They move in groups like small animals.
What is their ecology?
White-naped cranes live mainly on fish, insects, frogs, plant stems, leaves, and seeds. They are oviparous. They build nests in marshes made of sedges and reeds, and lay eggs every May. Males and females take turns incubating the eggs, and in captivity, they incubate them for one month. They reach sexual maturity in about 2-3 years. The lifespan of a white-naped crane is 45 years.
Do they have any natural enemies?
White-naped cranes have no significant natural enemies.
Are White-naped Cranes Endangered?
White-naped cranes are designated as an endangered species (Red List). They are also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and international trade is strictly restricted. In Russia and China, where they breed, their habitats have become dry due to development and destruction, making them unable to adapt to the environment. In addition, they have been killed in accidents caused by power lines and have been over-hunted due to poaching, causing their population to plummet. In Japan, the Ministry of the Environment designated the Izumi Plain in Kagoshima Prefecture, where White-naped Cranes live, as a Special Natural Monument of Japan in 1952, and as a national nature reserve as the Izumi-Takao Wildlife Sanctuary in 1987.
Can White-naped Cranes be kept as pets?
White-naped Cranes are migratory birds and tend not to settle, so it is extremely difficult to keep them as pets. As they are endangered, international trade is strictly restricted, making them difficult to obtain. At the zoo, you can see Hooded Cranes, Japanese Cranes, and Sandhill Cranes, so try visiting the site map on the website.
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