White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

White-naped Cranes are large wetland birds that breed in northeastern Asia and winter in parts of China, Korea, and Japan. Their gray bodies, white stripes down the backs of their necks, and red faces make them easy to recognize. They do not occur regularly in the wild in the United States.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults stand about 4 ft (1.3 m) tall. They have gray bodies, a white stripe down the back of the neck, a red face patch, and pinkish legs.

Look-alikes

Red-crowned CraneGrus japonensis

The White-naped Crane is mostly gray with a red face and white on the back of its neck. The Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) is mostly white, with a black face and neck and a smaller red patch on top of the head.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Wetlands
Wet meadows
Farm fields in winter
Range: It breeds in northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China, and nearby Russia, then winters in parts of China, Korea, and Japan. It does not have a regular wild range in the United States.
Migration: Some birds travel through Korea to winter in Japan, while others remain in Korea or winter in China.

Behavior

Diet: They eat insects, small animals, seeds, roots, and other plant matter.

Life cycle

Clutch size: Usually 2 eggs

Name and classification

About the name: It was formerly called Grus vipio.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: VUVulnerableHigh risk of extinction in the wild
Status: Wetland loss and disturbance threaten this species across its Asian range.

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