Leucogeranus leucogeranus
The Siberian Crane, *Leucogeranus leucogeranus*, is a breathtakingly elegant and critically endangered large wading bird, renowned for its almost entirely pure white plumage. Standing approximately 140 cm (55 inches) tall with a wingspan reaching up to 230 cm (90 inches) and weighing between 4.9 and 8.6 kg (11-19 lbs), its most striking field marks include its snow-white body, vibrant red bare skin around the face extending from the bill to behind the eye, and distinctive black primary feathe...
Primarily inhabiting vast, remote freshwater wetlands, swamps, and marshes of the Arctic tundra and taiga zones during breeding, and shallow, extensive freshwater lakes and reservoirs for wintering. They generally prefer low-lying, undisturbed areas.
Their diet primarily consists of the tubers and rhizomes of aquatic plants, particularly sedges (*Carex* species) and pondweeds, which they expertly extract from muddy substrates using their long, specialized bills. They also consume aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and frogs opportunistically.
Siberian Cranes are diurnal, spending their days foraging and typically roosting in shallow water to protect themselves from ground predators. During the breeding season, they are highly territorial, defending large areas through vocalizations and displays. Courtship involves elaborate and gracef...
The Siberian Crane exhibits a fragmented and severely contracted geographic distribution, primarily divided into two main populations. The vast majority of the global population, the Eastern or Central Asian flyway, breeds in the remote Arctic tundra of Yakutia in northeastern Siberia, Russia. Th...
Critically Endangered
- The Siberian Crane undertakes one of the longest migratory journeys of any crane species, with the eastern population traveling over 5,000 km (3,100 miles) from Siberia to China. - They are often called 'Snow Cranes' due to their brilliant white plumage, resembling a fresh blanket of snow. - Un...