Siberian Crane

Siberian Crane

Snow crane, Siberian white crane, Siberian crane, Siberian white crane, Snow crane

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Subclass
Infraclass
Superorder
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Population size
3,500-4,000
Life Span
15-30 years
Weight
4.9-8.6
10.8-18.9
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
140
55
cminch
cm inch 
Length
115-127
45.3-50
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
210-230
82.7-90.6
cminch
cm inch 

The Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus ), also known as the Siberian white crane or the snow crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. They are distinctive among the cranes: adults are nearly all snowy white, except for their black primary feathers that are visible in flight, and with two breeding populations in the Arctic tundra of western and eastern Russia. The eastern populations migrate during winter to China, while the western population winters in Iran and (formerly) in Bharatpur, India.

Show More

Among the cranes, they make the longest distance migrations. Their populations, particularly those in the western range, have declined drastically in the 20th century due to hunting along their migration routes and habitat degradation. The world population was estimated in 2010 at about 3,200 birds, mostly belonging to the eastern population with about 95% of them wintering in the Poyang Lake basin in China, a habitat that may be altered by the Three Gorges Dam.

Show Less

Appearance

The Siberian crane is the world's third most endangered species of crane. Amongst cranes, its serrated bill makes it unique, and enables it to easily feed on underground roots and slippery prey items. It has white plumage, identifiable by its red mask and white cap, the mask reaching from behind its eye to its bill. In a juvenile, the mask is feathered and its body is buff or cinnamon-colored.

Distribution

Geography

Siberian cranes are spread throughout three populations: western, eastern, and central. These distinct populations range from Yakutia in arctic Russia to western Siberia. The population in the east breeds in northeast Siberia and migrates to China to the Yangtze River for winter. The central population of cranes breeds in western Siberia then migrates to Rajasthan in India for winter, mainly at the Keoladeo National Park. The population in the west spends winter in Iran on the Caspian sea's southern coast and breeds in Russia's northwest. These cranes feed and nest primarily in marshes, bogs and other wetlands where there are wide reaches of shallow fresh water with good visibility. They live mainly in lowland tundra, taiga biogeographic, and taiga/tundra transition regions.

Siberian Crane habitat map
Siberian Crane habitat map
Siberian Crane
Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Habits and Lifestyle

Siberian cranes are not very social. During breeding and winter seasons individuals are territorial. Family flocks number about 12 to 15 cranes. They are aquatic birds, and use the wetlands for feeding, roosting, nesting and other behavioral displays. During the day they roost in shallow water, preen, and nest, and during the breeding season, attend to their young. At night Siberian cranes stand on one leg and tuck their head under their shoulder. Dancing behavior, such as leaping and bowing, is not directly connected to the reproductive cycle in these cranes, but it does reflect a bird's excitement. Cranes will dance with or without a partner, at any time, their head and neck being brought forward from a vertical position to where the head reaches down and back between their legs.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Siberian cranes are omnivorous and in summer have a more varied diet, which includes roots, rhizomes, sprouts of sedges, seeds and other plant items. They also eat insects, rodents, fish, and small animals. When migrating and in winter, they feed mainly on plant material, and aquatic animals if available.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
Spring-Summer
INCUBATION PERIOD
29 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
70-75 days
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
2 eggs

Siberian cranes are monogamous and make strong pair-bonds. Courtship and pair bonding behavior includes dancing and unison calling, which is an extended and complex series of coordinated calls, usually initiated by the male. Breeding takes place in spring and summer. Siberian cranes usually nest in marshes, bogs, and other wetlands. Two eggs are laid and both parents incubate them, for about 29 days. The two eggs hatch but typically only one chick survives to be raised. Both male and female feed and protect their young, males spending more time feeding than females. The chick fledges in about 70 to 75 days and is sexually mature within 3 years.

Population

Population threats

Siberian cranes are threatened with habitat loss and degradation in their wintering areas, breeding grounds and stopover sites. Other major threats include agriculture expansion, drainage of wetlands, oil extraction and human development. Hunting in Pakistan and Afghanistan during migration affects them as well.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Siberian crane is 3,500-4,000 individuals. Siberian cranes’ numbers are decreasing today and they are classified as critically endangered (CR) on the list of threatened species.

Ecological niche

Siberian cranes have an impact on the wetland areas of their environment when they feed on plant shoots and roots.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Siberian cranes are born with beautiful little blue eyes. After about six months, they change to a light yellow color.
  • A crane can stand in near-freezing water for hours because it is able to constrict the blood vessels in its feet to reduce blood flow.
  • The Siberian crane makes more musical sounds than other cranes, mostly flute-like calls.
  • The crane to live the longest was a Siberian crane with the name Wolf. It lived for 83 years.
  • Siberian cranes are great fliers, able to go long distance in powerful flight. They use thermal soaring (columns of warm rising air) as much as possible. The primary feathers' black pigment strengthens the structure of the feathers, which greatly assists long-distance flight when the birds migrate.
  • Cranes attack their aggressors with their feet.

References

1. Siberian Crane Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_crane
2. Siberian Crane on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22692053/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/401979

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About