| Red-crowned crane | |
|---|---|
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| In snow inHokkaido, Japan | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Gruidae |
| Genus: | Grus |
| Species: | G. japonensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Grus japonensis (Statius Müller, 1776) | |
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| Geographical distribution. The red-crowned crane's primary habitats were in China (North, Northeast and Central), North Korea, with small populations in Russia's Far East, Gyeonggi Province and Northern Gangwon Province in South Korea, and Hokkaido in Japan. Green: Breeding | |
Thered-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), also called theManchurian crane (traditional Chinese:丹頂鶴; simplified Chinese:丹顶鹤; pinyin:dāndǐng hè; Japanese:丹頂鶴 or タンチョウヅル; rōmaji:tanchōzuru; Korean:두루미; romaja:durumi; the Chinese character '丹' means 'red', '頂/顶' means 'crown' and '鶴/鹤' means 'crane'), is a largeEast Asiancrane among the rarest cranes in the world. In some parts of its range, it is known as a symbol of luck, longevity, and fidelity.
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Adult red-crowned cranes are named for a patch of red bare skin on the crown, which becomes brighter during the mating season. Overall, they are snow white in color with black on the wing secondaries, which can appear 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, while females are pearly gray in these spots. The bill is olive green to a greenish horn, the legs are slate to grayish black, and the iris is dark brown.[3]
Juveniles are a combination of white, partly tawny, cinnamon brown, and rusty or grayish. The neck collar is grayish to coffee brown, the secondaries are dull black and brown, and the crown and forehead are covered with gray and tawny feathers. The primaries are white, tipped with black, as are the upper primary coverts. The legs and bill are similar to those of adults but lighter in color.[4] This species is among the largest and heaviest cranes, typically measuring about 150 to 158 cm (4 ft 11 in to 5 ft 2 in) tall and 101.2–150 cm (3 ft 4 in – 4 ft 11 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).[3][5][6][7] Typical body weight can range from 4.8 to 10.5 kg (11 to 23 lb), with males being slightly larger and heavier than females and weight ranging higher just prior to migration.[8][9][10] On average, it is the heaviest crane species, although both thesarus andwattled crane can grow taller and exceed this species in linear measurements.[9][11][12]
On average, adult males fromHokkaidō weighed around 8.2 kg (18 lb) and adult females there averaged around 7.3 kg (16 lb), while a Russian study found males averaged 10 kg (22 lb) and females averaged 8.6 kg (19 lb); in some cases, females could outweigh their mates despite the males' slightly larger average body weight. Another study found the average weight of the species to be 8.9 kg (20 lb).[9][13][14] The maximum known weight of the red-crowned crane is 15 kg (33 lb 1 oz).[15][16] Among standard measurements, the wing chord measures 50.2–74 cm (19.8–29.1 in), the exposedculmen measures 13.5–17.7 cm (5.3–7.0 in),tail length is 21.5–30 cm (8.5–11.8 in), and thetarsus measures 23.7–31.9 cm (9.3–12.6 in).[13]
The scientific name of the Red-Crowned Crane is designated as "Japanese Crane (Grus Japonensis)", yet its primary habitat lies ineastern Eurasia. This nomenclature was established bySwedish botanist and taxonomistCarl Linnaeus inLinnaean taxonomy. Due to theQing Dynasty's policy of isolationism before theOpium Wars, European and American scholars were unable to enter China for research. At that time, Japanese researchers were able to provide red-crowned cranes. According to Latin nomenclature principles, newly discovered species must be named based on the "origin of the first live specimens." Therefore, the red-crowned crane was named "Grus Japonensis" - Japanese Crane.
Nowadays, Wild red-crowned cranes have become extinct on Japan's main island of Honshu, surviving only in Hokkaido. Consequently, there is partial consensus in English to adopt the common name Red-crowned Crane（红冠鹤）, a direct translation of the Chinese name (traditional Chinese:丹頂鶴; simplified Chinese:丹顶鹤; pinyin:dāndǐng hè). However, the Latin Scientific Name remains unchanged, as biological names cannot be altered once established unless the species undergoes significant changes.
In the spring and summer, themigratory populations of the red-crowned crane breed inSiberia (far eastern Russia),Northeast China and occasionally in north-easternMongolia[1] (i.e.,Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Area). The breeding range centers inLake Khanka, on the border of China and Russia. Later, in the fall, they migrate in flocks to theKorean Peninsula and east-central China to spend the winter.[1]Vagrants have also been recorded inTaiwan.[1] In addition to the migratory populations, a resident population is found in easternHokkaidō,Japan. This species nests inwetlands,marshes andrivers.[17] In the wintering range, their habitat consists mainly ofpaddy fields, grassytidal flats, andmudflats. In the flats, the birds feed on aquaticinvertebrates, and, in cold, snowy conditions, the birds switch to mainly living onrice gleanings from the paddy fields.[1]
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Red-crowned cranes have a highly omnivorous diet, though the dietary preferences have not been fully studied. They eat rice, parsley, carrots, corn, redbuds,heath berries,acorns, buckwheat,grasses and a variety of water plants such asreeds.[18] The animal matter in their diet consists of fish, includingcarp andgoldfish,amphibians, especiallysalamanders,snails,crabs,dragonflies, otherinsects, smallreptiles,shrimp, smallbirds androdents.[4][18] The daily food requirement of adult red-crowned cranes is 750 g (26 oz).[19]
They seem to prefer a carnivorous diet, although rice is now essential to survival for wintering birds in Japan and grass seeds are another important food source. While all cranes are omnivorous, perJohnsgard, the two most common crane species today (thesandhill andcommon cranes) are among the most herbivorous species while the two rarest species (the red-crowned andwhooping cranes) are perhaps the most carnivorous species.[4] When feeding on plants, red-crowned cranes exhibit a preference for plants with a high content of crude protein and low content of crude fiber.[20] InHokkaido, fish such asTribolodon,Pungitius,Sculpin andflatfish was major prey of adults, while chicks mostly feed on various insects.[21] InZhalong Nature Reserve, small fish less than 10 cm (3.9 in), such ascommon carps,pond loach, andChinese sleeper was mainly taken as well as aquatic invertebreas likepond snails,dragonflies,water beetles and large amount of plant matter.[22][23] Elsewhere,mudflatcrabs are locally important food source inYellow River Delta.[24]
They typically forage by keeping their heads close to the ground, jabbing their beaks into mud when they encounter something edible. When capturing fish or other slippery prey, they strike rapidly by extending their necks outward, a feeding style similar to that of theheron. Although animal prey can be swallowed whole, red-crowned cranes more often tear up large prey by grasping with their beaks and shaking it vigorously, eating pieces as they fall apart. Most foraging occurs in wet grasslands, cultivated fields, shallow rivers, or on the shores of lakes.[4]
The red-crowned crane is currently found only in China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.
The population of red-crowned cranes in Japan is mostly non-migratory, with the race inHokkaidō moving only 150 km (93 mi) to its wintering grounds.
Only the mainland population experiences a long-distance migration. They leave their wintering grounds in spring by February and are established on territories by April. In fall, they leave their breeding territories in October and November, with the migration fully over by mid-December.
China hosting its key breeding and wintering sites. Major breeding areas include the Sanjiang Plain and Wuyuer River basin inHeilongjiang, theXianghai Reservoir and the lower Huolin River area inJilin, theLiao River Delta inLiaoning, and theHun River basin and Horqin wetlands inInner Mongolia. Its wintering grounds are primarily located in the coastal mudflats and lakes of the middle and lowerYangtze River.
Cranes breeding in theSanjiang Plain and theXingkai Lake region migrate south along theUssuri River, passing theTumen River and the northern east coast of the Korean Peninsula (e.g., Kimyeo), and winter in theHan River basin near Panmunjom. Those from theZhalong and Xianghai regions migrate south in autumn viaPanjin in Liaoning, follow the western coast ofBohai Bay, cross theYellow River Delta, and mainly winter in the coastal wetlands ofYancheng,Jiangsu.[25]
Flock sizes are affected by the small numbers of the red-crowned crane, and given their largely carnivorous diet, some feeding dispersal is needed in natural conditions. Wintering cranes have been observed foraging, variously, in family groups, pairs, and singly, although all roosting is in larger groups (up to 80 individuals) with unrelated cranes. By the early spring, pairs begin to spend more time together, with nonbreeding birds and juveniles dispersing separately. Even while not nesting, red-crowned cranes tend to be aggressive towards conspecifics and maintain a minimum distance of 2 to 3 m (6.6 to 9.8 ft) to keep out of pecking range of other cranes while roosting nocturnally during winter. In circumstances where a crane violates these boundaries, it may be violently attacked.[26]
The red-crowned crane is monogamous and long-lived, with stable pair-bonding both within and between years,[27] and believed to mate for life.[28] The breeding maturity is thought to be reached at 3–4 years of age. All mating and egg-laying are largely restricted to April and early May. A red-crowned crane pair duets in various situations, helping to establish the formation and maintenance of the pair bond, as well as territorial advertisement and agonistic signaling. Both males and females may start a duet with the production of a start call, but the main part of the duet always began with a long male call. The pair moves rhythmically until they are standing close, throwing their heads back and letting out a fluting call in unison, often triggering other pairs to start duetting, as well. As it occurs year-round, the social implications of dancing are complex in meaning. However, dancing behavior is generally thought to show excitement in the species.[14][29] Also, the performance of duet displays increased the probability of staying in a favorable area, supporting the hypothesis that duet displays function as a signal of joint resource defense in the flock.[28]
Pairs are territorial during the breeding season.[30] Nesting territories range from 1 to 7 km2 (0.39 to 2.70 sq mi) and are often the same year after year. Most nesting territories are characterized by flat terrain, access to wetland habitat, and tall grasses. Nest sites are selected by females, but built by both sexes and are frequently in a small clearing made by the cranes, either on wet ground or shallow water over waters no more than 20 to 50 cm (7.9 to 19.7 in) deep. Sometimes, nests are built on the frozen surface of water, as frigid temperatures may persist well into nesting season.[31] Nest building takes about a week.[26] A majority of nests contains two eggs, though one to three have been recorded.
Both sexes incubate the eggs for at least 30 days. They also both feed the young when they hatch. Staying in the nest for the first few weeks, the young start to follow their parents as they forage in marshes by around 3 months of age. New hatchlings weigh about 150 g (5.3 oz) and are covered in yellow natal down for two weeks.[14][32] By early fall, about 95 days after hatching, the young are fledged and are assured fliers by migration time. Although they can fly well, crane young remain together with their parents for around 9 months.[7] Young cranes maintain a higher-pitched voice that may serve to distinguish them from outwardly similar mature birds, this stage lasting until the leave parental care.[14][33] The average adult lifespan is around 30 to 40 years, with some specimens living to 75 years of age in captivity. It is one of the longest-living species of bird.[7][34]
Red-crowned cranes have no natural predators within their wintering grounds,[35] with their large size and height of roughly 1.5 m (5 ft) helping to deter most potential predators.[36] As a result, red-crowned cranes are often indifferent to the presence of other birds or small raptors, withharriers,falcons,owls, and somebuzzards being allowed to hunt small prey near a crane nest without any aggression from either party. However, birds more likely to be egg or nest predators, such ascorvids, certain buzzards, and variouseagles, are treated aggressively and are threatened until they leave the crane's territory. Mammalian carnivores that may pose a danger to chicks, such asSiberian weasels (Mustela sibirica),red foxes (Vulpes vulpes),Asian badgers (Meles leucurus),common raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes viverrinus), anddomestic dogs (Canis familiaris), are attacked immediately, with the parent cranes attempting to jab them in the flanks until the predators leave the vicinity. However, these predators are generally not dangerous to chicks in the presence of adults, and are quickly chased away by the parent cranes without difficulty. Even larger canids, such asgray wolves (Canis lupus) and large dog breeds, can be repelled by aggressive crane pairs.[37]
Occasionally, losses at the nest occur to some of the above predators, with introducedAmerican minks onHokkaidō being one of the most successful predators of eggs and chicks.[38] Additionally, unwary subadult and adult cranes may be ambushed and killed by red foxes in Japan andleopard cats in South Korea. However, this is quite rare, especially with adults,[39][40] as these birds can easily fly away or defend themselves using their sharp beaks.[18]
Smallerwhite-naped cranes often nest near red-crowned cranes, but competition between these species for food in a common nesting area is lessened due to the greater portion of vegetation in the white-naped crane's diet.[41] In cases where interactions turn aggressive between white-naped and red-crowned cranes, red-crowned cranes are dominant due to their considerably larger size.[42] As reported by researchers trying to band or examine the cranes or their nests, this species is considered mildly hazardous, and is prone to quickly responding aggressively to being approached or handled by humans. Red-crowned cranes are able to inflict painful injuries using their feet and their dagger-like beaks.[39]
The population of red-crowned cranes is split into a migratory continental population in Korea, China, Mongolia and Russia (with all birds wintering in Korea and China), and a resident Japanese population inHokkaidō.[1][43][44] In 2020, winter counts recorded more than 3,800 red-crowned cranes (adults and immatures), including about 1,900 in Japan, more than 1,600 in Korea and about 350 in China. This indicates that there are around 2,300 adults overall.[1] Whereas both the resident Japanese population and the migratory population that winters in Korea have increased in recent decades, the migratory population that winters in China has rapidly decreased.[1] The main threats arehabitat loss andfragmentation, but to a lesser extent also human disturbances near their nesting grounds, poisoning and poaching.[1] The red crowned crane is listed as endangered by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature.[17][45][46]
TheNational Aviary inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ran a program where U.S.zoos donated eggs which were flown to Russia and raised in the Khinganski Nature Reserve and released into the wild. This program sent 150 eggs between 1995 and 2005. The program has been put on hold to concentrate on different crane conservation programs in Russia, such as education and fire suppression. Several hundred red-crowned cranes are kept in zoos around the world.[47] Assuredly, the international efforts of Russia, China, Japan, and Korea are needed to keep the species from extinction. The most pressing threat is habitat destruction, with a general lack of remaining pristine wetland habitats for the species to nest. In Japan, little proper nesting habitat remains and the local breeding population is close to the saturation point.[3][26]
In South Korea, it has been designated natural monument 202[48] and a first-class endangered species.[49]
The red-crowned crane is easily recognizable due to its large size and distinct coloring. Human knowledge about this species has accumulated over a long period. Local chronicles in China contain continuous records of it, and cranes were kept in captivity as pets from early times, particularly during theTang Dynasties andSong Dynasties. Today, captive red-crowned cranes are kept for ornamental purposes in many locations.
Since the 1980s, dedicated research on red-crownd cranes has been conducted, yiellding significant insights into their distribution, breeding grounds, wintering habitats, ecology, behavior and migration patterns. Techniques for artificial breeding and artificail insemination are now well-established. Following environment studies and satellite tracking technology in the 1990s, the cranes migration routes have been clearly mapped.[50]
In the19th century, the red-crowned crane was revered as the god of the wetland | 湿原の神[51] (サロルンカムイ, Sarurun Kamuy) by the Ainu people of Hokkaido. As a large wading bird occupying a high position in the wetland food chain, it served as a keystone species for wetland biodiversity.
In the 1960s, hunam activities inNorthest China and theFar East led to habitat destruction for red-crowned cranes. Reclamation projects not only seized original habitats but also servered interconnected waterways. Compounding this, the Far East has expereienced a pronounced trend toward ardification in recent years, causing severe reductions in wetland areas. Pollution introduced by human activities further threatens the cranes' survival. Moreover, land-clearing practices like slash-and-burn farming severely damage nesting materials and cover, narrowing their distribution range.
During the 1980s, economic development in East Asia created a specific demand for crane feather and livers, making hunting inevitable. Although direct hunting has become rare in recent years due to conservation regulations, poisoning used to hunt other waterfowl has become a major cause of death for red-crowned cranes.
Currently, the red-crowned crane is a Class I protected animal in China[52] listed as Engangered in the IUCN Red List,[1] and included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flore (CITES). By the end of 1999, China had established 33 nature reserves primarily dedicated to protecting the red-crowned crane and its habitats, covering a total area of approximately 3,099,000 hectares. Key reserves include the Three Rivers, Xingkai Lake,Zhalong, Momoge, Xianghai, Horqin, Shuangtai River Estuary, Yellow River Delta, Beidaihe, and Yancheng nature reserves.[25]
Japan designated the red-crowned crane and its breeding grounds as Natural Monuments in 1935. In 1952, the Kushiro Red-Crowned Cranes were designated as Special Natural Monuments. By 1967, red-crowned cranes across all regions of Japan were designated as Special Natual Monuments. In 1993, the species was further designated as a Rare Wild Animal and Plant Species.
The red-crowned crane is endemic to Northeast Asia, yet holds a prominenet position throughout East Asian art history. In East Asia culture, the red-crowned crane carries the cultural significance of an "auspicious bird". The phoenix is considered the foremost auspicious bird, followed by the red-crowned crane and other birds, Depictions of the red-crowned crane as a bird imbued with Taoist ethereal qualities can be found in numerous Chinese and Japanese paintings, poetry crafts, and literature.
In China, the red-crowned crane is often featured in myths and legends. InTaoism, the red-crowned crane is a symbol of longevity and immortality. In art and literature, immortals are often depicted riding on cranes. A mortal who attains immortality is similarly carried off by a crane. Reflecting this association, red-crowned cranes are called xiān hè (traditional Chinese:仙鶴; simplified Chinese:仙鹤; pinyin:xiānhè; lit. 'fairy crane" or "crane of the immortals"'). The red-crowned crane is also a symbol of nobility. Depictions of the crane have been found inShang dynasty andZhou dynasty ceremonial bronzeware. A common theme in later Chinese art is the reclusive scholar who cultivates bamboo and keeps cranes. Some literati even reared cranes and trained them to dance toguqin music.
Ancient Chinese texts refer to it by vairous name, not just 仙鹤:
Chapter 13 卷十三 mentions: "鶴一起千里古謂之仙禽以其於物為壽" which means the crane soars a thousand miles; anciently called the immortal bird, For it is regarded as a symbol of longevity. The 仙禽 (pinyin: xiān qín) means "immortal bird" which describe cranes 鹤 (pinyin: hè). As known, red-crowned crane can live 50-60 years.
In 57.1 《禽之一 鹤》, mentioned crane - 仙禽 also can be named as 胎禽 (traditional chinese: 胎禽pinyin: tāi qín) which means fetal bird.[54]
TheMing andQing dynasties endowed the red crowned crane with the cultural connotation of loyalty, uprightness and noble morality. red crowned crane is embroidered on the clothes of a civil servant. It is listed as an important symbol next only to theLoong andFenghuang used by the royal family. Therefore, people also regard the crane as a symbol of a high official.
The image of red crowned crane generally appears in Chinese cultural relics and works of art.
Because of its importance in Chinese culture, the red-crowned crane was selected by the National Forestry Bureau of thePeople's Republic of China as a candidate for the title of national animal of China. This decision was deferred due to the red-crowned crane'sLinnaean taxonomic name "Grus japonensis".[55]
Robert Kuok's Kerry/Kuok Group also uses the red-crowned crane as its logo for operations in Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, and overseas.
In Japan, this crane is known as thetanchōzuru and is said to live for 1,000 years. A pair of red-crowned cranes was used in the design for theSeries D 1000-yen note (reverse side). In theAinu language, the red-crowned crane is known assarurun kamuy or "marshkamuy". AtTsurui, they are one of the100 Soundscapes of Japan. Cranes are said to grant favours in return for acts of sacrifice, as inTsuru no Ongaeshi ("crane's return of a favor").
Given its reputation, Jerry Huff, an American branding expert, recommended it as the international logo ofJapan Airlines, after seeing a representation of it in a gallery of samurai crests. Huff wrote "I had faith that it was the perfect symbol for Japan Air Lines. I found that the crane myth was all positive—it mates for life (loyalty), and flies high for miles without tiring (strength)."[56]
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In Korea, the red-crowned crane is calleddurumi orhak and it is considered a symbol of longevity, purity, and peace. Koreanseonbisregarded the bird as an icon of their constancy. The red-crowned crane is depicted on the South Korean 500won coin and is the symbol ofIncheon.
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