Red-crowned crane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red-crowned crane
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Aves
Order:	Gruiformes
Family:	Gruidae
Genus:	Grus
Binomial name
Grus japonensis

The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), also called the Japanese crane or Manchurian crane, is a large crane. It is the second rarest crane in the world after the North American whooping crane. In East Asia, it is known as a symbol of luck and fidelity. At 55 inches high, the crane does not make easy prey, for all that it stands out in its natural habitat of marshes and swamps. When it matures, the red-crowned crane is snow white with a patch of red skin on its head.

Description

In the spring and summer, the red-crowned crane lives in Siberia, where their eggs hatch. Normally the crane lays two eggs, but usually only one chick survives. Later, in the autumn, it migrates in flocks to Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and other countries in East Asia to spend the winter. All red-crowned cranes migrate, except for a flock that stays in Hokkaido, year long.

Diet

The crane eats small amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, insects, and plants that grow in marshes and swamps.

Images for kids

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  At Cumberland wildlife park, Grünau im Almtal, Austria

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  Grus japonensis (juvenile) in Ueno Zoo, Taitō, Japan

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  Range of Grus japonensis. Green: Spring & Summer, Red: Autumn & Winter, Yellow: Breeding

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  Eating fish in kushiro.

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  Red-crowned cranes flying

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  Cranes honking

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  Egg of a Red-crowned crane

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  The official logo of Japan Airlines features a red-crowned crane.

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  One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 1857 Hiroshige

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  The crane is carved in a South Korean 500 won coin.

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  Silver silk covered jar with pine crane pattern

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  Cloud crane lotus pattern fumigation oven

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  Bronze mirror with pine and crane pattern

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  Bronze sculptures of tortoise and crane in Wanshou Palace of Nanchang

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  The treasure box of the picture of picking red and releasing crane in Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty

See also

In Spanish: Grus japonensis para niños