White-Naped Crane
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Grus vipio
Habitat: White-naped cranes are found in grassy marshes, wet sedge meadows and reedbeds of northern Mongolia, southern Siberia, Korea, Japan and central China.
Diet: White-naped cranes eat insects, seeds, roots, plants, and small mammals.
Size: 3.6 to 4.1 feet tall / 6.5 to 6.8 foot wingspan
Weight: About 12 pounds
Lifespan: 15.1 years according to AZA Species Survival Statistics
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Vulnerable – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to possess a high risk of extinction as a result of rapid population declines of 30 to more than 50 percent over the previous 10 years (or three generations), a current population size of fewer than 1,000 individuals, or other factors.
Our White-Naped Cranes:
Creampuff (“Creamy”) (Male) – Born May 23, 1981
*Creamy is one of the oldest cranes in human care*
Peaches (Female) – Born June 2, 2012
About White-Naped Cranes:
White-naped cranes are native to northern Mongolia, southern Siberia, Korea, Japan, and central China. They are distinguishable from other cranes because they are the only species with pinkish legs and a dark gray and white striped neck (hence their name).
Did You Know?!
- White-naped cranes have a special dance! Mated pairs of cranes engage in unison calling, which is a complex and extended series of coordinated calls. The birds stand in a specific posture, usually with their heads thrown back and breaks skyward, during the display.
- In Korea, white-naped cranes are a popular New Year’s symbol. They are also featured widely throughout Korean art and folklore.
- White-naped cranes are capable of flying at speeds between 25 and 35 miles per hour.