A pair of Red-crowned Cranes

This is a beautifully drawn impression of the Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis),

foraging in marshland.

They are a large bird, growing to a height of 158 cm, (5 ft) and Weighing up to 7.5 kg,

(17-22 lbs).

Their population has alarmingly declined to a mere 1,700-2,000.

The Red-crowned Cranes are the only crane species that have white primary feathers.

Adult forehead and crown are covered with bare red skin, and a large white band extends

from behind the eyes and meets sharply with the black lower neck. The majority of the

body is pure white with the exception of black secondary and tertiary feathers. Eyes are

black and legs are slaty to grayish black. Males and females are virtually

indistinguishable, although males tend to be slightly larger in size.

Juveniles are a combination of white, partly tawny, cinnamon brown, and/ or grayish

plumage. 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 legs

and bill are similar to those of adults, but lighter in color. The primaries are white,

tipped with black, as are the upper primary coverts. At two years of age the primaries

are replaced with all white feathers.

Red-crowned Cranes breed in large wetlands in temperate East Asia and winter along

rivers and in coastal and freshwater marshes in Japan, China, and the Korean Peninsula.

There are two main breeding populations: a migratory population on the East Asia

mainland (northeastern China and Russia) of perhaps 1,200 birds, and a resident

population on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan of about 900 birds. In the winter,

the mainland population divides into two or three wintering subpopulations. The total

population has fluctuated over the last century, probably reaching its lowest point in the

years following World War II. Although the species has recovered in some areas, a

substantial amount of habitat has been lost to agricultural development and other human

activities.

Red-crowned Cranes are highly aquatic birds with large home ranges. They feed in

deeper water than other cranes. They also forage regularly on pasture lands in Japan,

and in winter they use coastal salt marshes, rivers, freshwater marshes, rice paddies, and

cultivated fields. Red-crowned Cranes prefer to nest in marshes with relatively deep

water and standing dead vegetation. Red-crowned Cranes are well adapted to cold

temperatures.

Mated pairs of cranes, including Red-crowned 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 beaks skyward during the display. The male

always lifts up his wings over his back during the unison call while the female keeps her

wings folded at her sides. Male Red-crowned Cranes initiate the display and the female

utters two calls for each male call. All cranes engage in dancing, which includes various

behaviors such as bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing, and wing flapping.

Dancing can occur at any age and is commonly associated with courtship, however, it is

generally believed to be a normal part of motor development for crane s and can serve

to thwart aggression, relieve tension, and strengthen the pair bond. Red-crowned Cranes

seem to dance more than other species of cranes.

Nests are built on wet ground or in shallow water. Females usually lay two eggs and

incubation (by both sexes) lasts 29-34 days. The male takes the primary role in defending

the nest against possible danger. Chicks fledge (first flight) at about 95 days.

All cranes are omnivorous. Red-crowned Cranes are generalist feeders, eating a wide

variety of insects, aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and rodents, as well as reeds,

grasses, heath berries, corn and waste grain. In Hokkaido, they feed on human-provided

corn, cereal grains and fish.

The Red-crowned Crane is seriously threatened by loss of habitat throughout its range.

Human development, especially agricultural expansion, reed harvesting, river

channelization, deforestation, and road building, is destroying many of the historic

breeding wetlands. Additional threats include fires that destroy nests, harassment by

people, and poisoning from pesticide-treated grain. Because of their size and weight,

Red-crowned Cranes do not fly as fast as other cranes, and appear more prone to deadly

collisions with utility (power)lines.

Included with this drawing is a signed and dated "Certificate of Authenticity" by the

Artist.

Medium: colored Pencil on 200gsm paper.

Drawn: 2006