Hooded Crane

Overview

The hooded crane (Grus monacha) is a crane species native to East Asia that frequently migrates to Japan. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to threats from habitat loss.

Identification

• Grey body with a white head and neck top.
• Patch of bare red skin above the eye.
• One of the smallest cranes, measuring 1 m long, weighing 3.7 kg, and having a wingspan of 1.87 m.

Habitat

Breeding occurs in south-central and south-eastern Siberia, with suspected breeding in Mongolia. Over 80% of the population winters in Izumi, southern Japan, with additional wintering grounds in South Korea and China, including Dongtan Nature Reserve in Shanghai.

Did you know?

In 2020, seven hooded cranes were recorded in Siargao, Philippines, marking the first encounter of the species in the country, after which they began frequently migrating to southern wetlands.