193. Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus)

Siberian Cranes are classed as Critically Endangered. There are two main populations; one breeds in western Siberia and winters in Iran and India, and is estimated to be under 20 individuals; the other, larger, population breeds in the eastern Russian Arctic and winters in China. However this population has suffered a loss of wintering grounds due to the development of many dams along the Yangtze River, and now virtually all of the population winters on one lake in China. Siberian Cranes are the largest of the cranes covered here, and have very distinctive white plumage with black wingtips and bare red skin on their faces. Juveniles are slightly smaller, with white and buff plumage and no red face. Of all the cranes they are found in the wettest habitats, preferring bogs, marshes and wide open expanses of shallow fresh water in tundra/taiga zones.

Siberian Crane, ©Blake Matheson, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Siberian Crane painting.

Quite a quick one tonight, but none too shabby for it.