Siberian Crane - Middle School Steppes Wildlife

Siberian Crane
International Crane Foundation

Height: 140 cm, 5 ft.
Weight: 6 kg, 13 lbs.
Population: ~2,900-3,000
Trend: Rapid decline
Status: IUCN: CR A3cde, Cites Appendix I, ESA: E; CMS I, II

Identification:
Adult forecrown, forehead, face, and sides of the head are bare of feathers and brick-red in color. The plumage is pure white except for the primaries, which are black. Eye color is reddish or pale yellow and legs and toes are reddish pink. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable, although males tend to be slightly larger in size and females tend to have shorter beaks than males.

Juvenile heads and necks are rusty buff in color. The rest of the plumage is buffy brown, with paler plumage occurring on the throat and chin. Siberian Crane chicks have blue eyes at hatching, but eye color changes at about six months of age to yellow.

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