Red-crowned Crane
Grus japonensis

f8 @ 1/2500s, ISO:1600, Nikon D300S w 500mm

\"Red-crowned Crane,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.Adult red-crowned cranes are named for a patch of red bare skin on the crown, which becomes brighter in the mating season. Overall, they are snow white in color with black on the wing secondaries, which can appear almost like a black tail when the birds are standing, but the real tail feathers are actually white. Males are black on the cheeks, throat and neck, while females are pearly gray in these spots. The bill is olive green to greenish horn, the legs are slaty to grayish black, and the iris is dark brown.This species is among the largest cranes, typically measuring about 150 to 158 cm (4 ft 11 in to 5 ft 2 in) tall and 120–150 cm (3 ft 11 in–4 ft 11 in) in length (from bill to tail tip). Across the large wingspan, the Red-crowned crane measures 220–250 cm (7 ft 3 in–8 ft 2 in).Typical body weight can range from 7 to 10.5 kg (15 to 23 lb), with males being slightly larger and heavier than females and weight ranging higher just prior to migration.On average, it is the heaviest crane species, although both the Sarus and Wattled Crane can grow taller and exceed this species in linear measurements.

Hokkaido, Japan

02/23/2012