Siberian Crane
Leucogeranus leucogeranus
- Family
- Cranes (Gruidae)
- Order
- Gruiformes
Best months to see it
- JanJanuary: Best
- FebFebruary: Best
- MarMarch: Best
- AprApril: Poor or no data
- MayMay: Poor or no data
- JunJune: Poor or no data
- JulJuly: Poor or no data
- AugAugust: Poor or no data
- SepSeptember: Poor or no data
- OctOctober: Poor or no data
- NovNovember: Best
- DecDecember: Best
BestGoodFair
Overview
The Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus), also known as the Siberian white crane or the snow crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. They are distinctive among the cranes: adults are nearly all snowy white, except for their black primary feathers that are visible in flight, and with two breeding populations in the Arctic tundra of western and eastern Russia. The eastern populations migrate during winter to China, while the western population winters in Iran and (formerly) in Bharatpur, India.
Among the cranes, they make the longest distance migrations. Their populations, particularly those in the western range, have declined drastically in the 20th century due to hunting along their migration routes and habitat degradation.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Roots and tubers of aquatic plants.
How to identify it
- All-white crane with a bare red face
- Black primaries visible only in flight
- Pinkish legs
Voice
High-pitched musical calls.
Where to see it
- Poyang Lake, China (Nov–Mar)
Similar species
- Other white cranes
- Red-crowned Crane has a black neck; Whooping Crane is in North America
Range and habitat
Breeds Arctic Siberia; winters to northern India and China.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Siberian crane
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.