Justification This crane is listed as Vulnerable because it is thought to be undergoing a continuing population decline, largely as a result of the loss of wetlands to agriculture and economic development.

Family/Sub-family Gruidae

Species name author Pallas, 1811

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 125 cm. Large grey crane. Slate-grey body with white throat and vertical white stripe from crown down back of neck. Extensive patch of red on face. Juvenile has brown head and pale throat. Similar spp. Common Crane G. grus has black nape, face and foreneck. Hooded Crane G. monacha has fully white neck and white face below the eye. Voice High-pitched, penetrating calls.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

6,500

decreasing

746,000 km²

No

Range & population Grus vipio breeds in Dauria on the border of Russia, Mongolia and China, the Amur and Ussuri basins on the Sino-Russian border and the Songnen and Sanjiang plains, China. It migrates along the Songnen plain and Gulf of Bohai to its wintering grounds in the Yangtze basin, mainly at Poyang Hu (c.2,500 individuals) and Dongting Hu lakes, along the Korean peninsula to the Demilitarised Zone in North Korea/South Korea, mainly Cholwon (c.300 individuals), and to southern Kyushu in Japan. The population is estimated at c.6,500 individuals and is probably declining.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It breeds in the wetlands of steppe and forest-steppe zones, in grassy marshes, wet sedge-meadows and reedbeds in broad river valleys, lake depressions and boggy upland wetlands. In winter, it frequents freshwater lakes, farmland and occasionally coastal flats.

Threats The loss of wetlands to agricultural expansion, especially in its breeding grounds, is the main threat. Between 2000 and 2007, wetland loss in the western (Daurian) part of the range has been greatly exacerbated by prolonged drought conditions. This drought is part of a climatic cycle, and is predicted to persist until 2015⁴. Breeding birds are also threatened by steppe fires, whilst livestock grazing may cause disturbance and reduce the availability of suitable nesting habitat¹. In its wintering grounds, the main threats are from development and increasing human disturbance of wetlands in the Yangtze basin, the effects of the Three Gorges Dam on wetlands in the Yangtze basin and the potential development of wetlands in the Demilitarised Zone. In China, many wintering flocks occur outside of existing reserves, and are consequently at risk from hunting, direct disturbance, pollution from pesticide use and further loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion². At Chaewon, Korea, a switch from spring to autumn ploughing of rice paddies resulted in reduced foraging rates, potentially affecting overwinter survival³. In Japan, the high proportion of individuals wintering at a single site at Izumi may render the population at greater risk from stochastic events or disease.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix II. It is legally protected in all range states. Protected areas have been established for its conservation, of which the most important are Khingansky, Muraviovka, Daursky and Lake Khanka (Russia), Daguur (Mongolia), Zhalong, Xingkai Hu, Xianghai, Horqin, Poyang Hu, Dong Dongting Hu and Shengjin Hu (China), Kumya and Mundok (North Korea), and Izumi-Takaono (Japan). Artificial feeding has resulted in an increase in the population wintering in Japan.

Conservation measures proposed Establish transboundary protected areas at the Tumen estuary between Russia, China and North Korea and the Argun River between Russia and China. Secure the conservation status of Cholwon and the Han river estuary in the Demilitarised Zone. Increase the number of suitable wintering sites in Japan. Enforce conservation measures to minimise threats from the Three Gorges Dam to wetlands along the Yangtze. Extend or establish protected areas in the wintering grounds in China, including Kumya, Lake Khanka-Xinghai, Poynag Lake, Sanjiang Plain, the Three Rivers Plain, Sonbon and Bohai Bay. Control spring fires in the breeding grounds.Prevent poisoning from pesticides and poaching. Establish local crane conservation groups at small wintering and breeding sites. Establish a database combining the locations of crane records with details of existing reserve boundaries in order to identify priority sites.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. Bradter et al. (2005). 2. Higuchi et al. (2004). 3. Don Lee et al. (2007). 4. O. Gorosko in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

International Crane Foundation Species Field Guide

Status, Survey and Conservation Action Plan

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International)

Contributors O. Goroshko, Jim Harris (International Crane Foundation)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Grus vipio. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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