Justification This crane has a small population, restricted to fewer than ten wintering sites whose combined area is small. It has declined at the majority of these wintering sites. Given the substantial threats to its habitat, it is likely to continue declining in the near future. Owing to these factors it is listed as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Gruidae

Species name author Temminck, 1835

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

Identification 100 cm. Small, dark crane. Darkish-grey body. White top of neck and head, except patch of bare red skin above eye. Similar spp. White-naped Crane G. vipio has grey sides of neck and extensive patch of red on sides of face around eye. Voice Loud, high-pitched calls.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

1,600,000 km²

No

Range & population Grus monacha breeds in south-central and south-eastern Siberia, Russia. Breeding is suspected in Mongolia and two breeding sites have recently been found in the region of Heilongjiang, China^6,8. Its global population is estimated to be c.11,500 birds⁵ with 1,460 in China and Russia¹, c.114 in Korea² and over 80% wintering at Izumi, southern Japan where 10,027 were recorded in 2005-2006³. Other regular wintering grounds include Yashiro, Japan (just 10-15 birds since 2000), Suncheon Bay, South Korea, and wetlands along the Yangtze river, particularly Shengjin Hu, Poyang Hu, Longgan Hu, Huanghe Delta and Chongming Dongtan⁷, China. 1,088 individuals were counted at the Yangtze floodplain in 2005⁴.

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 remote, wooded, upland bogs on gently sloping foothills and flat river terraces, mostly within the permafrost zone. It winters in freshwater marshes, wet grassland, coastal tidal flats and farmland.

Threats The key threats are wetland loss and degradation in its wintering grounds in China and South Korea as a result of reclamation for development and dam building, especially the proposed three gorges dam which threatens an important wintering site. Conversion of rice-paddies to cotton fields at Longgan Hu and Dongting Hu has caused declines. A newly discovered wintering site at Suncheon Bay, South Korea, is threatened by development. The artificially high concentration of birds at Izumi, as a result of supplementary feeding, risks a major population reduction from disease or another catastrophe. Other threats in China include pollution of coastal waters, pesticide poisoning, increased levels of human disturbance and over-fishing. Some poaching and hunting of breeding birds occurs.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix II. Key protected areas include Norsky, Daursky and Khingansky (Russia), Daguur and Ugtam (Mongolia), Shengjin Hu, Longgan Hu, Poyang Hu, Dong Dongting Hu and Chen Hu (China), Mundok (North Korea), and Izumi-Takaono and Yashiro (Japan).

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further surveys to identify additional breeding areas. Establish strictly protected areas in the Bikin river basin (Russia) and Suncheon Bay (South Korea). Expand the area or number of suitable wintering sites in Japan. Expand protected areas at Chongming Dao and Xinglong Dongsha (China). Enforce measures to minimise threats to wetlands in the lower Yangtze from the Three Gorges Dam. Prevent poisoning from pesticides and poaching. Establish local crane conservation groups in China.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. unpublished information supplied by Wetlands International Specialist Groups to Wetlands International (2006). 2. Li and Mundkur (2004). 3. P. Morris in litt. (2006). 4. M. Barter in litt. (2006). 5. J. Harris in litt. (2006). 6. Yuming et al. (2006). 7. Ma Quiang et al. (2007). 8. Guo Yu-min et al. (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), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Joe Tobias (BirdLife International)

Contributors Mark Barter, Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), Jim Harris (International Crane Foundation), Zuo Wei David Li (Wetlands International), Pete Morris, Sergei Smirenski (International Crane Foundation), Yamada Yasuhiro

IUCN Red List evaluators Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), James Gilroy (BirdLife International), Nic Peet (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Grus monacha. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

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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