FaunaHub
CRCritically EndangeredPartial review

Siberian Crane

Leucogeranus leucogeranus

Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus), a white crane with a red face.

Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus).

Image: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
CR · Critically Endangered
Animal group
Birds
Population trend
Decreasing
FaunaHub record reviewed
Checked against IUCN
Matches source — IUCN's 2018 global assessment of Leucogeranus leucogeranus says Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment

Conservation overview

The Siberian crane is a large white crane that undertakes one of the longest migrations of any crane. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.

The main population depends on a single key wintering wetland in China.

Range & habitat

Breeds in Arctic Russia and migrates to wintering grounds, chiefly in China.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Loss of wetland stopover and wintering sites
  • Dams altering rivers
  • Disturbance

Why it matters

Reliant on a chain of wetlands across a vast migration, the Siberian crane is a flagship for international cooperation on wetland conservation.

Gallery

A Siberian crane wading.

Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus).

Image: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Siberian Crane

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Siberian crane so vulnerable on migration?
It depends on a network of wetland stopover sites and, for the main population, largely on a single wintering wetland — so the loss of even one key site is devastating.
Why is the Siberian crane Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite loss of wetland stopover and wintering habitat, dams altering river systems, and disturbance. See the IUCN Red List.