At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
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.
Sources
Sources for Siberian Crane
- IUCN Red List — look up Siberian Crane (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
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.
Last updated: