At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The white-naped crane is a large grey crane with a white nape and red face, breeding in north-east Asia. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It depends on a network of wetlands across several countries.
Range & habitat
Breeds in north-east Asia and winters in China, Korea, and Japan.
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 and drainage of wetlands
- Disturbance
- Dependence on a few key sites
Why it matters
A migratory crane reliant on shared wetlands across borders, the white-naped crane is a flagship for international wetland cooperation in East Asia.
Sources
Sources for White-naped Crane
- IUCN Red List — look up White-naped Crane (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are migratory cranes so dependent on cooperation between countries?
They breed, stop over, and winter in different countries, so protecting them requires safeguarding a chain of wetlands across international borders.
Why is the white-naped crane Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite the loss and drainage of wetlands, disturbance, and its reliance on a few key sites. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: