Japanese crane  (Grus japonensis)

The Japanese crane, also known as the red-crowned crane is sacred and seen as a symbol of fidelity, good luck, love and long life in the Orient (5). It is also the second rarest crane species in the world (6). These tall, graceful birds are mainly white in colour with black lower wings. In males, the cheeks, throat and neck are also black, whilst in females they are a pearly-grey (7). Adults have a bare patch of skin on the crown of the head, which is bright red in colour (7). The bill is an olive-green colour and the legs are black. Juveniles are similar in appearance although they lack the red crown (7) and have black tipped outer flight feathers (2).