
Photo: A Dim Light Chaser · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Habitat
Arctic tundra when breeding
Range
Two breeding populations in the Arctic tundra of western and eastern Russia; the eastern one winters in China, the western in Iran and formerly Bharatpur, India
The Siberian crane, also called the Siberian white crane or snow crane, is distinctive among cranes: adults of both sexes are nearly all snowy white, apart from black primaries, alula and primary coverts that show in flight. The forecrown, face and side of the head are bare and brick red, the bill is dark and the legs are pinkish. Juveniles are feathered on the face and dingy brown. There are no elongated tertial feathers as in some other cranes. (Wikipedia, general species account)
There are two breeding populations in the Arctic tundra of western and eastern Russia. The eastern populations migrate in winter to China, while the western population winters in Iran and, formerly, at Bharatpur in India. Among cranes it makes the longest-distance migrations. During breeding, both sexes are often seen with mud streaking their feathers and may smear it on deliberately, which has been hypothesised to aid camouflage on the nest. (Wikipedia, general species account)