White-naped Cranes (Grus viper) are a symbol in the Korean New Year celebration, and featured in art and folklore. They are the only crane species with pinkish legs and a dark grey and white striped neck – nape refers to the back of the neck, and is the origin for this species common name.. They have a white hind neck and nape, surrounded by an extensively reddish face patch. White-naped Cranes breed in northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China, and adjacent areas of southeastern Russia. Mated pairs of White-naped Cranes engage in unison calling – the birds stand in a specific posture, usually with their heads thrown back and beaks skyward during the display. In White-naped Cranes, the female initiates the display and utters two calls for each male call. The male always lifts up his wings over his back during the unison call while the female keeps her wings folded at her sides. The White-naped Crane frequents several types of wetland habitats, and breeds in open wetlands along large river valleys, along lake edges, in grassy marshes and on islands in the middle of the steppe lakes where there are reedbeds.
