The red-crowned crane (scientific name: Grus japonensis) is a large wading bird in the genus Crane. The body length of the red-crowned crane is 1.2~1.5 meters. The male is slightly larger than the female. There is a gray-black broad stripe on each side of the neck. There is a small white feather spot on the ear feathers and the iris is dark brown. The forehead and head are bare, without feathers, and are vermilion. Red-crowned crane throat neck, secondary and tertiary flight feathers are black. The mouth is yellowish green, the tail is short, and the tail feathers are white. Legs and feet are leaden black. The red-crowned crane chicks are pale brownish yellow, but the tips of the primary feathers are black, and the neck and secondary feathers are dark brown or gray.

It is an elegant and long-lived bird belonging to the crane family of the crane order, with a wide variety of species. Known for its slender legs, long neck, and elegant flying posture. Feathers are usually white or gray. It mainly inhabits wetlands, swamps, and open grasslands, and its food includes small fish, insects, frogs, and plants. It has important symbolic significance in Chinese culture and is often regarded as a symbol of longevity and auspiciousness. In addition, cranes are also considered to have medicinal value in some traditional medicines in East Asia. The breeding season is usually in spring, when they build nests and hatch eggs. Young cranes can learn to forage and fly with their parents shortly after hatching.