Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis
Black-necked Crane, Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan, March 2008 - click for larger image Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan
March 2008

The Black-necked Crane breeds in high altitude wetlands at between 3,000 and 5,000 metres in Tibet and central and southern China while it winters at lower altitudes down to about 1,500 metres on agricultural land in north-east India, Bhutan and China.

Black-necked Crane, Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan, March 2008 - click for larger image It is fairly rare with less than 10,000 birds and is classified as Vulnerable by Birdlife International.

It is a greyish crane with black head and neck and a red crown patch. The primaries and secondaries are also black as is the tail.
Black-necked Crane, Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan, March 2008 - click for larger image These three birds were the last remaining birds at the wintering grounds in Phobjikha. On the 27th March we watched them on the ground for about 10 minutes before they took off and circled round gaining height. Afetr about half an hour of this the two adult birds set off to the breeding grounds in Tibet while the juvenile, who we were told was slightly injured, returned to Phobjikha where it was expected to remain over the summer.

Black-necked Crane, Phobjikha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan, March 2008 - click for larger image There is access to more information on Avibase .
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