White Crane

Description

The white crane is a large bird with pure white plumage except for edges of black that sometimes appear along the primaries and coverts. The bill and legs are dark, nearly black. Male white cranes are slightly larger than females. Young cranes have brown-streaked feathers, and are highly aggressive towards each other... of each brood, it is rare for more than one to survive to leave the nest.

Habitat and Range

White Cranes are found across the Blessed Isle, being particularly common amongst the lakes of Lord's Crossing Dominion and the basins of the Serpentine and Caracal rivers. During the Shogunate they were favoured by some daimyo as a symbol of relation to the Shogun, resulting in Cranes being moved to gardens and estates across the Threshold... most of these escaped during the upheavals following the Contagion, and in Cherak, Vigoor, and the River Province these escapees have managed to develop into small breeding populations persisting to this day.

They favour wetland areas and rice paddies, so long as there is no human presence nearby.

Diet

These cranes feed mainly on plants, though they are omnivorous. In the summer grounds they feed on a range of plants and seeds found in wetland areas as well as small rodents, earthworms, and fish. They also swallow pebbles and grit to aid in crushing food in their crop.

Cultural Significance

The White Crane has long been associated with the Shogunate. A stylized white crane formed the mon symbol of the now-defunct Dynastic Great House Kurosa, and the Gens Kurosa that preceded it. It is also heavily associated with the element of Air, and is a symbol of the Resplendent Air month in the field of Dynastic Fashions, as well as representing the rank of Minister in the mandarin squares of the Thousand Scales.