Red-crowned crane bowing to his mate in Hokkaido, Japan
© Steve Bloom Images/Alamy Stock Phot
Red-crowned crane
The red-crowned cranes, seen here today, are found in the reed marshes and frozen lakes of Hokkaido Island, Japan, and have fascinated visitors from all over the world. These graceful birds engage in a captivating mating dance, which involves intricate movements and calls. The dance is often performed by a pair of cranes and is believed to strengthen the bond between mates. They also symbolise good fortune, longevity and fidelity in Japanese culture. These gentle creatures even inspired a traditional paper craft, the origami crane; according to legend, folding a thousand cranes can grant wishes.
Related Images
Aurora borealis over Sycamore Gap, Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, England
Starlings during the autumn migration
Sandhill cranes taking flight over the Platte River near Kearney, Nebraska
An ANZAC Soldier statue in the evening light
Easter Island, Chile
Masai giraffe, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Inukshuk silhouetted against the Northern Lights in Barren Lands, Northwest Territories, Canada
The Joan of Arc Monument at Riverside Park in Manhattan
Bing Today Images
Bleeding hearts
Feb 14, 2026
Two Magellanic penguins, Falkland Islands
Feb 14, 2025
Igloo in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan
Feb 14, 2023
Heart-shaped island, Indian Ocean, Maldives
Feb 14, 2022
Elephants crossing Luangwa River, Zambia
Feb 14, 2017
