This is an immature with a mostly brown head and neck. This species is considered sacred to the Japanese people. It is said to be the heaviest crane weighing up to 25 lbs. It is also the second rarest crane (Whooping Crane is rarer) with a world population estimated at 1,830 adults, half restricted to Hokkaido where they are mostly resident. Although the Japanese population is increasing slightly, the highly migratory mainland population continues to decline mostly because of conversion of wetlands for agriculture. The black "bustle" is not the tail, but elongated black secondaries (wing feathers).