Two heads are better than one...when it comes to love: Cranes captured in courtship dance

By JAMES RUSH

Embrace: The cranes lean their heads back to touch each other as part of the graceful courtship dance

These beautiful cranes prove that two heads are better than one with this graceful courtship dance.
The long-legged lovers kept warm in sub-zero temperatures by performing the coy ballet-like routine.
They strutted around in the snow and flapped their black wings at each other, then leant their heads back in a touching embrace.
Photographer Takaaki Ishikawa, 55, enjoyed watching the majestic red-crowned cranes' afternoon display.

Dance: The birds strutted in the snow and flapped their wings at each other before the embrace

This pair's eye-catching plumage caught his attention in a 50-strong group who had flocked to the spot on the Japanese island of Hokkaido to feed.
Mr Ishikawa said: 'This final head-touch is one of the gestures of courtship.
'They only attached heads for a few seconds, but there was a warning about 30 seconds before it happened.
'After reaching their necks up and nearly touching beaks, they then went back to the dance of courtship.
'When it was over, they snuggled together for a while and then took off with the rest of their group to find a place to sleep.'

Rare: Photographer Takaaki Ishikawa, who caputred the scene, said: 'I had never seen two birds press their heads together before and I think most people have never seen it'

The birds also made their signature trumpet-like cry as they danced.
Mr Ishikawa, who works for a company in Anjo, southern Japan, calls this photo series 'Duet'.

source: dailymail