Common Crane

The common crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. A medium-sized species, it is the only crane commonly found in Europe besides the demoiselle crane. The Common crane is one of only four crane species not currently classified as threatened with extinction. It is a slate-grey large, stately bird. Its forehead and lore’s are blackish with a bare red crown and a white streak extending from behind the eyes to the upper back. The overall color is darkest on the back and rump and palest on the breast and wings. The juvenile has yellowish-brown tips to its body feathers and lacks the drooping wing feathers and the bright neck pattern of the adult and has a fully feathered crown.

General Information:

Common Name:Common Crane
Scientific Name:Grus grus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order:Gruiformes
Family:Grudae

Description

The common crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. A medium-sized species, it is the only crane commonly found in Europe besides the demoiselle crane. The Common crane is one of only four crane species not currently classified as threatened with extinction. It is a slate-grey large, stately bird. Its forehead and lore’s are blackish with a bare red crown and a white streak extending from behind the eyes to the upper back. The overall color is darkest on the back and rump and palest on the breast and wings. The juvenile has yellowish-brown tips to its body feathers and lacks the drooping wing feathers and the bright neck pattern of the adult and has a fully feathered crown.

Distribution

Common cranes are found in the northern parts of Europe and across the Palearctic to Siberia. They are long-distance migrants wintering in northern Africa but also in southern Europe, western Asia, in the northern half of the Indian subcontinent, and in eastern China.

Habitat

habitats usually where small lakes or pools are found, they breed in small, swampy openings amongst pine forests, steppe, and even semi-desert, so long as the water is near. In winter, Common cranes inhabit flooded areas, shallow sheltered bays, and swampy meadows.

Mating Habits

Common cranes are monogamous and form strong pairs that stay together for several years. These birds lay eggs in May, though seldom will do so earlier or later. The clutch usually contains 2 eggs, rarely, 3 or 4. The incubation period is around 30 days and is done primarily by the female but occasionally by both parents. New hatchlings are generally quite helpless but can crawl away from danger within a few hours, can swim soon after hatching, and can run with their parents at 24 hours old. Young chicks use their wings to stabilize them while running, while by 9 weeks of age they can fly short distances. By the next breeding season, the previous year’s young often flock together. They usually become reproductively mature between 3 and 6 years of age.

Diet

Common cranes are omnivores, as are all cranes. They eat plant matter, including roots, rhizomes, tubers, stems, leaves, fruits, and seeds. They also commonly eat, when available, pondweeds, heath berries, peas, potatoes, olives, acorns, cedar nuts, and pods of peanuts. Animal foods become more important during the breeding season and include insects, especially dragonflies, and snails, earthworms, crabs, spiders, millipedes, woodlice, amphibians, rodents, and small birds.

Threats

Residential & commercial development

Housing & urban areas

Agriculture & aquaculture

Annual & perennial non-timber crops
Wood & pulp plantations

IUCN Status

Least Concern