Animal Profiles
Birds

Crane

Gruidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Cranes are long-legged birds of open country and wetlands. This account describes the common crane (Grus grus), a mostly grey Eurasian species with a loud bugling call.

Grus grus (crane)

Representative species: Grus grus.

Andreas Trepte · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Eurasian breeding grounds; wintering areas in southern Europe, Africa and Asia.
Habitat
Wetlands, Grassland
Diet
Omnivore
Food
Seeds, roots, insects, snails and worms.

Classification

Common name
Crane
Browse group
Birds
Scientific name or taxon
Gruidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Gruiformes
Family
Gruidae
Source classification
Aves

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Courtship includes an elaborate dance.
  • Its bugling calls keep flying flock members in contact.
  • Nesting birds can disappear into dense reedbeds.

Habitat and range

Common cranes breed from northern and western Europe across Eurasia to eastern Siberia. Wintering areas include southern Europe, northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. Wetlands, marshes and bogs provide habitat; drainage and degradation reduce suitable sites.

Appearance and adaptations

The bird has a long neck and legs, grey plumage and a contrasting black, white and red head. Curved feathers droop over the rear of the body.

Diet and behaviour

Both plant and animal foods are eaten, including seeds, roots and small invertebrates. Loud calls accompany flock movements and spring courtship dances. Dense wetland vegetation provides concealment when nesting.

Sources

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