Common Crane

Grus grus

The Common Crane is a tall bird with long legs and a beautiful, graceful neck. They are known for their loud, trumpeting calls and often dance during mating season, making them a sight to see!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Common Crane is a tall, elegant grey bird with long legs and a long neck. It has a distinctive red patch on its crown and striking black and white stripes on its head and neck, making it visually distinct from herons.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderGruiformesFamilyGruidaeGenusGrus

Photo: Andreas EichlerCC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Common Crane

Interesting facts

A crane's incredible call comes from a coiled windpipe, making it super loud and carrying far!

Common Cranes are one of Europe's tallest birds, standing over a meter high!

Some crane migration routes are so ancient, they were likely flown by their ancestors millions of years ago!

They often perform energetic 'unison dances' involving bowing, jumping, and stick throwing!

Special abilities

Common Cranes have a loud, trumpeting call from a long windpipe, allowing them to communicate across vast distances.

Common Cranes perform elaborate, leaping dances to attract mates and strengthen their pair bonds.

Common Cranes have very long legs and toes, helping them wade through shallow waters to find food.

Measurements & details

Length: 100-130 cm
Wingspan: 180-240 cm
Weight: 4.5-6.1 kg
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Speed: 65 km/h
Clutch Size: 1-3
Incubation: 28-31 days
Migration Distance: 4000 km

Diet & Feeding

These omnivores eat a mix of plants, grains, insects, and small critters found on the ground.

Primary Foods

grains
insects
worms
small amphibians
berries
roots

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

preys on eggs and chicks in nesting areas

Eaten by

Wild Boar

Sus scrofa

forages for eggs and young in nesting areas

Eats

Maize

Zea mays

feeds on fallen grains in agricultural fields

Depends on

Common Reed

Phragmites australis

uses dense reeds for nesting shelter and material

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Singing

Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

Migratory

Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Common Crane?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Common Crane?

100-130 cm

What is Common Crane's wingspan?

180-240 cm

How much does Common Crane weigh?

4.5-6.1 kg

How long does Common Crane live?

15-20 years

How fast can Common Crane move?

65 km/h

What does Common Crane eat?

These omnivores eat a mix of plants, grains, insects, and small critters found on the ground.