# Demoiselle Crane (*Grus virgo*) The Demoiselle Crane is a beautiful bird with long legs and a graceful neck. It dances in the air and on the ground, showing off its fancy moves to impress friends! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Little Crane ![Demoiselle Crane](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426284/objects/2112.jpg) ## Appearance The Demoiselle Crane is a graceful, medium-sized crane with a slate-grey body. It has a striking black neck and head, adorned with elegant white ear tufts that stream backward. Its distinct red eyes make it visually stand out from similar birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Gruiformes - **Family:** Gruidae - **Genus:** Anthropoides ## Interesting facts - Demoiselle Cranes migrate over the towering Himalayan mountains twice a year! - Some cultures see these elegant birds as symbols of good fortune. - They are the smallest of all crane species, standing less than a meter tall! - Young Demoiselle Cranes often stay with their parents for up to a year! ## Special abilities - **High-Altitude Flyer:** Demoiselle Cranes can soar over mountains, including the Himalayas, because of their strong wings and unique breathing that helps them migrate. - **Dancing Courtship:** Demoiselle Cranes have elaborate 'dances' that involve bowing and leaping, which helps them attract a mate during breeding season. - **Trumpet Calls:** Demoiselle Cranes can make loud, trumpeting calls because they have a long trachea, which helps them communicate across vast open landscapes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 85-100 cm - **Wingspan:** 155-180 cm - **Weight:** 2-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 27-31 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding This crane enjoys a varied diet of seeds, grains, insects, and small critters! - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Grains, Insects, Worms, Small reptiles, Plant shoots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes may prey on eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Eagles can prey on younger or weakened cranes. - **Eats:** [Wheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wheat) (*Triticum aestivum*) — Cranes feed on spilled grains in fields. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — They consume various insect species, including locusts. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Demoiselle 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 Demoiselle Crane? 85-100 cm ### What is Demoiselle Crane's wingspan? 155-180 cm ### How much does Demoiselle Crane weigh? 2-3 kg ### How long does Demoiselle Crane live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Demoiselle Crane move? 60 km/h ### What does Demoiselle Crane eat? This crane enjoys a varied diet of seeds, grains, insects, and small critters! ### Where is Demoiselle Crane usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [International Crane Foundation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-crane-foundation) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo ## Watch - [Play video: Demoiselle Crane](https://www.snappit.app/videos/demoiselle-crane) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=5k-FiRCen8M) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Demoiselle Crane: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/demoiselle-crane)