- Common Crane
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Common Crane 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae Genus: Grus Species: G. grus Binomial name Grus grus
(Linnaeus, 1758)Synonyms Grus turfa Portis, 1884
Common Crane (Grus grus)
The Common Crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian Crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes.
It is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane at 100–130 cm (40–52 in) long, with a 180–240 cm (71–96 in) wingspan and a weight of 4.5–6 kg (10–13.2 lbs). It is grey with a white facial streak and a bunch of black wing plumes. Adults have a red crown patch. It has a loud trumpeting call, given in flight and display. It has a dancing display, leaping with wings uplifted.
It breeds in wetlands in northern parts of Europe and Asia. The global population is in the region of 210,000-250,000, with the vast majority nesting in Russia and Scandinavia. In Great Britain the Common Crane became extirpated in the 17th century, but a tiny population now breeds again in the Norfolk Broads[citation needed] and is slowly increasing and a reintroduction is planned for the Somerset levels. In Ireland, it died out as a breeding species in the 18th century, but a flock of about 20 appeared in County Cork in November 2011.
It is a long distance migrant wintering in Africa (south to Morocco and Ethiopia), southern Europe, and southern Asia (south to northern Pakistan and eastern China). Migrating flocks fly in a V formation.
It is a rare visitor to western North America, where birds are occasionally seen with flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes.
It is omnivorous, eating leaves, roots, berries (including notably the cranberry, which is probably named after the species), insects, small birds and mammals.
The Common Crane is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Gallery
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Flock in flight
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Individual in flight
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Adults and immatures at Keoladeo National Park, India
See also
- Cranes in Britain
- Lake Der-Chantecoq (migration stopover site)
- Hula Valley (migration stopover site)
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Grus grus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Bibliography
- del Hoyo, J. et al., eds. (1996). Handbook of the Birds of the World 3: 88.
External links
- International Crane Foundation's Eurasian Crane page
- Eurasian Crane (Grus grus) from Cranes of the World (1983) by Paul Johnsgard
- Common Crane videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- Cranes found breeding in the Fens of East Anglia for the first time in 400 years
- (French) Common cranes discovered in Champagne (France)
- Photos of the Common Crane by Klaus Nigge
- Observing cranes without disturbing them
Cranes (order: Gruiformes • family: Gruidae) Subfamily Balearicinae
(crowned cranes)Black Crowned Crane (B. pavonina) • Grey Crowned Crane (B. regulorum)Gruinae
(typical cranes)Common Crane or Eurasian Crane (G. grus) • Sandhill Crane (G. canadensis) • Whooping Crane (G. americana) • Sarus Crane (G. antigone) • Brolga (G. rubicunda) • Siberian Crane (G. leucogeranus) • White-naped Crane (G. vipio) • Hooded Crane (G. monacha) • Black-necked Crane (G. nigricollis) • Red-crowned Crane (G. japonensis)Blue Crane (A. paradisea) • Demoiselle Crane (A. virgo)BugeranusWattled Crane (B. carunculatus)15 living species in four genera
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Grus
- Birds of Europe
- Birds of Turkey
- Birds of Asia
- Birds of Africa
- Birds of Pakistan
- Birds of India
- Birds of China
- Birds of Korea
- Birds of Lithuania
- Birds of Japan
- Birds of Southeast Asia
- Birds of Bangladesh
- Birds of Burma
- Birds of Vietnam
- Birds of Cambodia
- Birds of Thailand
- Wading birds
- Animals described in 1884
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