What is a Crane?

What are the Characteristics of the Group of Birds Commonly Called Cranes?

Aug 25, 2006 Rosemary Drisdelle

A description of cranes including physical features, habits, and how they differ from similar birds.

Cranes belong to the family Gruidae; they are large wading birds, some easily as tall as a human, that breed in shallow wetlands. They feed on small animals, fish, insects, and plants. Most migrate to warm southern wetlands or grasslands for the winter. There are 15 species of cranes, more than half of which are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. North America has two species, the endangered Whooping Crane, and the Sandhill Crane.

Though cranes and herons look quite similar, their manner of flight easily differentiates the two: cranes fly with their necks outstretched, while herons fly with their heads held back and their necks curved in an S shape.

Articles:

Japanese Cranes, Symbols of Peace

Vacation With Cranes in Hungary

Blog entries:

Two Whooping Crane Chicks Born in the Wild Make History in Wisconsin

Wild Canadian Whooping Cranes Hatch 76 Chicks in 2006

Whooping Crane Chicks Thrive and a Rare Bird Turns Up in Nova Scotia

Update on the Whooping Crane Chicks and Glace Bay Western Reef Heron

The First Family Whooping Crane Fledglings are Flying.

The copyright of the article What is a Crane? in Birds is owned by Rosemary Drisdelle. Permission to republish What is a Crane? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.