Common Crane
Grus grus
The Common Crane (Grus grus) is a common cran found in 87 countries, weighing about 5.5 kg. The common crane, also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes.
About the Common Crane
The common crane, also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. A medium-sized species, it is the only crane commonly found in Europe besides the demoiselle crane and the Siberian crane that only are regular in the far eastern part of the continent. Along with the sandhill crane, demoiselle crane and the brolga, it is one of only four crane species not currently classified as threatened with extinction or conservation dependent on the species level. Despite the species' large numbers, local extinctions and extirpations have taken place in part of its range, and an ongoing reintroduction project is underway in the United Kingdom.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The common crane is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane. It is 100–130 cm (39–51 in) long with a 180–240 cm (71–94 in) wingspan. The body weight can range from 3 to 6.1 kg (6.6 to 13.4 lb), with the nominate subspecies averaging around 5.4 kg (12 lb) and the eastern subspecies (G. g. lilfordi) averaging 4.6 kg (10 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 50.7–60.8 cm (20.0–23.9 in) long, the tarsus is 20.1–25.2 cm (7.9–9.9 in) and the exposed culmen is 9.5–11.6 cm (3.7–4.6 in).
What the Common Crane sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Libya, Afghanistan, Gibraltar, Albania, Faroe Islands, Isle of Man.
When to see it
Best months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Crane?
- The common crane is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Crane?
- The Common Crane is a huge sized bird weighing about 5.5 kg.
- Where can you see a Common Crane?
- The Common Crane occurs in 87 countries, including Sweden, Germany, Norway, France and Finland.
- What does a Common Crane sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Common Crane on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Crane?
- The Common Crane is most easily confused with the Whooping Crane, the Hooded Crane and the Black-necked Crane.
- Is the Common Crane endangered?
- The Common Crane is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Crane for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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