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Sarus Crane
(Grus antigone)
Size: 1.1-1.3 m (female), 1.3-1.5 m (male); wing span 2.2-2.5 m
Weight: 5-12 kg
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Sarus Cranes are very tall, nearly all-grey cranes. The only deviations
from an all-grey plumage
are a scarlet-red facial mask that wraps around the nape of the neck
(except for the ear coverts, which are grey) and upper neck, to about
10 cm below the chin. The bill is grey; the legs and feet are pinkish-grey.
Juvenile
birds are brown where
adults
are scarlet.
Compared with Brolgas,
Sarus Cranes have more scarlet down the upper part of their necks,
lack the black "dewlap" and also lighter-coloured legs.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Sarus
Crane at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Sarus Crane is available
HERE
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Sarus Cranes populate parts of northern central and western India,
parts of South-East Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam), and parts
of tropical Australia.
In Australia race
"gilliae" populates only Cape York
peninsula (except the tip northward of about Weipa),
down to about Cairns, QLD, and into the catchments of the two
major southern tributaries to the Gulf of Carpentaria, namely the
Gregory River and the Flinders River. There are also populations at
the confluence on the Burdekin River on the QLD East coast,
and in wetlands of other major rivers along the tropical
North of Australia, up to about the Ord River on the
NT/WA border. In the past, the distribution of Sarus Cranes
was much more wide-spread throughout the (near-)coastal
tropical North of Australia, but now their range outside
of QLD is largely restricted to the inaccessible wetlands
in the floodplains
of major rivers.
Sarus Cranes are found in wetlands, open grassland and also on
pasture.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "gilliae"
A number of Sarus Cranes, race
"gilliae", were seen, together with lots of Brolgas, by M. Mearns along the Gulf
Development Road, about 100 km North-West of Croydon, QLD, in October
2014.
M. Eaton reports finding Sarus Cranes, race "gilliae", at Lakefield
NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019.
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Photos |
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Race "gilliae"
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ADULT |
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Frontal view of an adult Sarus Crane
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Near Karumba, QLD, September 2019]
Frontal view of an adult Sarus Crane surrounded by
Brolgas;
note the Sarus Crane's red upper neck and the pink legs,
while the
Brolgas'
are grey
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Near Karumba, QLD, September 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a Sarus Crane
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[100 km NW of Croydon, QLD, October 2014]
Lateral view of an adult Sarus Crane, right, with the head of an
immature also visible on the left (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[100 km NW of Croydon, QLD, October 2014]
Dorsal view of an adult Sarus Crane (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[100 km NW of Croydon, QLD, October 2014]
Direct comparison between a female Brolga, back, and an
adult Sarus Crane,
front (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Croydon, QLD, September 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Small group of Sarus Cranes and Brolgas, with a juvenile Sarus Crane
on the right; note the large number of birds in the background (photo
courtesy of M. Mearns)
[100 km NW of Croydon, QLD, October 2014]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.