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Common CraneAlternate name(s): "Eurasian Crane"  German name(s): "Kranich"Size: 1.0-1.2 m; wing span 1.8-2.2 cm Weight: 5.1-6.1 kg (male), 4.5-5.9 kg (female) |
Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "grus"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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PAIR |
Pair of Common Cranes; being the taller of the two, the bird
on the right is likely the male, with the female on the left
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2019]
Pair of Common Cranes on a meadow; the smaller of the two birds, on the
left, is probably a female
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Sex unknown |
Two Common Cranes on a meadow, possibly a pair
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Lateral view of a Common Crane
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2019]
Lateral view of Common Cranes in a wheat field
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Monte do Espargueiro, Mourao, Evora, Portugal, December 2019]
Lateral view of Common Cranes (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Distant lateral view of a Common Crane foraging in a fallow field
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Near-dorsal view of Common Cranes (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Dorsal view of Common Cranes; note the different size and shape
of the red spot, which does NOT indicate different sexes
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Covey of Common Cranes on a meadow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Covey of Common Cranes on a meadow, with a covey of
Common Wood Pigeons
flying over
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Near-frontal view of Common Cranes at take-off
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Lateral view of Common Cranes in low flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Monte do Espargueiro, Mourao, Evora, Portugal, December 2019]
Near-dorsal view of four Common Cranes in flight; their behaviour
suggests that they may be two pairs
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Jelonki, Masovia, Poland, August 2015]
Silhuettes of Common Cranes in flight, preparing to land after
their long journey from somewhere in Africa
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2019]
Skeins of Common Cranes on migration to their winter quarters
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, November 2016]
Skein of Common Cranes on migration to their breeding grounds
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Apr(?) - June(?) | Eggs: 2 | Incubation period: ca. 30 days | Fledging age: ca. 63 days |
Eggs are usually laid in May. Usually a clutch consists of 2 eggs, rarely 1 or 3 (or even 4) eggs are laid. The nest is usually close to, or surrounded by, water. Chicks are precocial, i.e. they leave their nest at a very young age, but they only start to fly short distances at ca. 9 weeks old. Until then they wander around with their parents, who at the time are also going through a moult and are flightless for 5-6 weeks.
| Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female (& male) | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
| Type: Basket | Material: Reed stems, twigs, leaves | Height above ground: N/A |
Overview of the location of a Common Crane nest by the base
of a tree (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug wetlands, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]
Common Crane squatting down on its nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug wetlands, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]
Common Crane sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug wetlands, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]
Common Crane sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug wetlands, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]
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Eggs |
| Size: 90 x 60 mm | Colour: Tan, with grey-brown to dark-brown speckles | Shape: Long tapered oval |
Common Crane tending to the two eggs in its nest, possibly
turning them (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug wetlands, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement 
are welcome.
| crane_dw_20190317.m4a | grus (Poland) | Contact calls? (flock) | © DW | |
| crane_dw_20180817.m4a | grus (Poland) | Contact calls? (flock) | © DW | |
| crane_dw_20160930.m4a | grus (Poland) | Pair Q&A | © DW | |
| crane_dw_20160930_2.m4a | grus (Poland) | Contact calls? (distant; windy) | © DW | |
| crane_dw_20200905.m4a | grus (Poland) | Congregating for migration | © DW |