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Common CraneAlternate name(s): "Eurasian Crane" ![]() 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) |
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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]
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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NON-BREEDING |
Sex unknown |
Part of a large flock of Common Cranes on migration to their winter
quarters
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, November 2022]
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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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Behaviour |
Common Cranes can form substantial flocks. Like other large, heavy birds, they know how to minimize air resistance by flying in skeins.
Skeins of Common Cranes on migration to their winter quarters
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, November 2016]
Part of a large flock of Common Cranes on migration to their winter
quarters; these are the birds whose
calls were
recorded on 4 November 2020
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, November 2020]
Skein of Common Cranes on migration to their winter quarters; these
are the birds whose
calls were
recorded on 4 November 2020
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, November 2020]
Covey of Common Cranes resting in a wetland
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]
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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_sc_20220216.m4a | grus (Serbia) | Contact calls? (flock) | © SC | |
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 | |
crane_hds_20201104.m4a | grus (Germany) | Large flock flying over | © HDS |
More Common Crane sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.