Common Crane

Common Crane
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae Genus: Grus Species: grus
Binomial name
Grus grus

The Common Crane Grus grus, also known as the Eurasian Crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the craness.

This species breeds in northern parts of Europe and western Asia. It is along distance migrant wintering in Africa and southern Europe. Migrating flocks fly in a V formation.

In Great Britain it became extinct in the 17th century but a tiny population now breeds again in the Norfolk Broads.

The crane is a large stately bird, 44 inches long. It is grey with white facial streak and a bunch of black plumes on its tail. Adults have a red crown patch.

It has a loud trumpeting call, given in flight and display. It has a dancing display, leaping with wings uplifted.

It will eat insects, small birds and mammals.