World of Cranes (Gruiformes)

Cranes are one of the oldest of all living things dating back millions of years.  In this WORLD, Cranes are represented by three species, considered tallest and most beautiful of all cranes.

Common Name:        Sarus Crane

Genus/Species:         Grus antigone

Range:

Northern India, east to Burma, on the Malay Peninsula, in Indo-Chinese countries and in northern Australia.

Natural Habitat:

Open landscapes, extensive marshy areas, low moors, rifts, bogs and the land-fills along the shores of lakes and ponds.

Physical Appearance:

Physical appearance may slightly vary depending on geographic area.  Males are larger than Females but otherwise identical in appearance.  Head, throat and neck are bare.  Crown is smooth and pale  ashy-green.  The rest of the bare portion is orange-red in color, becoming much deeper and brighter in color during mating season. The bare areas are also covered with long, black hair like bristles.  A small patch of bluish gray feathers is found over the ears.  A ring of white feathers stretches between the bare neck and the gray feathers farther down.  The color of the body ranges from bluish-gray to lighter gray. In young, the entire head and neck are covered in buff colored feathers.

Reproduction:

Strong pair bond, mates for life.  Male and Female build nest together, usually eggs incubated for 31 to 36 days by Female at night and Male during the day.  Flight stage at 10 to 12 weeks and young stay with adults for 10 to 12 months.  Parents seldom raise more than one young under natural conditions.  It has been observed that when raised in captivity young cranes will not attack each other, allowing the parents to raise more than one chick at a time.

STATUS in Natural Habitat:

Threatened to endangered in their natural habitat.

Cool Fact:

The world's tallest flying birds, some of the largest specimens may reach a height of 7 feet with an 8 to 9 foot wing span.  Sarus cranes have a life span up to 80 years.

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