Cranes (Gruidae)
Species
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". They mate for life.
Some species of cranes migrate over long distances, while cranes in warm climates do not migrate at all. Cranes are gregarious, forming large flocks where their numbers are sufficient.
Everywhere crane numbers are diminishing. The plight of the Whooping Cranes of North America inspired some of the first US legislation to protect endangered species.
They are opportunistic feeders that may change their diet according to the season. They eat suitably sized prey such as small rodents, fish and amphibians, but will eat grain and berries during late summer and autumn (the cranberry is so-named from its being extensively eaten by some northern species of crane).
There are representatives of this group on all the continents except Antarctica and South America. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Species
Black Crowned Cranes (Balearica pavonina)
Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis)
Blue Cranes
(Anthropoides paradisea)
Brolga Cranes(Grus rubicunda)
Crowned Cranes: Red-crowned Crane ... Black Crowned Crane ... Grey Crowned Cranes
Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo)
Eurasian Cranes aka Common Cranes (Grus grus)
Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum)
East African Crowned Crane (Grey-crowned Crane)
Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha)
Red Crowned Crane aka Red Crown Crane (Grus japonensis)
Red-necked Cranes: Red-necked Cranes (Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge)
Paradise Cranes (Blue Crane)
Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)
Sarus Cranes (Grus antigone)
Siberian Cranes (Grus leucogeranus)
Stanley Cranes (Blue Crane)
Wattled Cranes (Bugeranus carunculatus)
White Cranes: Ardea spp. (Kowanyama Aboriginal Community Council - Australia)
White-naped Cranes (Grus vipio)
Whooping Cranes (Grus americana)
Related Web Resources: Learn about Cranes! ... Cranes: Their Biology, Husbandry, and Conservation ... The Cranes: Status Survey & Conservation Action Plan ... Crane, Egret, Heron, Ibis, Stork Clipart ... Threats to Cranes ... The Cranes - Head Comparisons of the different cranes ... Cranes: Their Biology, Husbandry, and Conservation
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