Gruidae Archives - NatureWorks

Gruidae - Cranes

There are 15 bird species in this family. They are found in all parts of the world, except Antarctica and South America.

They are large birds with large, straight bills; long necks; and long legs. They are similar in appearance to herons and egrets, but unlike those species, they fly with their necks stretched straight out instead of tucked in.

Birds in this family mate for life and have elaborate courtship displays that involve strutting around with their wings outstretched.

Cranes usually live in flocks, and some are migratory, while others stay in one location all year.

They eat a wide variety of foods, including fish, reptiles, small mammals, amphibians, seeds, and berries.

Blue Crane
(Anthropoides paradiseus)

The blue crane is found in Namibia and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Demoiselle Crane
(Anthropoides virgo)

The demoiselle crane breeds in the savannas and steppes of central Eurasia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Black Crowned-Crane
(Balearica pavonina)

The black crowned-crane is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Gray Crowned-Crane
(Balearica regulorum)

The gray crowned-crane is found in Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Wattled Crane
(Bugeranus carunculatus)

The wattled crane is found in Botswana, Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Whooping Crane
(Grus americana)

The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America. It once bred across much of the Upper Midwest and northwestern Canada. It is limited today to two migratory flocks, one in Canada and one in Wisconsin and a non-migratory flock in Florida. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Sarus Crane
(Grus antigone)

The Sarus crane is found in Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis)

In the U.S., the sandhill crane breeds in Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. It winters in Mexico, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. There are also non-migratory populations on the southeast Mississippi coast and in Florida and Cuba. The sandhill crane also breeds in Canada and Siberia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Common Crane
(Grus grus)

The common crane is also known as the Eurasian crane. It is found in Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Red-Crowned Crane
(Grus japonensis)

The red-crowned crane is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea and Mongolia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Hooded Crane
(Grus monacha)

The hooded crane is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Black-Necked Crane
(Grus nigricollis)

The black-necked crane is found in Bhutan, China, India, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
Brolga
(Grus rubicunda)

The brolga is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
White-Naped Crane
(Grus vipio)

The white-naped crane is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Siberian Crane
(Leucogeranus leucogeranus)

The Siberian crane is found in Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and Uzbekistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered