Bird · GBIF taxon 2474950
Common Crane
Grus grusAlso known as Eurasian Crane, Grey Crane
Common Cranes are majestic, slate-grey birds famous for their spectacular, leaping courtship dances and resonant, bugle-like calls that carry for miles across open wetlands. They migrate in striking V-formations, traveling thousands of miles between northern European breeding grounds and southern wintering sites. These highly social birds form lifelong monogamous pairs, raising their chicks in secluded bogs and wet meadows.
MigratoryWetlandMonogamous
Licensed referenceAndreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Insects
- Frogs
- Grain
Predators
- Red Fox
- Golden Eagle
- Wild Boar
ThreatsHabitat loss, wetland drainage, collision with power lines, and agricultural intensification.
HabitatsBogs, wet meadows, shallow wetlands, agricultural fields, and flooded pastures.
Life span15 to 30 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGruidae
- SpeciesGrus grus
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a powerful peck if cornered or injured; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Look for large, grey birds with a black neck, white stripe down the head, and a red crown patch.
- Support conservation
- Stay on designated paths, avoid approaching nesting wetlands, and never use drones near active breeding sites.
Responsible observation
- Listen for bugling: Use their loud, trumpeting calls to locate flocks flying overhead or feeding in fields.
- Keep your distance: Use binoculars or a spotting scope to watch their dances without disrupting them.
- Visit roosts at dusk: Watch from designated blinds as thousands gather in shallow water to sleep safely.
Predator "Red Fox" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) egorbirder, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative 
Close Relative JeffreyGammon / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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