Common Crane

Grus grus

A graceful giant of wetlands and grasslands, this bird's trumpeting call echoes across Europe and Asia during its spectacular migrations.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Common Crane is a tall, long-necked bird with predominantly ash-grey plumage. Its most distinctive features include a black and white head pattern, with a red crown patch, and elongated, drooping black tertial feathers that form a 'bustle' over the tail.

The bill, which is medium length, is a pale greyish yellow and the legs are thick, long and dark grey.

Both sexes are similar, with females being slightly smaller. Adults and juveniles share similar colouration, though young birds lack vibrant red crowns and have brownish-tinged heads. It takes roughly 3 years for young birds to fully get their red crowns.

Size

Length

100cm to 130cm

Wingspan

180cm to 240cm

Weight

3kg to 6.1kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey

Secondary Colour

Black White Red

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Common Crane is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Common Crane is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Common Crane can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Common Crane is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Common Crane is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Common Crane is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Common Crane can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Common Crane is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Common Crane is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Common Crane is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Common Crane is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Common Crane is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Common Cranes inhabit a wide range across Eurasia, from Northern Europe to Eastern Asia. They breed in northern latitudes' wetlands, bogs, and marshes, including Scandinavia and Russia.

During winter, they migrate to southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. In the UK, increasing numbers overwinter in eastern England, particularly in Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Somerset Levels.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Crane. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons