Common Crane

     The Common Crane or the Eurasian Crane is the most widely distributed Crane species around the world. And it’s the only crane species commonly found in Europe besides the Demoiselle Crane. Common cranes are known to be migratory birds, and every two years, before migration, adult birds undergo a complete moult, remaining flightless for six weeks, until the new feathers grow.

     The Common crane is a medium-sized crane, with a mainly slate-grey plumage and black flight feathers. The forehead and the anterior part of the neck are black, in contrast to the bare red crown. Also, the Common Crane’s back and rump are of a darker color than those of  the breast and the wings. While the legs and toes are black, and the bill is of a greyish lighter color. The Common crane is 100 – 130 cm long with a wingspan of 180 – 240 cm.

     The breeding range of the Common crane extends from northern and western Europe across Eurasia to northern Mongolia, northern China, and eastern Siberia. Its winter range includes portions of France and the Iberian Peninsula, north and east Africa, the Middle East, India, and southern and eastern China.

     The nest, which may be used from year to year, is a mound of wetland vegetation, generally placed on the ground in or near water. Both male and female birds help in building the nest and incubating the two eggs, which hatch after 28 – 31 days. The chicks have brown plumage, and fledge at around 65 to 70 days, but take between 4 and 6 years to reach sexual maturity.