Gruidae

Gruidae is the crane family, large birds with long legs and necks placed in the order Gruiformes, comprising 15 species in four genera: Antigone, Balearica, Leucogeranus and Grus. Cranes occur on most continents except Antarctica and South America, with East Asia holding the greatest diversity at eight species and Africa hosting five resident species. The family is marked by a tapering form, long secondary wing feathers that project over the tail, and muted grey or white plumage often marked with black and red facial patches; unlike herons, cranes fly with their long necks extended outward rather than folded into an S shape.