The common crane, Grus grus, is a medium-sized crane of the family Gruidae, breeding across Europe and the Palearctic into Siberia, with its largest populations in Russia, Finland and Sweden, and wintering chiefly in Portugal, Spain and North Africa, though some populations winter in Sudan, Ethiopia, the Indian subcontinent and eastern China. It measures 100 to 130 centimeters long with a wingspan of 180 to 240 centimeters, and is slate-grey overall with a blackish forehead, a bare red crown and a white streak running behind the eyes; males are slightly larger than females. The species is strongly migratory, capable of flying at altitudes up to 10,000 meters, and performs elaborate dancing displays during courtship; the cranberry is thought to be named after it for the berries it consumes. As of 2025 the global population was estimated at about 500,000, and it is one of only four crane species not classed as threatened, listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Facts
Scientific Name Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Living or Extinct Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Bog, Biomes Source Common crane (Wikipedia)
Source Common crane (Wikipedia)
Source Common crane (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Common crane (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species API- System (Realm): Terrestrial
- System (Realm): Freshwater
View the Source 3. Common crane (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q4764 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
Wikidata Q4764 (P1034 main food source): omnivore
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): omnivore.
- Child Taxon Of: Gruidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 4. Common crane (Wikipedia)
Introduction
Along with the sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis), demoiselle crane and the brolga (Antigone rubicunda), it is one of only four crane species not currently classified as threatened with extinction or conservation dependent on the species level.
- Category: Fauna listed on CITES Appendix II
In Ecosystem: Caspian Sea, Distribution
Important staging areas occur anywhere from Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany to China (with a large one around the Caspian Sea) and many thousand cranes can be seen in one day in the Autumn.
In Biome: River, Distribution
Common cranes that breed in far eastern Europe, including European Russia, winter in the river valleys of Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Eritrea with smaller numbers in Turkey, northern Israel, Iraq and parts of Iran.
In Biome: Boreal Forest, Habitat
In Europe, the common crane predominantly breeds in boreal and taiga forest and mixed forests, from an elevation of sea-level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft).
In Biome: Bog, Habitat
In northern climes, it breeds in treeless moors, on bogs, or on dwarf heather habitats, usually where small lakes or pools are also found.
In Biome: Lake, Habitat
In northern climes, it breeds in treeless moors, on bogs, or on dwarf heather habitats, usually where small lakes or pools are also found.
In Biome: Wetlands, Habitat
In Sweden, breeders are usually found in small, swampy openings amongst pine forests, while in Germany, marshy wetlands are used.
In Biome: Steppe, Habitat
Breeding habitat used in Russia are similar, though they can be found nesting in less likely habitat such as steppe and even semi-desert, so long as water is near.
View the Source5. Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 bird functional traits (BirdFuncDat)
Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: grus grus
3745 Nonpasseriformes Gruiformes Gruidae Cranes 45 BL3 Grus grus Common Crane 10 10 10 0 0 0 10 0 20 40 PlantSeed Ref_3 A Carolina 0 50 50 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_3 1 Jessica 0 5499.99 Dunning08 1
BirdFuncDat.txt row Grus grus, Nocturnal column
Grus grus Common Crane 10 10 10 0 0 0 10 0 20 40 PlantSeed Ref_3 A Carolina 0 50 50 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_3 1 Jessica 0
View the Source 6. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Grus grus
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 43 years (wild)
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