Demoiselle Crane vs Sandhill Crane
Anthropoides virgo compared with Grus canadensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Demoiselle Crane | Sandhill Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthropoides virgo | Grus canadensis |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae | Gruidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 175.0 cm (68.9 in) | — |
| Weight | 2500.0 g (88.18 oz) | 3855.0 g (135.98 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, grasses, insects, snails, worms, and small vertebrates. Forages in grasslands and agricultural fields. | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Demoiselle Crane
Dry grasslands, savannas, and semi-desert. Nests on the ground in open country, often near water. Winters in agricultural fields.
Song & Call Comparison
Demoiselle Crane
A high-pitched, bugling 'karr-r-r' in flight. Also gives softer clucking and purring contact calls. Migrating flocks produce a continuous musical babbling audible from great distance.
Sandhill Crane
Geographic Range & Migration
Demoiselle Crane
Central Eurasia from the Black Sea to Mongolia and northeastern China. Winters in India and sub-Saharan Africa.
Sandhill Crane
Conservation Status
Demoiselle Crane
Sandhill Crane
How to Tell Them Apart
Demoiselle Crane
Pale blue-grey body with a black head, neck, and breast plumes. White ear tufts extend behind the red eyes. Long black tertials drape over the tail.
Short, yellowish-olive bill, shorter than other cranes
Sandhill Crane
About These Birds
Demoiselle Crane
The demoiselle crane is the smallest crane species but undertakes one of the most grueling migrations, crossing the Himalayas at altitudes over 8,000 meters to reach wintering grounds in India. Named for its elegant appearance by Marie Antoinette, it is the second most abundant crane species in the world.
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large 80–120 cm grey North American crane with a bare red crown and bushy tail plumes. Wingspan to 185 cm. Breeds across Arctic Canada, Alaska, and northern USA; migrates in vast flocks along central flyways; winters in the southern USA and Mexico.