Demoiselle Crane vs Common Crane
Anthropoides virgo compared with Grus grus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Demoiselle Crane | Common Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthropoides virgo | Grus grus |
| 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) | 108.1 cm (42.6 in) |
| Weight | 2500.0 g (88.18 oz) | 5420.0 g (191.19 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.
Common Crane
Geographic Range & Migration
Demoiselle Crane
Central Eurasia from the Black Sea to Mongolia and northeastern China. Winters in India and sub-Saharan Africa.
Common Crane
Conservation Status
Demoiselle Crane
Common 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
Common 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.
Common Crane
Common Crane (Grus grus) is a large 100–130 cm crane of Eurasia. Grey with black and white head pattern; bare red crown patch; drooping bushy tail plumes. Wingspan to 240 cm. Breeds from Scandinavia east to Siberia; winters in Spain, Africa, India, and China. Forms enormous migratory flocks. Feeds on grain, roots, and invertebrates.