Demoiselle Crane vs Brolga
Anthropoides virgo compared with Grus rubicunda
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Demoiselle Crane | Brolga |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthropoides virgo | Grus rubicunda |
| 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) | 6093.25 g (214.93 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.
Brolga
Geographic Range & Migration
Demoiselle Crane
Central Eurasia from the Black Sea to Mongolia and northeastern China. Winters in India and sub-Saharan Africa.
Brolga
Conservation Status
Demoiselle Crane
Brolga
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
Brolga
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.
Brolga
Brolga (Grus rubicunda) is Australia's only native crane, standing 100–130 cm. Grey with bare red skin on head; grey dewlap. Inhabits open tropical and sub-tropical grasslands, floodplains, and wetlands across northern and eastern Australia. Spectacular communal displays during breeding season.