Demoiselle Crane vs White-naped Crane
Anthropoides virgo compared with Grus vipio
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Demoiselle Crane | White-naped Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthropoides virgo | Grus vipio |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae | Gruidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 175.0 cm (68.9 in) | — |
| Weight | 2500.0 g (88.18 oz) | 5581.5 g (196.88 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.
White-naped Crane
Geographic Range & Migration
Demoiselle Crane
Central Eurasia from the Black Sea to Mongolia and northeastern China. Winters in India and sub-Saharan Africa.
White-naped Crane
Conservation Status
Demoiselle Crane
White-naped 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
White-naped 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.
White-naped Crane
White-naped Crane (Grus vipio) is a large 112–125 cm crane of East Asia. Grey body; white neck and nape contrast with red bare facial skin; dark streaked neck pattern. Breeds in Mongolia and north-east China; winters in Japan, Korea, and the Yangtze valley. Vulnerable; fewer than 6,000 birds remain.