Common Crane vs Red-crowned Crane
Grus grus compared with Grus japonensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Crane | Red-crowned Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Grus grus | Grus japonensis |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae | Gruidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | 150.0 cm (59.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 108.1 cm (42.6 in) | 250.0 cm (98.4 in) |
| Weight | 5420.0 g (191.19 oz) | 8900.0 g (313.94 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivorous — fish, amphibians, insects, grasses, and waste grain. Forages in wetlands and agricultural fields. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Red-crowned Crane
Freshwater marshes, bogs, and wet grasslands for breeding. Winters in coastal mudflats, estuaries, and rice paddies.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Crane
Red-crowned Crane
Spectacular unison 'bugling' call: a clear, resonant, far-carrying trumpet 'kru-ru-ru' given by paired birds simultaneously. Among the most majestic bird calls in Asia.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Crane
Red-crowned Crane
Eastern Asia — breeds in northeastern China, southeastern Russia, and Hokkaido, Japan. Winters in Korea and eastern China.
Conservation Status
Common Crane
Red-crowned Crane
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Crane
Red-crowned Crane
White body plumage with black secondary flight feathers and throat. Bare red crown patch. Black face and neck. One of the most elegant crane species.
Long, straight, olive-green bill
About These Birds
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.
Red-crowned Crane
The red-crowned crane is one of the rarest crane species and a potent symbol of longevity and fidelity in East Asian culture. Their elaborate unison call and dancing displays have inspired art and folklore for millennia. The resident population on Hokkaido, Japan, recovered from about 33 birds in 1952 to over 1,800 today.