Barn Swallow vs Red-crowned Crane

Hirundo rustica comparé à Grus japonensis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Barn Swallow Red-crowned Crane
Nom scientifique Hirundo rustica Grus japonensis
Ordre Passeriformes Gruiformes
Famille Hirundinidae Gruidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Endangered
Longueur 19,0 cm (7.5 in) 150,0 cm (59.1 in)
Envergure 33,0 cm (13.0 in) 250,0 cm (98.4 in)
Poids 19,0 g (0.67 oz) 8900,0 g (313.94 oz)
Régime alimentaire Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … Omnivorous — fish, amphibians, insects, grasses, and waste grain. Forages in wetlands and agricultural fields.
Taille de la couvée 2-7 2
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Barn Swallow 19,0 cm
Red-crowned Crane 150,0 cm
Envergure
Barn Swallow 33,0 cm
Red-crowned Crane 250,0 cm
Poids
Barn Swallow 19,0 g
Red-crowned Crane 8900,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Barn Swallow only

Red-crowned Crane only

Aucun(e)

Barn Swallow

Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.

Red-crowned Crane

Freshwater marshes, bogs, and wet grasslands for breeding. Winters in coastal mudflats, estuaries, and rice paddies.

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Song & Call Comparison

Barn Swallow

Chant

A rapid, twittering song: a long stream of 'vit-vit-vit' and rolling chirps. Also gives a sharp 'vit' flight call. Song can last many minutes without pause. Musical and liquid.

Red-crowned Crane

Chant

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Barn Swallow

Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.

Red-crowned Crane

Eastern Asia — breeds in northeastern China, southeastern Russia, and Hokkaido, Japan. Winters in Korea and eastern China.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Barn Swallow

Endangered

Red-crowned Crane

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How to Tell Them Apart

Barn Swallow

Plumage

Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.

Bec

Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight

Red-crowned Crane

Plumage

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.

Bec

Long, straight, olive-green bill

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About These Birds

Barn Swallow

The barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world and has one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Its arrival signals spring across the Northern Hemisphere, inspiring cultural references from ancient Greece to modern poetry. Barn swallows have become almost entirely dependent on human structures for nesting.

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.

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