Cranes dancing
Cranes dancing
At the beginning of the breeding season, cranes that have formed a pair perform the typical dances.
Cranes are large to very large birds, whose long necks and legs resemble storks and herons. With a body length of between 90 and 150 cm, they are among the largest birds of all. The sarus crane stands 176 cm tall upright from the ground to the top of its head, higher than any other bird capable of flight. The weight of cranes ranges up to 12 kg (Manchurian crane). Males are slightly larger and heavier than females, otherwise there is no sexual dimorphism.
Grey and white tones predominate in the cranes' plumage. In general, the cranes living farthest north are the lightest and largest representatives, while towards the south the species become darker and smaller. Black plumage is found mainly on the neck, tail and hand wings, although not in all species. Only the cranes of the genus Anthropoides have completely feathered heads. In other cranes, bright red bare skin stands out, which is pronounced to varying degrees. The Wattled Crane also has two conspicuous throat pouches. Crowned cranes have a smaller throat pouch and a yellow feathered cap on the crown.
Like storks, cranes fly with their necks stretched out, while herons keep their necks bent in an S-shape in flight. The legs are stretched horizontally backwards. The foot of crowned cranes is clearly anisodactyl, i.e. three toes are pointed forward and one backward. In contrast, the hind toe of the other cranes (Gruinae) is atrophied.
Anatomically, the Gruinae are notable for a greatly enlarged trachea, whose bony rings are fused with the sternum. This feature, which the crowned cranes lack, serves to emit loud calls.
Accordingly, the calls of crowned cranes are relatively quiet, while cranes of the genus Grus can emit extraordinarily loud, trumpet-like calls. The typical repertoire of cranes includes a contact call, a warning call, a pre-departure call and a duet call that accompanies mating. The latter is the loudest.
Cranes are large to very large birds, whose long necks and legs resemble those of storks and herons. With a body length of between 90 and 150 cm, they are among the largest birds of all. The sarus crane stands 176 cm tall upright from the ground to the top of its head, higher than any other bird capable of flight. The weight of cranes ranges up to 12 kg (Manchurian crane). Males are slightly larger and heavier than females, otherwise there is no sexual dimorphism.
Grey and white tones predominate in the cranes' plumage. In general, the cranes living farthest north are the lightest and largest representatives, while towards the south the species become darker and smaller. Black plumage is found mainly on the neck, tail and hand wings, although not in all species. Only the cranes of the genus Anthropoides have completely feathered heads. In other cranes, bright red bare skin stands out, which is pronounced to varying degrees. The Wattled Crane also has two conspicuous throat pouches. Crowned cranes have a smaller throat pouch and a yellow feathered cap on the crown.
Like storks, cranes fly with their necks stretched out, while herons keep their necks bent in an S-shape in flight. The legs are stretched horizontally backwards. The foot of crowned cranes is clearly anisodactyl, i.e. three toes are pointed forward and one backward. In contrast, the hind toe of the other cranes (Gruinae) is atrophied.
Anatomically, the Gruinae are notable for a greatly enlarged trachea, whose bony rings are fused with the sternum. This feature, which the crowned cranes lack, serves to emit loud calls.
Accordingly, the calls of crowned cranes are relatively quiet, while cranes of the genus Grus can emit extraordinarily loud, trumpet-like calls. The typical repertoire of cranes includes a contact call, a warning call, a pre-departure call and a duet call that accompanies mating. The latter is the loudest.
The cranes' breeding season begins in the north temperate and polar zones between April and June. In the tropics, however, it is variable. Some species breed there during the rainy season, others at any time of the year. Cranes are monogamous. Pairs usually stay together until one partner dies. However, if a pair's broods are permanently unsuccessful, they may separate prematurely.
At the beginning of the breeding season, cranes that have formed a pair perform the typical dances. In the case of pairs that have already met in one of the previous breeding seasons, the dances are omitted and copulation takes place immediately. Copulation is followed by mutual plumage cleaning.
Both partners participate in the construction of the nest. Usually cranes nest on the ground; only the crowned cranes also build the nest on trees, but even with them this is the exception. Maiden Cranes and Paradise Cranes occasionally do not build a nest at all, but lay their eggs on the bare ground. Normally, cranes build a nest of heaped-up plant material in marshy terrain. The clutch consists of two eggs in almost all species. Wattled cranes sometimes lay only one egg, crowned cranes usually three to four eggs. The colour of the eggs is white or bluish in tropical species, darker in species of colder climates. Dark eggs absorb sunlight, which is sparse in the north, while light eggs reflect it. The eggs of most crane species are covered with a spotted pattern.
The brood lasts on average about thirty days. Both partners breed, but the female's share is higher. Thus, females breed all night, while the partners alternate during the day. Both parents also participate in feeding the young. The nest is abandoned after only a few days, so that the young search for food themselves. However, they are still dependent on the protection of the parents for a long time. Maiden cranes become independent after 55 to 60 days, Wattled cranes after 90 to 130 days. Often only one of the young survives, as the first to hatch is stronger and prevents its siblings from accessing food. In the case of the Snow Crane, the parents always leave the nest with the first young even before the second hatches, so that the latter is always left to its own devices and starves to death.
(Wikipedia)
Cranes dancing
Cranes dancing
At the beginning of the breeding season, cranes that have formed a pair perform the typical dances.
Cranes are large to very large birds, whose long necks and legs resemble storks and herons. With a body length of between 90 and 150 cm, they are among the largest birds of all. The sarus crane stands 176 cm tall upright from the ground to the top of its head, higher than any other bird capable of flight. The weight of cranes ranges up to 12 kg (Manchurian crane). Males are slightly larger and heavier than females, otherwise there is no sexual dimorphism.
Grey and white tones predominate in the cranes' plumage. In general, the cranes living farthest north are the lightest and largest representatives, while towards the south the species become darker and smaller. Black plumage is found mainly on the neck, tail and hand wings, although not in all species. Only the cranes of the genus Anthropoides have completely feathered heads. In other cranes, bright red bare skin stands out, which is pronounced to varying degrees. The Wattled Crane also has two conspicuous throat pouches. Crowned cranes have a smaller throat pouch and a yellow feathered cap on the crown.
Like storks, cranes fly with their necks stretched out, while herons keep their necks bent in an S-shape in flight. The legs are stretched horizontally backwards. The foot of crowned cranes is clearly anisodactyl, i.e. three toes are pointed forward and one backward. In contrast, the hind toe of the other cranes (Gruinae) is atrophied.
Anatomically, the Gruinae are notable for a greatly enlarged trachea, whose bony rings are fused with the sternum. This feature, which the crowned cranes lack, serves to emit loud calls.
Accordingly, the calls of crowned cranes are relatively quiet, while cranes of the genus Grus can emit extraordinarily loud, trumpet-like calls. The typical repertoire of cranes includes a contact call, a warning call, a pre-departure call and a duet call that accompanies mating. The latter is the loudest.
Cranes are large to very large birds, whose long necks and legs resemble those of storks and herons. With a body length of between 90 and 150 cm, they are among the largest birds of all. The sarus crane stands 176 cm tall upright from the ground to the top of its head, higher than any other bird capable of flight. The weight of cranes ranges up to 12 kg (Manchurian crane). Males are slightly larger and heavier than females, otherwise there is no sexual dimorphism.
Grey and white tones predominate in the cranes' plumage. In general, the cranes living farthest north are the lightest and largest representatives, while towards the south the species become darker and smaller. Black plumage is found mainly on the neck, tail and hand wings, although not in all species. Only the cranes of the genus Anthropoides have completely feathered heads. In other cranes, bright red bare skin stands out, which is pronounced to varying degrees. The Wattled Crane also has two conspicuous throat pouches. Crowned cranes have a smaller throat pouch and a yellow feathered cap on the crown.
Like storks, cranes fly with their necks stretched out, while herons keep their necks bent in an S-shape in flight. The legs are stretched horizontally backwards. The foot of crowned cranes is clearly anisodactyl, i.e. three toes are pointed forward and one backward. In contrast, the hind toe of the other cranes (Gruinae) is atrophied.
Anatomically, the Gruinae are notable for a greatly enlarged trachea, whose bony rings are fused with the sternum. This feature, which the crowned cranes lack, serves to emit loud calls.
Accordingly, the calls of crowned cranes are relatively quiet, while cranes of the genus Grus can emit extraordinarily loud, trumpet-like calls. The typical repertoire of cranes includes a contact call, a warning call, a pre-departure call and a duet call that accompanies mating. The latter is the loudest.
The cranes' breeding season begins in the north temperate and polar zones between April and June. In the tropics, however, it is variable. Some species breed there during the rainy season, others at any time of the year. Cranes are monogamous. Pairs usually stay together until one partner dies. However, if a pair's broods are permanently unsuccessful, they may separate prematurely.
At the beginning of the breeding season, cranes that have formed a pair perform the typical dances. In the case of pairs that have already met in one of the previous breeding seasons, the dances are omitted and copulation takes place immediately. Copulation is followed by mutual plumage cleaning.
Both partners participate in the construction of the nest. Usually cranes nest on the ground; only the crowned cranes also build the nest on trees, but even with them this is the exception. Maiden Cranes and Paradise Cranes occasionally do not build a nest at all, but lay their eggs on the bare ground. Normally, cranes build a nest of heaped-up plant material in marshy terrain. The clutch consists of two eggs in almost all species. Wattled cranes sometimes lay only one egg, crowned cranes usually three to four eggs. The colour of the eggs is white or bluish in tropical species, darker in species of colder climates. Dark eggs absorb sunlight, which is sparse in the north, while light eggs reflect it. The eggs of most crane species are covered with a spotted pattern.
The brood lasts on average about thirty days. Both partners breed, but the female's share is higher. Thus, females breed all night, while the partners alternate during the day. Both parents also participate in feeding the young. The nest is abandoned after only a few days, so that the young search for food themselves. However, they are still dependent on the protection of the parents for a long time. Maiden cranes become independent after 55 to 60 days, Wattled cranes after 90 to 130 days. Often only one of the young survives, as the first to hatch is stronger and prevents its siblings from accessing food. In the case of the Snow Crane, the parents always leave the nest with the first young even before the second hatches, so that the latter is always left to its own devices and starves to death.
(Wikipedia)