Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Common Crane

Common Crane - UK Status: Native and resident. There is a breeding colony in Norfolk, and an introduced population in Somerset, and a few birds pass through the UK in spring and late summer.

Habitat: In Europe the Common crane inhabits boreal and taiga forest, open treeless moors, swampy clearings and wetlands. This bird is an omnivore, and it's diet consists of mainly plant materials including tubers, roots, seeds, potatoes, olives, acorns and nuts, etc, etc.

Breeding: Mating pairs have elaborate courtship displays, very often accompanied by loud bugling calls. Nests are built in a variety of situations, but on, or near water is common, Their nests are approximately three feet wide, and are made from a variety of nearby vegetation. Two eggs is the usual amount in a clutch, on rare occasions there can be as little as one, or three, or four. Eggs are normally laid in May, rarely before or after that month, incubation takes about a month. A few hours after hatching the chicks can crawl away from danger if needed, and by nine weeks the young are able to fly short distances.

Comment: This bird is Britain's tallest species, and is about twenty five percent taller than the Grey Heron. There has been a dramitic decline in numers of these birds all over Europe. This is due to general disturbance, shooting and the drainage of wetland areas. This bird is a wader, closely related to Moorhens and Coots