Common Crane
Photo: Andreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5

Cranes

Common Crane

Grus grus

LCLeast Concern
Family
Cranes (Gruidae)
Order
Gruiformes

Overview

The common crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. A medium-sized species, it is the only crane commonly found in Europe besides the demoiselle crane (Grus virgo) and the Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus) that only are regular in the far eastern part of the continent. Along with the sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis), demoiselle crane and the brolga (Antigone rubicunda), it is one of only four crane species not currently classified as threatened with extinction or conservation dependent on the species level. Despite the species' large numbers, local extinctions and extirpations have taken place in part of its range, and an ongoing reintroduction project is underway in the United Kingdom.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to see it

Destination guides featuring this bird

Range and habitat

Breeds northern Eurasia; winters to northern Africa, southern India, and southeastern Asia.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.