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Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides Virgo)

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Demoiselle Crane

Appearance: - The Demoiselle Crane is the smallest of all Crane species, has a light bluish-grey body, the head and neck are black with a light grey stripe that extends from the beak to the nape, and a white feather plume from behind the eye running down the neck. The black feathers on the front lower neck hang down below the breast. The eyes are orange-red, and legs are black. Both sexes are alike.

Size: - Typical Adult is 85-100cm (34-39in).

Food: - Mostly plant food, Grass roots, leaves, berries, cereal grain, insects, snails, worms, small mammals.

Habitat/Range: - Dry grasslands, agricultural fields, steppes, wetlands, marshes, in central and eastern Asia. They winter in India, and have to cross the hazardous Himalayan mountains. They also winter in north-east Africa.

Demoiselle Crane Map
Breeding Habitat/Resident,    Migration or Winter Area.

Breeding Season: - March and April, later further north.

Eggs: - 2 (yellow-green, with purple-lavendar spots).

Notes: - The Demoiselle Crane was given its name by the French Queen, Marie Antoinette, as she was enchanted by the Crane's delicate and maidenly appearance. Demoiselle means maiden or young lady in French. Like other Cranes it also performs a dancing display but is more balletic with less jumping than the Common Crane. It has a loud trumpeting call which is higher-pitched than the Common Crane.

Conservation status (IUCN 3.1):
  Least Concern.  

Classification: - Family: Gruidae,
Genus: Anthropoides.

Demoiselle Crane video:

Demoiselle Crane Call:

Wildfowl (Alphabetical order):


Demoiselle Crane
Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides Virgo)