crane crane large non migratory crane found parts southeast_asia australia tallest flying birds standing height conspicuous iconic species open wetlands crane easily distinguished cranes region overall grey colour contrasting red head upper neck forage marshes shallow wetlands roots insects crustaceans small prey like cranes form long lasting pair bonds maintain territories perform territorial courtship displays include loud leaps dance like movements india considered symbols marital fidelity believed mate life pine loss mates point death main breeding season rainy season pair builds enormous nest island circular platform grasses nearly metres diameter high stay shallow water surrounding crane numbers declined greatly century estimated current population tenth numbers existed 1850s stronghold species india traditionally revered lives agricultural lands close proximity humans species parts range description adult crane large grey wings body bare red head upper neck crown long greenish grey pointed bill flight long neck held straight unlike black wing tips seen crane long pink legs trail bird grey ear covert patch orange red iris greenish grey bill juveniles yellowish base bill brown grey head fully bare red skin adult head neck brighter breeding season skin rough covered narrow area head covered black feathers sexes differ plumage males average larger females male indian population attain maximum height making world tallest extant flying bird weight nominate race individuals adult averaged distribution range weight vary height typically wingspan northern populations heaviest cranes alongside red crowned cranes largest range birds australia tend smaller australia easily mistaken widespread red confined head extending neck body mass australian cranes found average males females range sexes australian average lighter northern counterparts marginally lighter average distribution habitat species historically widely distributed india plains extending south west coastal pakistan east species longer breeds winters regularly cranes rare occur low numbers longer found state distribution restricted western lowland plains population occurring districts distinct populations cranes asia northern population china burma southern population vietnam extend thailand east philippines extinct countries captive bred cranes raised original founders reintroduced thailand australia found northern parts partly migratory areas global range largest occupied area india largely destroyed cranes increasingly dependent wet fields india found mainly low elevation plains historical records highland marshes north crane breeds high elevation regions near populations growing response increasing rice cultivation reservoir rice dominated districts crane abundance estimated occupancy highest western districts intermediate central districts minimal eastern districts crane abundance positively associated percentage wetlands landscape negatively percentage area rice cultivation isolated populations exists australia western region east northern territory population eastwards far south cranes found peninsula north commonly seen species hard find numerous queensland cranes use wetlands patches amid flooded rice locally called nesting india breeding pairs territorial prefer forage natural wetlands wet crops like rice wheat frequented south western crane numbers increased wetland size found wetlands sizes despite extensive use wetlands humans taxonomy species described placed genus included larger published monograph cranes considered crane india species modern authors recognise species populations treated subspecies status extinct population philippines uncertain nominate subspecies india largest east replaced race extends southeast asian islands nominate form indian marked differentiated having white collar bare head upper neck white authors consider representatives continuous population varied race australia initially placed amended conform rules latin grammar separated named race australian race designated species noticed australia regarded recent immigrant native australians differentiated called crane head blood australian race darker plumage larger grey patch ear population shows recent divergence ancestral form estimated generations breeding australia additional subspecies suggested population found extinct philippines distinctive character known synonymous analysis mitochondrial dna limited number specimens suggested gene flow continental asian populations 20th century reductions range australia late pleistocene years ago analyses times sample size study suggests australian population exists possibility limited genetically distinct australian crane expected species etymology common hindi species hindi word derived sanskrit word lake bird corrupted indians held species british soldiers colonial india hunted bird calling cyrus specific daughter hanged relate bare skin head neck ecology behaviour unlike cranes long cranes largely non migratory short distance movements response rain dry weather conditions migratory population asia breeding pairs maintain territories defended cranes large repertoire calls displays tenth breeding pairs maintain territories wetlands pairs scattered away major wetlands non breeding birds occur flocks sizes vary birds semi arid areas breeding pairs successfully fledged juveniles depart territories dry season join non breeding flocks areas perennial water supply like western plains breeding pairs maintain perennial territories largest known flocks km2 national park birds wetlands districts ranging birds flocks birds regularly reported australia breeding season breeding pairs displace non breeding birds wetland sites local populations appear decline crane populations national park noted reduce birds summer birds monsoon areas perennial wetlands landscape western numbers cranes flocks relatively stable year districts cranes form regional population shallow water safe ground predators adult birds feathers annually instead feathers replaced years feeding cranes forage shallow water usually depth water fields frequently mud long bills eating insects especially aquatic plants fish captivity frogs crustaceans seeds occasionally larger prey water snakes cranes rare cases feed eggs birds turtles plant matter eaten includes aquatic plants grass shoots seeds grains cultivated crops crops rice courtship breeding cranes loud calls calls cranes produced elongated form region pairs spectacular displays calling include dancing movements performed outside breeding season involve short series jumping movements pair circles dancing displacement activity nest young threatened cranes breed mainly india july october second brood records breeding months build large nests platforms vegetation wet marshes fields nest constructed shallow water rushes straw grasses roots mud platform rises level water form little island nest conspicuous visible nests metres feet diameter nearly metre feet high pairs shows high fidelity nest site nests breeding seasons clutch eggs rarely sexes days range days eggs white weigh grams disturbed nest parents attempt conceal eggs attempting cover material edge nest removed parents chicks hatch carrying away fragments approximately breeding pairs succeed raising chicks year successful pairs raise chicks brood sizes rare chicks fed parents days able feed independently follow parents food alarmed parent cranes use low signals chicks freeze lie young birds stay parents subsequent breeding season captivity birds breed fifth year widely believed pair life cases divorce mate replacement recorded mortality factors eggs destroyed nest jungle house australia predators young birds include fox known eggs removal eggs farmers reduce crop damage children play labourers food egg collection trips collect forest resources prominent causes egg mortality nests eggs fail hatch eggs reasons chicks prone predation estimated collection nest die unknown reasons breeding success percentage eggs hatching surviving stage estimated south western areas farmers tolerant nests flooded rice fields wetlands similar rates survival pairs nest later season lower chance raising chicks successfully improves territories wetlands nest success nests protected locals payment conservation program pairs able raise chicks years higher total rainfall territory quality increased farming development permanent removal pairs population developmental activities caused reduced population viability far important factor relative breeding success changes total annual rainfall little known diseases parasites crane effects wild bird populations study conducted rome zoo noted birds resistant described include liver captive crane london zoo australian bird like birds bird species recorded include captivity cranes known live long years premature adult mortality result human actions accidental poisoning treated seeds agricultural areas noted adults known fly power lines die responsible killing local population year conservation status estimated mature cranes left wild indian population subspecies terms numbers considered sacred birds traditionally left unharmed areas humans found occasion pakistan seen late 1980s population india declined estimates global population suggest population best worst numbers existed farmers india believe cranes damage standing crops particularly rice studies direct feeding rice grains resulted losses amounting percent account grain loss kilograms attitude farmers tends positive spite damages helped species agricultural areas role rice particularly important birds conservation natural wetlands increasingly threatened human activity conversion wetlands farmland farmland urban uses major causes habitat loss long term population decline farmers crop losses suggested measure help australian population greater birds increasing southeast asian subspecies war habitat change intensive agriculture draining wetlands mid-20th century disappeared large parts range stretched southern china birds left fragmented payment locals guard nests help increase breeding success attempted northern nest success protected nests significantly higher unprotected nests positive population level impacts apparent program caused local leading deliberate disturbance nests alleviate larger scale permanent threats habitat losses reading conclusion payment conservation programs best complement substitute permanent include habitat preservation local management resources little known philippine population extinct late 1960s crane classified vulnerable iucn red list threats include habitat destruction degradation hunting collecting environmental pollution possibly diseases competing species effects australian population need studied species malaysia philippines thailand programs planned thailand use birds culture species india legend poet cursed hunter killing crane inspired write epic species close contender indian national bird india people tribes classified god consider crane sacred meat considered taboo ancient hindu scriptures widely believed pairs life death partner leads death symbol marital virtue parts custom newly couple pair cranes flood plains observations biology emperor noted instance species laid eggs interval hours period days protected indians birds hunted colonial period noted killing bird lead surviving partner days traditionally believed death sport hunting guides discouraged shooting birds according 19th century british zoologist young birds good eat older ones worthless table eggs crane folk parts india young birds captured kept india europe times successfully bred captivity early 17th century emperor europe united_states early 1930s young birds easily hand attached person feeds following like dog amusing birds going dances antics worth keeping captivity kept bread milk given bread milk wash pan water eating bird taken king palace fierce strangers dogs especially afraid noisy bad habit possessed indian state uses crane official bird symbol indian propeller aircraft named crane sources peter robert travels cranes new_york isbn preserve application diversity theory crane conservation use crane isolation sex linked dna sequence cranes observations modifications head neck crane multiple names authors list link flock size density habitat selection large species agricultural landscape india implications management
Sarus crane