AI overview
Gruidae is a family of large, long-legged wading birds found across the world, including cranes and similar species. These birds matter because they play important roles in their ecosystems and many species are culturally significant to humans, though some face conservation challenges.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderGruiformes
- FamilyGruidae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- water bird
- Parent taxon
- Gruiformes
- Image
- Demoiselle Cranes at Tal Chappar.jpg
Show 5 more facts
Article
Cranes are a type of large bird with long legs and necks in the biological family Gruidae of the order Gruiformes. The family has 15 species placed in four genera which are Antigone, Balearica, Leucogeranus, and Grus. They are large birds with long necks and legs, a tapering form, and long secondary feathers on the wing that project over the tail. Most species have muted gray or white plumages, marked with black, and red bare patches on the face, but the crowned cranes of the genus Balearica have vibrantly-coloured wings and golden "crowns" of feathers. Cranes fly with their necks extended outwards instead of bent into an S-shape and their long legs outstretched.
Cranes live on most continents, with the exception of Antarctica and South America. Some species and populations of cranes migrate over long distances; others do not migrate at all. Cranes are solitary during the breeding season, occurring in pairs, but during the non-breeding season, most species are gregarious, forming large flocks where their numbers are sufficient.