AI overview
The sarus crane is a large wading bird found in parts of Asia. It is notable for its impressive size and distinctive appearance, making it an important species in its native ecosystems.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Antigone
- Named after
- Antigone of Troy
- Image
- Sarus crane (Grus antigone).jpg
Show 1 more fact
- P105
- species
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
The sarus crane (Antigone antigone) is a large nonmigratory crane found in parts of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in), they are a conspicuous species of open wetlands in South Asia, seasonally flooded Dipterocarpus forests in Southeast Asia, and Eucalyptus-dominated woodlands and grasslands in Australia.
The sarus crane is easily distinguished from other cranes in the region by its overall grey colour and the contrasting red head and upper neck. They forage on marshes and shallow wetlands for roots, tubers, insects, crustaceans, and small vertebrate prey. Like other cranes, they form long-lasting pair bonds and maintain territories within which they perform territorial and courtship displays that include loud trumpeting, leaps, and dance-like movements. In India, they are considered symbols of marital fidelity, believed to mate for life and pine the loss of their mates, even to the point of starving to death.