Gruidae

Gruidae is the family of cranes, large, long-legged wading birds within the order Gruiformes. This group comprises several species distributed across wetlands in Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas. Cranes are notable for their tall stature, long necks, and often striking courtship displays, which can include elaborate dances and duets between mates.

Physically, cranes typically have gray or white plumage, with some species showing patches of color on the face or neck. They possess long bills and strong legs adapted for walking in shallow water and foraging in wetland habitats. Size varies among species, but many are among the largest birds capable of flight.

Crane behavior centers on pair bonds, migration, and social displays. Most species are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. Many cranes migrate long distances between breeding and wintering grounds. Courtship is famous for synchronized dances, including bowing, leaps, wing flaps, and vocal duets. Nests are usually built in tall vegetation near water, and clutch size is typically one to two eggs. Both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing.

Habitat and diet reflect their wetland associations. Cranes occupy marshes, wetlands, river floodplains, and sometimes agricultural fields. They are omnivorous, feeding on plant matter such as seeds and tubers, as well as insects, small fish, amphibians, and other small animals.

Conservation status varies by species. Several cranes are threatened by habitat loss, wetland drainage, disturbance, and hunting, with species such as the whooping crane and red-crowned crane historically at high risk. Taxonomically, the family includes multiple genera, and molecular studies have led to revisions that place some species in genera such as Grus, Anthropoides, Antigone, and Leucogeranus.