Gruiformes – Cranes & allies
Big or small, you’ve got to impress your (to be) partner with a dance!
Even though the term ‘Grui’ means crane-like, this order is an odd mixture of birds that includes 14 species of large cranes and many other birds like the little crakes, coots, and rails.
Their qualities and features are quite different from each other. Amongst them are the miniature rails, the tiny button quails, and the 1.5m (5 ft.) tall, stately Sarus crane of India. Many species in this order from the North Temperate Zone have spectacular migratory journeys that have fascinated humans for centuries.
While they may look like a nonhomogeneous order, the one thing most of them have in common is their elaborate courtship displays.
Families in this order
This family is highly diverse due to the inclusion of several species
Migratory birds adapt according to the weather and food availability
Flufftails are cute, moderate-sized birds that prefer to live on the ground or near wetlands
The bright-colored toes acting as strong paddlers are a common feature in all three species
They rely on monkeys to drop some fruits on the forest floor as they are not adapted to fly high
Limpkin has many names like carrao, courlan, and crying bird – mainly associated with their gate or loud calls
