Grus
The long legs, widespread wings, and heavy bodies make them poor pilots; therefore, they often collide with objects like power lines.
The convoluted trachea in these cranes makes them susceptible to health issues like dyspnea. Young birds are at a higher risk of developing fungal infections in the trachea. They are not the best travelers due to their colossal size, but champs wouldn’t miss a trip for anything. Therefore, cranes strongly rely on thermal current to help in flying, which explains why they’re always moving toward the wind direction.
During summer, cranes experience feather molts and become flightless for weeks, increasing predation risk. These long-lived species could survive up to 40 years chilling around islands. The older female cranes might lose the ability to produce eggs but are still territorial and might have a mate.
Species in this genus
Whooping crane
The tallest bird of North America- saved from the brink of extinction, with less than 20 left in the ’40s
Common crane
The flocks of this social and gregarious bird are fond of migration, flying over the horizon and creating a V-shaped formation