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Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. There are representatives of this group on all the continents except Antarctica and South America. Most species of cranes are at least threatened, if not critically endangered, within their range. The plight of the Whooping Cranes of North America inspired some of the first US legislation to protect endangered species.

Crane

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. Unlike…

The head and leg of the crane, a bird in the Gruidae family of cranes.

Crane Head and Leg

The head and leg of the crane, a bird in the Gruidae family of cranes.

The Common Crane (Grus grus) is a large bird in the Gruidae family of cranes.

Common Crane

The Common Crane (Grus grus) is a large bird in the Gruidae family of cranes.

"Balearica pavonina, the "Crowned" Crane of the Northern Ethiopian Region, is greenish-black above and dark grey below, most of the feathers being lanceolate (shaped like a lance); the neck is delicate grey all around, the secondaries are chestnut-the inner being somewhat decomposed; white and yellow shew on the wing coverts; a spreading tuft of twisted yellow and white bristles with black tips surmounts the occiput, while the sides of the face are bare-white above and pink below, and the throat is covered with black down. There is a very small throat-wattle in this form." A. H. Evans, 1900

Crowned Crane

"Balearica pavonina, the "Crowned" Crane of the Northern Ethiopian Region, is greenish-black above and…