Birds · Gruiformes · Gruidae

Demoiselle Crane

Grus virgo

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The demoiselle crane is the smallest and most slender of all the cranes, with tufts of white feathers behind the eyes and an elongated black breast. It breeds on the dry steppes of Eurasia and makes one of the most demanding migrations in the animal world: the Asian populations cross the Himalaya, climbing above 8,000 metres over Everest and Annapurna, to winter in India.

Weight

2 kg – 3 kg

Size

85 cm – 1 m

Lifespan

27 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertMountainGrasslandOmnivore Diurnal Bird Desert Mountain Grassland

18countries 21parks10same family

Fun facts

GeneralIt crosses the Himalaya on migration, flying above 7,000 m.
It crosses the Himalaya on migration, climbing above 8,000 metres where the oxygen is a fraction of that at sea level: the flocks also have to contend with golden eagles waiting for them at the mountain passes.
In the village of Khichan, in Rajasthan, the inhabitants have for decades fed thousands of demoiselle cranes every winter, a tradition that has made the village one of the largest wintering concentrations of the species.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Steppe, dry grassland and semi-desert of Eurasia; winters in the Indian subcontinent and the Sahel
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 29 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grus_virgo