| SARUS CRANE |
| Grus antigone |
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Range:
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Northern Pakistan and India Nepal, Southeast Asia and Australia. |
 This is the tallest crane species standing at over six feet tall, with a wingspan of more than eight feet. Body plumage is light gray and the crown is covered with smooth green skin. The rest of the crane's head, throat, and the neck are covered with rough orange/red skin. Long, black hair-like bristles cover parts of the upper throat and neck. In the Indian Sarus Crane, white feathers form a collar in between the bare reddish skin of the upper neck and the gray feathers of the lower neck. Legs and toes are a shade of red. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable but within pairs, females are usually smaller than males.
Habitat loss and degradation are critical problems throughout the range of Sarus Cranes. Destruction of wetlands due to agricultural expansion, however, is increasing dramatically and poses a significant threat as well. These threats reflect increasing human population pressures.
Their future is dependent on the quality of wetlands in India that experience heavy human use, such as: sewage drainage, agricultural runoff and pesticide residues. In India, mortality due to collision with electrical wires is a significant threat and cranes have died due to pesticide poisoning.
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| Habitat: |
Freshwater marshes and plains. |
| Diet: |
Insects, aquatic plants and animals, crustaceans, seeds and berries, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. |
| Status: |
Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Wingspan: Up to 8.5 feet (males)
Weight: Up to 6.6 feet (males) |
| Lifespan: |
n/a |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
Lays 2-3 eggs in a nest on the ground. |
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