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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing cranes. There are fifteen living crane species. These birds range throughout the world with the exceptions of Antarctica and, surprisingly, South America. They spend most of their time in freshwater wetland areas like swamps, but they'll also inhabit coastal marshes while on their migrations. A crane's long beak facilitates wading through these habitats and catching food, though some species with shorter breaks can also be found in grasslands. While migrating, they may fly hundreds of miles in a single day and over the course of the migration they travel thousands of miles! However, some cranes don’t migrate. There are resident populations in certain species that remain in the same place year round!

Cranes may be confused with herons but these birds can be told apart by their flight. Cranes hold their necks out while they fly and herons hold their necks in an S-shape. Cranes also appear a bit heavier with a thicker bill and a raised hind toe in comparison to herons. Cranes also have bald patches of skin present on their heads. Those red spots seen on some crane species are actually sparse areas with few feathers! The closely living crane relatives are rails and limpkins.

Male and female cranes are typically indistinguishable apart from size; males are slightly larger than females. In size, they range from the smallest species, the Demoiselle crane averaging two and a half feet (76cm) tall and five pounds (2.3kg) in weight, to the tallest species, the Sarus crane, that stands over five feet (152cm) tall and twenty pounds (9kg) in weight.

Cranes are well known for their calls. Here are some of their sounds: (audio). They use sound and sight to attract a mate. These birds are monogamous remaining with the same partner each season unless one of the pair has died. They put in displays to bond with their partner and their nests contain two eggs on average. Both parents take part in the incubation process which lasts about a month. Depending on the species, it takes two to four months for the babies to reach independence, but they'll remain with their parents throughout the migration season until the following year's breeding season.

Outside of the breeding season, cranes live in flocks that can number the thousands. Family groups stick together within these large gatherings. It takes two to six years for juveniles to reach reproductive age, but they'll travel with the flock each year regardless of their maturity. A crane’s diet consists of all kinds of animals from frogs, fish, insects, rodents, and even birds! Cranes are threatened with habitat loss and their predators include egg raiders like raccoons, foxes, and wild cats while adults may be taken by eagles. If they can avoid these threats, cranes can live decades in the wild. They average 20 to 30 years but some have been recorded at over the age of 50!

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