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Description:
Standing 5 feet tall, Sarus Cranes are the largest of the
world’s cranes. Their plumage is entirely blue-gray except for white wing
tips and a band of white around the lower neck. They also have dark
feathers on the nape and sides of the neck. Their beak is pointed and
relatively short. The head and upper neck are bare, with red skin
exposed. Their legs and feet are pinkish-red. Males and females look
very similar, with females being slightly smaller.
Range:
India and other parts of southern Asia, and northern Australia
Habitat:
Plains, marshes, swamps, and riverbanks
Diet:
In the wild, they eat vegetation of any kind, worms, snails,
and insects. They also occasionally eat frogs, lizards, mice, and young
birds. In the zoo, our cranes have access to bird of prey diet and grain,
and they forage for live prey in their yard.
Life
Cycle:
Sarus Cranes form life-long pair bonds, and return to the same
breeding grounds year after year. Their nests are made of marsh
vegetation and built on the ground, often in flooded paddy fields or
marshes. They lay 2 white eggs per clutch. The female incubates for
31-34 days, with the male taking short turns while she feeds. The chicks
are yellowish-brown, with 2 dark brown lines down the back. They stay in
the nest for several days, and then begin to follow the parents. They
fledge when they are about 3 months old, and are mature at 2-3 years.
Did You Know?
·
To the natives of India, the Sarus Crane is a symbol of a
happy marriage. Crane pairs perform elaborate courtship dances, combining
leaping, bowing, prancing, and calling in duet.
·
The bare skin on the head and neck changes in color and
intensity with the bird’s mood, providing another way for the cranes to
communicate.
·
Sarus Cranes are very powerful fliers, and are most often
seen flying in a line or V-formation.
·
They are very hardy birds, able to survive severe winters.
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