How to identify

The Crane is a huge, graceful, mostly grey bird with long legs, a long neck and drooping, curved tail feathers. There's a small breeding population in Norfolk, a re-introduced population in Somerset and small numbers pass through Britain in spring and autumn. Numbers in Europe have fallen over the last 300 years because of disturbance, shooting and drainage.

Call

Crane

Patrik Åberg / xeno-canto

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Key facts