Differences between Crane and Flamingo

Crane and Flamingo are two classes of birds that belong to the Gruidae and Phoenicopteridae families respectively.

Cranes are graceful tall birds with long neck, long legs, and long bill. They are ancient birds. Their fossil, assessed to be 2.5 million years old, have been found in Florida. Cranes are wading birds that resemble Herons. They are generally white, gray, or brown in color. Their forehead is a bright red, while their bill is large and pointed. The Crane family consists of 15 species.

Considered a symbol of beauty, Flamingos are admired for their pink feathers, slender legs, S-shaped neck, large wings, orange-colored eyes, and graceful gait. They are wading birds that include six species like Greater Flamingo, Andean Flamingo, and Caribbean Flamingo.

Where are Crane and Flamingo found?

Cranes prefer grasslands, wetlands, marshes, canals, ponds, and shallow waters. Nevertheless, they can also be found near agricultural fields. They are not intimidated by humans. Cranes are a common sight across the world, except Antarctica and South America.

Flamingos live in large and saline lakes, lagoons, and shallow waters. They can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They exist in parts of USA, southern Europe, southwestern Asia, and coasts of Africa. The most widespread species is the Greater Flamingo, which can be found in southern Europe, Africa, India, and few other parts of Asia.

What do Crane and Flamingo eat?

Cranes are omnivores. They mostly eat fish, rodents, and insects. When they are close to wetlands, they eat worms, snails, and tiny invertebrates. In dry places, they eat grains, nuts, leaves, seeds, berries, small reptiles, and insects.

Flamingos are omnivores. They eat algae, crustaceans, diatoms, mollusks, larvae, shrimps, small fish, and insects. The diet of Flamingos consists of immense amount of beta carotene, hence the rich pink color of their plumage, face, and legs. Flamingos look for food in shallow waters, putting their bill under water and raking the water bed with their feet. They are capable of holding their breath while they put their heads inside water in search of food. They turn their head upside down to drain the muddy water through the comb-like structures in their bill.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Crane and Flamingo

• Both Crane and Flamingo eat Fish.
• Crane do eat Frogs while Flamingo may not eat Frogs.
• Crane do eat Lizards while Flamingo may not eat Lizards.
• Crane do eat Snakes while Flamingo may not eat Snakes.
• Crane do eat Turtles while Flamingo may not eat Turtles.
• Crane do eat Squirrels while Flamingo may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Crane while Flamingo do not eat Gophers.
• Both Crane and Flamingo do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Crane do eat Mice while Flamingo may not eat Mice.

Size of Crane and Flamingo?

When it comes to size, Cranes are thought to be the tallest flying birds in the world. They generally grow up to four to five feet tall. They also have a wide wingspan of about nine feet. The Whooping Crane is the tallest bird in the USA with a height of five feet. The Sarus Crane is the tallest flying bird in the world at 5.12 feet.. Flamingos are usually three to five feet tall. They have a wingspan of 2.9 to 3.2 feet. The Greater Flamingo are the largest among Flamingo species with a height of 3.6-4.9 feet.

The average weight of Cranes is 6.6-13.4 pounds. The Red Crowned crane is considered to be the heaviest of all Crane species at 20 pounds. while The weight of Flamingos varies as per the species. The average weight is 4.4-9.9 kilograms.

Where do Crane and Flamingo nest?

Cranes generally build their nests in shallow freshwater and marshy areas. The nests are made of weeds, grass, and plant material. However, Crowned Cranes build their nest in low trees, while Sandhill Cranes construct them in the Arctic. Cranes lay two eggs at a time, with the incubation period being 28-30 days. Both male and female partners engage in rearing the young ones, which live with them until the following breeding season.

Flamingos build their nest by making a mound from mud and grass. The mound has to be strong enough to withstand any flooding or heat from the ground. Both male and female partners construct it by shoving mud with their bill and feet. The nests are usually located closer to water bodies. The female lays one egg a year. Both partners incubate the egg for 27-31 days. The younger ones have white feathers until they attain maturity at around two years. They fledge when they are about nine to 13 weeks old.

How long do Crane and Flamingo live?

The average lifespan of Cranes is 20-30 years. Mortality is high among younger Cranes of less than three years due to predation. A Siberian Crane had lived up to the age of 62 at the National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institute, USA. A Siberian Crane lived longer – it was 83 years old when it died.

The average lifespan of Flamingos is 30-40 years. The oldest Flamingo lived till the age of 83 years at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. It died in January 2014.

Are Crane or Flamingo migratory birds?

Some species of Cranes migrate long distances, while some of them are non-migratory. Some Siberian Cranes fly from western Siberia to south India, while Common Cranes migrate across Europe and Asia. Some species also migrate to northeast India. Sandhill Cranes are considered to migrate the longest distance, travelling between Siberia and Mexico every year. Other species like Demoiselle Cranes, Hooded and Red Crowned Cranes also migrate long distances to countries like China, Russia, and Japan each year.

Flamingos are non-migratory birds. However, climatic conditions like rise in water levels, drought, cold winters, and freezing of lakes at higher altitudes may compel them to relocate. The place where they migrate to depends on the direction of the wind. Additionally, Flamingos prefer to travel in the night. Flamingos living in the northern parts of Asia migrate in large numbers to India and Iran during winters. In Europe, they either go to Spain, Tunisia or Turkey. In America, the birds migrate only short distances in search of food.

Do Crane and Flamingo fly in flocks?

A group of Cranes is called a sedge. Cranes, especially the Sandhill species, form large flocks. They are gregarious birds that congregate together during migration and winters. However, they prefer solitude and live in pairs during the breeding season.

A group of Flamingos is called flamboyance. These birds are extremely gregarious. They always live in groups of a few tens and even up to 350. Their larger colonies can even have a thousand birds and are known to be noisy. Flamingos eat and roost in groups. They also breed in flocks. This arrangement helps them stay safe from predators – while some birds have their head bent under water for hunting, others keep guard. According to research, Flamingos make long lasting friends and also have enemies.

Are Crane or Flamingo protected?

In the USA, Sandhill and Whooping Cranes are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Cranes are protected in the UK, where they had become extinct about 400 years ago. The Common Crane or Grus Grus is a protected species in the European Union. The Great Sarus Crane is protected in India along with efforts of conservation of other migratory species.

The US Migratory Bird Act protects Greater, Chilean, and Caribbean Flamingos. They are protected partially or completely in parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Are Crane or Flamingo endangered?

Cranes were widespread in the world. However, their population is gradually declining, especially of some species. This can be attributed to loss of wetlands and marshes, rise in deforestation and urbanization, hunting of birds for meat and feathers, inadequate regulations for conservation, collision of birds with electric power lines, and fatigue and death of birds during migration. The Siberian Crane is the most endangered species. Whooping Crane, Blue Crane, and Hooded Crane are other species that are facing the danger of extinction.

Flamingos are not endangered birds. Nevertheless, there is consensus that their population is on a decline owing to habitat destruction, poaching, hunting for feathers, environmental changes, and pollutants in their water habitats. The Chilean and James Flamingos are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Can Crane and Flamingo fly?

Cranes are considered to be the tallest flying birds in the world. They fly with their head and neck stretched out and legs trailing behind. During migration, they fly 200 miles in a day using the warm air to achieve height and drift. These birds can fly at an altitude of 16,000-26,000 feet above sea level. Demoiselle Cranes migrate over the Himalayas at an altitude of 26,000 feet to enter India. The Siberian Crane flies almost 10,000 miles in a year for migration.

Flamingos like to fly when the sky is clear and tailwinds are encouraging. During the day, they fly at high altitudes – as much as 15,000 feet above sea level. They fly long distances during migration, flying at speeds of 31-37 miles an hour and covering distances of nearly 375 miles in one night.

Can Crane and Flamingo swim?

Cranes cannot swim as they do not have webbed feet. The chicks however swim and follow their parents in the marshes. Adult Cranes avoid deep waters and generally live near shallow waters where they can wade through with their long legs.

Flamingos generally wade through water with the help of their long legs. However, in deeper waters they swim on the surface of water with their webbed feet.

Mating patterns among Crane and Flamingo

Cranes generally start breeding once they are three to five years old. They breed once a year during the breeding season. They perform elaborate dances involving sophisticated footwork during courtship. They also perform unison calling, which according to scientists strengthens the bond between the male and female besides defend territory. Both partners engage in picking up straws and plant material to build the nest. They even use the same nest for multiple years.

Flamingos attain sexual maturity at the age of three to six, by which time the white baby feathers have turned completely pink. In the breeding season, the male and female Flamingos perform sophisticated group dances to attract partners. The birds engage in mating displays that start with the head flag, involving loud calls and vigorous movement of the head. The displays will also include bowing, stretching of neck, and feather movements. Mating occurs in the water. Partners collaborate to construct the nests and jointly incubate the eggs.

When is the mating season for Crane and Flamingo ?

The breeding season depends on geography and species. In the case of migratory species, it is usually during the summer. In the case of other species, the breeding season corresponds with the monsoon.

There is no particular mating season for Flamingos. They breed at any time of the year when water levels, climatic conditions, and availability of food are supportive. It is observed that Flamingos generally breed when rainfall is adequate, which also means that food supply during the period is good enough.

Do Crane and Flamingo mate for life?

Most cranes mate for life. They are monogamous for life or until one of them dies. The partners may break up and find new ones if breeding attempts fail.

The bonding between Flamingo partners is known to be strong. Therefore, they may be monogamous. However, some of them also change partners every season.

How do Crane and Flamingo sleep?

Cranes sleep at night, usually with one or both legs in water and head bent down. They sometimes also sleep while standing on the ground. Cranes however sleep closer to their nests during the breeding season in order to protect the eggs and little ones from predators.

Flamingos sleep while standing on one leg and resting their heads on their backs. The ligaments and muscles in the leg can lock to help the bird stay in one position while asleep. They sleep for about three hours at a stretch, be it day or night.

Can Crane and Flamingo be eaten?

Cranes are edible and are widely consumed by humans since ancient times. It is recorded in history that the Christmas feast hosted by King Henry II in 1251 involved the meat of more than one hundred cranes. Some countries still allow hunting and consumption of Cranes.

In ancient times people ate Flamingos and their eggs. The tongues of Flamingos were considered a delicacy. Romans are known to have consumed the birds by boiling them with wine and spices. However, Flamingos are no longer eaten. Conservation and protection laws also do not permit it.

Can you hunt Crane or Flamingo?

Hunting Cranes is allowed in several states of the USA. It is also allowed in Canada with the acquisition of a permit. However, hunting the birds is not allowed in some countries like India. Unregulated hunting and easy to obtain hunting permits allow people to kill Cranes for their meat and feather.

Hunting of Flamingos was rampant. People in earlier times killed them for their meat and feather. However, modern laws do not allow hunting or trading of Flamingos.

Can you feed Crane or Flamingo?

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. In captivity, Cranes are fed worms, small fish, lizards, and insects besides grains, berries, and fruits.

Feeding Flamingos in public places is not permitted in many countries like Singapore and USA. At the zoos, Flamingos are given food rich in carotenoids to avoid fading of their pink color. Therefore, the feed will include shrimps, crustaceans, and clams.