Differences between Crane and Jackdaw

Crane and Jackdaw are two classes of birds that belong to the Gruidae and Corvidae 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.

Jackdaws are small, strong, intelligent, and curious birds that look like Crows. They are quick in picking up new skills. They are characterized by black beaks and black plumage that has a purplish tinge. The plumage of the male birds is likely to become grey as they age. The black legs are strong with four toes and long sharp talons. The eyes are black, while the irises are white. The birds are known for the shrill calls they make.

Where are Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws are highly adaptable birds. They can be found in forests, open fields, gardens, and cities. The birds exist in most parts of Europe besides north Africa, western Asia, and the Himalayas. Few of them were reported to have been spotted in North America in 1984. A species of Grackle is referred to as Jackdaw in the USA.

What do Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws are omnivorous. They eat insects, worms, eggs, spiders, snails, small mammals, reptiles, berries, seeds, and fruits. The birds also eat carrion and waste from bins and landfills.

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

• Both Crane and Jackdaw eat Fish.
• Both Crane and Jackdaw eat Frogs.
• Both Crane and Jackdaw eat Lizards.
• Both Crane and Jackdaw eat Snakes.
• Both Crane and Jackdaw eat Turtles.
• Both Crane and Jackdaw eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Crane, but not by all Jackdaw.
• Crane do not eat Baby Ducks while Jackdaw eat Baby Ducks.
• Mice are eaten by both Crane and Jackdaw.

Size of Crane and Jackdaw?

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.. Jackdaws are 1.11-1.27 feet long. They have a wingspan of 2.3 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 Jackdaws are not heavy although they are sturdy. They weigh about 8.8 ounces.

Where do Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws are not fussy about their nests. They construct them with sticks and twigs and cover them with moss, hair, or dung. They build the nests in holes and cavities of trees, chimneys, buildings, and rooftops. They may also use nests built by other birds. The eggs are bluish green in color with brown spots. The female incubates them for about 18 days. After hatching, the chicks are dependent on the parents for food. The male and female share the responsibility of feeding them. The chicks fledge when they are 28-35 days old but continue to be reliant on the parents for food for another four weeks. The eggs in the brood hatch asynchronously. When the last egg hatches, the earlier hatched chicks are probably old enough to fledge. Therefore, the parents may abandon the new-borns speculating that they may not survive.

How long do Crane and Jackdaw 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 Jackdaws is five years. The Western Jackdaw or Eurasian Jackdaw found in Europe, parts of Africa, central Asia, and Himalayas is known to live up to 20 years.

Are Crane or Jackdaw 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.

Not all Jackdaws are migratory. The ones in the UK are mostly residents or may travel a few miles during winter. Western Jackdaws from northern Europe may move south. The Jackdaws living in northern Africa are also mostly residents. The ones from Russia may travel to north-west Europe.

Do Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Clattering or train refers to a group of Jackdaws. They are extremely gregarious and follow a hierarchy in their colonies. Jackdaws spend most of their time with their community. They forage, roost, and move around in groups. Research shows that the birds communicate efficiently through their eyes and also engage in sophisticated communication. They are capable of warning each other about predators or human attacks. They can remember human faces, perform tricks, and steal things. The birds also share their food and objects, a trait that is unusual in birds.

Are Crane or Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws are protected under the law in countries like the UK, France, Italy, Austria, and USA. However, they can be killed with a licence. Jackdaws are considered as pests as they cause harm to livestock and crops.

Are Crane or Jackdaw 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.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed Jackdaws as species of least concern. There was a reduction in their population in the UK during 1970s, but the numbers have recovered in the 21st century. Jackdaws presently flourish in all habitats they live in.

Can Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws fly with their wings spread out and legs folded. They have multiple vortices on their wings, so they flap their wings while take off and drift thereafter. The birds are capable of flying at a speed of 20-25 miles per hour.

Can Crane and Jackdaw 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.

The body of Jackdaws is not suited for swimming. They have clawed feet with toes. Therefore, Jackdaws cannot swim. They enter waterbodies to drink water and to bathe.

Mating patterns among Crane and Jackdaw

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.

Young Jackdaws may select their pairs in the autumn of their first year. However, they breed only when they are close to two years. The birds follow social hierarchy while choosing their pairs. The female may choose a partner of higher ranking to upgrade her rank. During courtship, the female may beseech the male to get her food. The partners engage in preening the feathers on each other’s neck and head. The partners also perform aerial dances. They mostly live in pairs at their nesting sites during the breeding season. The female lays about six eggs in a season. She takes the duties of incubating them, while her male partner helps her in feeding and defending the young ones.

When is the mating season for Crane and Jackdaw ?

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.

The mating season for Jackdaws occurs during April-June. They raise a single brood every season.

Do Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws are usually monogamous. The bonding between partners is for life. However, in some cases partners do not exclusively mate with each other. They may engage with other birds and have offspring from them.

How do Crane and Jackdaw 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.

Jackdaws roost in flocks. The birds are tightly packed on trees during the night. They are known to do some jabbering before calming down for rest. Further, they give out alarm calls when there is any danger during the night.

Can Crane and Jackdaw 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.

People may have eaten Jackdaws out of desperation in the past. They are not commonly eaten as a delicacy now. It is not advisable to eat them as they are scavenging birds whose meat could be infected.

Can you hunt Crane or Jackdaw?

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.

Jackdaws are largely hunted by farmers for destroying their crops and livestock. Even in countries where they are protected, licence is given to kill Jackdaws that are destructive.

Can you feed Crane or Jackdaw?

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 birds in public is not allowed in countries like the USA. In captivity, Jackdaws are given seeds, berries, eggs, and mice.