Differences between Crane and Pine-Siskin

Crane and Pine-Siskin are two classes of birds that belong to the Gruidae and Fringillidae 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.

Pine Siskin is a small song bird. It has a small head, jagged tail, and large body. The plumage is a darker brown on the back and paler brown on the stomach with white patches all over the body. The wings and tails have yellow patches. The bird’s bill is cone-like and pointed. The legs are short and brown with four toes for perching. Pine Siskins are noisy while foraging, flying, and mating. They make raspy and chirpy sounds. They are specially known for the long, harsh twitters they produce.

Where are Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins prefer conifer and deciduous forests. However, they are also found in grasslands, meadows, woodlands, and suburban areas where there are plenty of trees. The bird is native to North America. It travels across Canada, Alaska, and northern USA for breeding and during winters.

What do Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are omnivores although they mostly eat seeds such as spruce, thistle, and birch. They eat insects also in summers. An interesting feeding style among Pine Siskins is that they turn upside down while holding on to conifer branches to eat the cones.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Crane and Pine-Siskin

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

Size of Crane and Pine-Siskin?

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.. Pine Siskins are 4.3-5.5 inches long. Their wingspan averages between 7.1-8.7 inches.

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 Pine Siskins are tiny birds that weigh 0.42-0.63 ounces.

Where do Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

The nests of Pine Siskins are large and shaped like cups. They are covertly placed on horizontal branches of trees, mostly conifers. The female bird constructs the nests with pieces of barks, twigs, grass, and leaves. They are lined with moss, feathers, and plant material. Pine Siskin eggs are bluish green with brown markings. The female lays two to six of them and incubates them continuously for 13 days while being fed by her partner. The parents feed the young ones through regurgitation. The chicks will be able to fledge in two weeks.

How long do Crane and Pine-Siskin 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 Pine Siskins is five to six years. The oldest known bird lived for over nine years in North Carolina.

Are Crane or Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins exhibit erratic migratory behavior. Their travel depends on the condition of cone crops in their habitats. In winters, they may either migrate in large flocks to the south, east, or west of North America or stay on in their territories.

Do Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are sociable birds. They live communally in large groups, making loud calls and sounds. They forage in trees and shrubs along with their flock, flying together from one tree to another. The birds are also known to migrate in large flocks consisting of many thousands. Pine Siskins are social even during the breeding season. Although they are territorial, the birds turn up at each other’s nests.

Are Crane or Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are protected under the Migratory Bird Act in USA. They are also protected by law in Canada.

Are Crane or Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are not endangered, neither are they threatened. However, their population is on a downfall. The birds face threats from getting infected while flying in huge flocks, falling sick from bird feeders at people’s backyards, poisoning from pesticides, and dehydration.

Can Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

The flight of Pine Siskins is marked by their swift take off. The yellow blotches on the wings are flaunted as the birds fly with their head stuck out and legs folded. Pine Siskins fly boisterously in flocks, making different patterns to save energy.

Can Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are not water birds. However, they may get into water for bathing and drinking.

Mating patterns among Crane and Pine-Siskin

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.

Pine Siskins attain sexual maturity before they turn one. The birds move to conifer or deciduous forests for breeding. During courtship, the male encircles the female by flight. He keeps his wings and tails spread out. The male also perches on top of trees and sings to attract the attention of the female. The female coos back when she has accepted the offer to mate. The partners also sing sophisticated notes during copulation. In another courtship behavior, the male fetches food and feeds it to the female. The female Pine Siskin generally raises two broods every season, laying three to six eggs in each clutch. She incubates the eggs in insulated nests, breeding continuously with her partner feeding her for all the 13 days. The partners also co-operate in feeding the young ones and guarding the nests.

When is the mating season for Crane and Pine-Siskin ?

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.

Pine Siskins begin courtship in January-February. The mating season could extend up to spring and summer depending on the availability of food in the vicinity. The birds not always return to the same breeding site every year.

Do Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are monogamous and loyal to their partners during the nesting season. They form pairs during winters.

How do Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins sleep on concealed branches of conifer trees, typically 10-20 feet above the ground. They mostly roost in groups. During the breeding season, the female sleeps at the nesting site.

Can Crane and Pine-Siskin 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.

Pine Siskins are protected by law. It is illegal to kill them for meat.

Can you hunt Crane or Pine-Siskin?

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.

Pine Siskins are not known to be hunted by humans. In recent times, there are laws that protect the birds from any harm or hunting.

Can you feed Crane or Pine-Siskin?

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.

It is a common practice for people to leave food for birds in the feeders at their backyards. Pine Siskins are also maintained at zoos and wildlife parks. The best feeds to offer these birds is seeds, millets, and vegetables.