Differences between Crane and Raven

Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens are large perching birds. They are noisy and can make different sounds. They are intelligent birds with an ability to make their own tools and save useful items for the future. There are 10 species of Ravens. They have black plumage, dark legs, and long tail. The species living in western North America have white feathers on their neck, while those in the rest of North America, south Asia, Australia, and Africa have white or brown neck feathers. Ravens are like Crows in many ways. But their feathers are more ruffled, and their beak is larger and arched.

Where are Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens live in open grasslands, forests, coasts, deserts, agricultural fields, and cities. They can be found across the world except Antarctica. They are heavily populated in Canada, North America, northern Europe, and India.

What do Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens are omnivores and scavenging birds. They eat rodents, reptiles, eggs, small nesting birds, berries, fruits, vegetables, and human refuse.

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

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

Size of Crane and Raven?

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.. Ravens are usually about 2.1 feet long and have a wingspan of four feet. Some species of Ravens may be smaller. The Thick-billed Raven is the largest among the species.

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 average weight of Ravens is 1.5-4.4 pounds. The Thick-billed Raven weighs about 3.4 pounds.

Where do Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens naturally make their nests on treetops or cliffs. In cities, they build their nests on top of roofs, power lines, or billboards. The nest looks like a basket with woven sticks and wires. The male helps the female by fetching the sticks and breaking them into smaller pieces. The eggs are 4.4-5.2 centimeters long and 3.1-3.6 centimeters wide. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs, which hatch in 20-25 days. The young ones leave the nest when they are five to seven weeks old.

How long do Crane and Raven 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 Ravens is 10-15 years. Among the banded birds, the longest-lived Raven has been a wild Common Raven that lived for 23 years and three months.

Are Crane or Raven 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.

Ravens are not migratory but some species from the northern hemisphere may travel south during winters. During the breeding season, some species may relocate for nesting. On a daily basis, Ravens travel about 40 miles in search of food.

Do Crane and Raven 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 Ravens is called unkindness or conspiracy. Ravens may live in pairs or small groups. They are known to forage in small flocks. They also roost in colonies during winter.

Are Crane or Raven 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.

Ravens are protected in several countries like the USA, UK, Canada Australia, and India under laws for wildlife and migratory bird protection. Some countries like France offer protection to certain species of Ravens.

Are Crane or Raven 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.

Ravens are not endangered or threatened. They are listed as birds of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ravens however face threats of habitat loss, poisoning, and hunting.

Can Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens fly by soaring and gliding. They rarely flap their wings. The birds sometimes fly upside down to uphold their position in territorial hierarchy. The average flying speed of Ravens is 50 miles per hour. A wild Raven can fly up to 100 miles a day.

Can Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens are not water birds. They neither have webbed feet. Therefore, they cannot swim.

Mating patterns among Crane and Raven

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.

Ravens start mating when they are three to four years old. In the breeding season, the partners fly together, soaring and diving, and performing joyful aerial dances. Their mating ritual also includes several vocalizations, stroking of beaks, and grooming each other’s feathers. The female Raven lays three to seven eggs in a clutch. The partners take turns to incubate the eggs and share responsibility of raising the young ones.

When is the mating season for Crane and Raven ?

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.

Ravens have the earliest mating season among all birds. The season occurs from January until May.

Do Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens are monogamous and mate for life. They also return to the same nesting territory every year.

How do Crane and Raven 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.

Ravens sleep on large trees, cliff ledges, billboards, or windowsills of tall buildings. They sleep while standing on both legs to be able to react swiftly in case of predator attack. The birds generally roost in flocks.

Can Crane and Raven 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.

Raven meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. However, modern laws do not permit killing of Ravens for meat.

Can you hunt Crane or Raven?

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.

Ravens were hunted in the past for meat. Contemporary conservation laws do not allow harming or hunting of the birds. Nevertheless, in countries like the USA, permit can be obtained to kill Ravens that annoy farmers on agricultural lands and poultry farms.

Can you feed Crane or Raven?

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 Ravens in public is not encouraged. In captivity, they are fed worms, mice, eggs, meat, and fruits.