Differences between Crane and Robin

Crane and Robin are two classes of birds that belong to the Gruidae and Turdidae 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.

Robins are the largest of Thrush species. They are small song birds characterized by their running and stopping habit. The birds have yellow cone-shaped bills that they use for foraging food in the grass. Their legs are grey, thin, and long. The feet are adapted for perching. The birds also have a long tail. Robins have a round body. Their plumage depends on the species. The European Robin is known as the original Robin. It has a grey head, back, and belly. Its wings and tail are brownish grey, while its neck and breast are covered with a bright orange patch. The American Robin belongs to the Thrush family but is not related to the European Robin. It has a black head, greyish black back, and orangish yellow belly and neck. There are about 65 species of Robins across the world.

Where are Crane and Robin 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.

Robins live in deciduous forests, woodlands, grasslands, parks, farms, agricultural lands, and even cities. The American Robins are found in Canada, North America, and parts of Alaska. The European Robins exist in Europe, north Africa, and western Asia.

What do Crane and Robin 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.

Robins chiefly eat worms and insects. During summer and fall they also eat fruits, berries, seeds, peanuts, and raisins.

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

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

Size of Crane and Robin?

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.. The European Robin is 3.3-4.7 inches long with a wingspan of 8-8.5 inches. The American Robin is bigger. It measures 9-11 inches in length and has a wingspan of 12-16 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 The European Robin weighs 0.56-0.77 ounces. The average weight of the American Robin is 2.7 ounces.

Where do Crane and Robin 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.

Robins build their nests in the crevices of trees, walls, rocks, and buildings. Sometimes, they are also placed in hidden branches of trees and shrubs. The nests are shaped like bowls and typically four to six inches wide. The female Robin chooses the nesting site and also constructs the nest by pressing dried grass, twigs, feathers, paper, and moss with her wings. She lays eggs that are blue, sometimes with brown spots. The female performs the entire incubation duties for about 13 days. The chicks will be fed by both the parents, who also provide them warmth and protection. They fledge when they are about two weeks old but remain dependent on the parents for another two weeks.

How long do Crane and Robin 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 Robins is two years. Among the known birds, the oldest European Robin was 11 years and five months old, and the oldest American Robin was 14 years old.

Are Crane or Robin 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.

The migration of Robins depends on their location. European Robins living in Ireland and the UK rarely migrate or travel just about five miles in winters. The birds from Scandinavia and Russia relocate to the UK and western Europe. Robins from southern Europe also migrate during winters. American Robins are mostly residents. Some of them from North America and Canada may travel to the USA and Mexico in winters. Robin species in Asia are usually non-migratory.

Do Crane and Robin 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 Robins is known as a round. Robins are friendly and courageous birds that do not get intimidated by humans. They are generally gregarious amongst themselves, except in the breeding season when they prefer to be territorial. They forage and fly in flocks to safeguard themselves from predators.

Are Crane or Robin 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.

Robins are protected in the USA, Canada, UK, and many parts of Europe and Asia. In these countries, harming or hunting of the birds is a punishable offence.

Are Crane or Robin 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.

European Robins as well as American Robins are listed as species of least concern. Robins are largely not threatened. However, a few Robins are marked as endangered. They include Black Robin, Seychelles Robin, and Norfolk Island Robin. Robins are short-lived birds. They also face threats from predators, infant mortality, and migration in winters.

Can Crane and Robin 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.

Robins are active birds that fly for several hours every day. They fly low while moving around casually in the neighbourhood. For long distance travel and migration, the birds fly higher. Their flight is typically direct and quick. The average flying speed of Robins is 30-36 miles an hour during migration. The birds fly in loose flocks on a daily basis. For migration, they form larger groups, sometimes consisting of tens of thousands of birds.

Can Crane and Robin 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.

Robins are not water birds. They cannot swim but can manage to stay afloat as they have hollow bones. The birds enjoy bathing in water, so they often enter ponds, puddles, and shallow waters.

Mating patterns among Crane and Robin

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.

Robins attain sexual maturity when they are about a year old. Most of them start breeding in the spring or summer that follows their hatching. At the start of spring, the male sings loudly to attract the attention of the female. During courtship, both partners perch and sing. Once the pair is formed, the male and female Robins become aggressive to protect their nesting territory and keep a check that they do not lose their partner to another bird. The male fetches food for his partner to make sure that she gains enough weight to lay eggs and incubate them. Robins generally raise two broods a year. Each clutch usually contains about five to six eggs. The female does the incubation duties, while her partner gets food for her and guards the nesting territory. The partners involve equally in feeding and protecting the young ones after the eggs hatch.

When is the mating season for Crane and Robin ?

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 Robins occurs during March-July. The birds, however, may start their nesting activities in January.

Do Crane and Robin 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.

Robins may or may not be monogamous. They usually stay with a single partner during each breeding season. Sometimes, they may also look for different partners in the same breeding season.

How do Crane and Robin 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.

Robins mostly sleep on crevices and branches of trees. They choose spots from where they can hear the approaching of predators and from where they can quickly flee. Except for the breeding season, when they sleep at nesting sites, Robins gather in large numbers to roost at night.

Can Crane and Robin 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.

Robin meat is edible. It was a cherished delicacy in North America. However, it is no longer eaten in the continent because of conservation rules. Some people in parts of Florida are known to still eat it though. Robin meat is popular in parts of Europe, especially France. Although there are rules against hunting of these birds, killing them for meat is tolerated in some places. The bird’s meat is also consumed in some oriental cuisines of Asia.

Can you hunt Crane or Robin?

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.

Robins were widely hunted in the past for their meat. Modern conservation laws restrict the killing of these birds. However, despite having protected status, Robins continue to be hunted in many countries.

Can you feed Crane or Robin?

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.

People commonly offer food for Robins at feeders in their backyard. Robins enjoy mealworms. They also like berries, fruits, peanuts, and seeds.