Differences between Crane and Swallow

Crane and Swallow are two classes of birds that belong to the Gruidae and Hirundinidae 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.

Swallow encompasses about 90 species of birds. These birds are small with short bills. The color of their plumage varies depending on the species. The back could be plain or bluish green. The belly is usually plain and white, while the lower part of the face and the neck are usually red. The wings of Swallows are narrow and pointed. The tail is long with the tip either square or forked. The birds have short legs with small feet for perching, walking, and running. They have exemplary eyesight. The birds spend most of their time in flight. Some prominent and widespread Swallow species are Barn Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, and Bank Swallow.

Where are Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows prefer locations that are near lakes, rivers, and waterbodies. However, they live in diverse habitats. They can be found in open grasslands, meadows, alpine areas, and even towns and cities. Swallows are distributed in almost all continents – Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They do not exist in Antarctica, the Arctic, and some remote islands.

What do Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows are insectivores. They chiefly eat flies and insects like mosquitoes, wasps, bees, spiders, ants, butterflies, snails, grasshoppers, worms, bugs, moths, crickets, and beetles. They are capable of hunting their prey during flight. In winters, the birds eat berries and seeds.

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

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

Size of Crane and Swallow?

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 size of Swallows differs based on the species. The average length is 3.9-9.4 inches, while the wingspan is about 11-12.6 inches. Mosque Swallow is one of the largest among the species. It is about 9.4 inches long. The species is native to Africa.

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 Swallows is 0.35-2.11 ounces. Mosque Swallows, which are one of the largest Swallow birds, weigh around two ounces.

Where do Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows build their nests in tree holes, cavities of dead trees, nest boxes, ledges of buildings, crannies, or small craters in the ground. The birds prefer dimly lit areas to keep their nests and eggs safe from the sight of predators. Both male and female Swallows engage in nest building. The nests are shaped like cups and mostly made of mud. The birds gather mud in their bills for its construction. They also mix mud with grass and other plant material to make pellets. Swallow nests typically consist of about 1,000 pellets. It usually takes one to two weeks for the birds to complete the nest. Swallow eggs are oval with about 0.8 inches in length and 0.6 inches in width. They are plain white and could have brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days. The nestlings that hatch thereafter are mostly naked and do not open their eyes fully until the tenth day. They fledge when they are 18-24 days old but keep returning to the nest for many weeks.

How long do Crane and Swallow 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 life expectancy of Swallows is very small. They are known to live for two to four years. The oldest known Swallow bird lived for a record 11 years.

Are Crane or Swallow 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.

Most Swallow species are migratory. Their breeding and wintering habitats are usually different. The birds usually relocate southward during winters. In Europe, Swallow species move towards Morocco and South Africa. The ones in North America and Canada travel to Central and South America. The Holarctic species migrates from North America to South Africa and even the Indian subcontinent. Barn Swallow, the national bird of Austria, spends its winters in Singapore. In Asia, Swallow species do not travel long distances for migration. They move locally or sometimes even reside in the same territory. The species in Japan migrate to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The birds from China and northern India move southward.

Do Crane and Swallow 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 Swallows is known as flight or gulp. The social behavior of Swallows depends on the species. Some are absolutely solitary, while some may live in pairs. Some species live in larger groups of about 200. During the breeding season, most Swallow species are solitary. However, there are a few of them that nest in colonies where about 35 pairs live together. On cold winter nights and during migration, Swallows generally flock together.

Are Crane or Swallow 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.

Swallows are protected in some parts of the world under conservation and migratory bird laws. These laws prohibit harming of the birds and their nests.

Are Crane or Swallow 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.

Some species of Swallows are threatened or endangered. Further they may be rare in some parts of the world but thriving elsewhere. For instance, Barn Swallow is the most pervasive of the species in the world. However, it is listed as threatened in Canada. The White-tailed Swallow exists in a small population in Ethiopia. It is listed as a vulnerable species. Blue Swallow from south-eastern Africa is also facing decline in population and is endangered. Swallows, like most other birds, face threats from climate change, deforestation, pesticides, and natural predators.

Can Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows spend most of their time flying. They hunt for their food while airborne and can even catch insects that are flying. The birds are built with a lean body that facilitates good aerodynamics. They also have long, wide, and sharp-edged wings that help them glide in the air. Swallows are known for their long-distance migration. They travel during the day, flying at low altitudes. Some species fly 6,000 miles two times a year. The birds travel about 320 miles a day at about 20 miles an hour during migration. Their maximum flying speed is 35 miles an hour.

Can Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows are not regular and efficient swimmers. However, they can swim short distances. Even the chicks will be able to swim if they accidentally fall in water. Swallows also regularly bathe in shallow waters and puddles.

Mating patterns among Crane and Swallow

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.

Swallows reach sexual maturity when they are 40-50 days old. Courtship between partners begins about a week before egg laying. The male performs aerial flight and bowing displays while the female is perched at the nesting site. The partners also sing long songs during courtship and laying of eggs. The male continues to sing throughout the breeding season to defend the territory. There is usually one or two broods raised each year. Swallows lay two to six eggs in a clutch, depending on the species. While the female incubates the eggs, the male is known for his outstanding involvement as a parent.

When is the mating season for Crane and Swallow ?

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 Swallows depends on the species and geography. It could be March-July or May-August. Partners engage in courtship as soon as they reach their breeding territories from the wintering sites.

Do Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows mate for life. The partners stay together until one of them dies. They also return to the same nesting site each year. Some of them may even use the same nest after renovating it.

How do Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows sleep on trees, ledges, tree holes, or caves. When the chicks are young, the family sleeps together at the nesting site. In non-breeding months and winters, Swallows generally sleep in flocks at common roosting sites.

Can Crane and Swallow 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.

Swallows are eaten despite laws protecting them from any harm. It is a delicacy among people in Europe. People are also known to eat the eggs of Swallows. Further, Chinese also savour soups made from the nests of these birds.

Can you hunt Crane or Swallow?

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.

Swallows are hunted for meat. They are also killed in some places for destroying crops and farmlands. However, it is illegal to harm or hunt the birds in some countries.

Can you feed Crane or Swallow?

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 illegal and not advisable to keep Swallows as pets. At feeders, they can be given insects and kitten food.