Differences between Crane and Wren

Crane and Wren are two classes of birds that belong to the Gruidae and Troglodytidae 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.

Wrens are tiny song birds. They have a loud voice. The songs of these passerines are considered to be very pleasant. Hence, they are also known as musician wren, flutist wren, and song wren. Wrens are round and stout. The wings, tail, and back are brown, while the belly is greyish white. There are numerous streaks and spots all over the body. The tail is short and firm. The bill is thin and slightly bent at the tip. The legs are thin and long with feet adapted for perching. The family of Wrens includes 88 species. House Wren, Winter Wren, Rock Wren, Cactus Wren, Eurasian Wren, Giant Wren, Spotted Wren, and Bewick’s Wren are a few of them.

Where are Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens live in open forests, orchards near streams, mountains, gardens, shrubs, and towns. Their species are spread across the world. They can be found in Canada, North America, and South America. The Eurasian species exist in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The name Wren is also used for other distinct birds in Australia and New Zealand.

What do Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens are either omnivores or insectivores. They chiefly eat insects, worms, spiders, small lizards and frogs. Some of them also eat fruits, berries, and vegetables.

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

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

Size of Crane and Wren?

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 Wrens depends on the species. The smallest Wren is the White-bellied Wren, which is about 10 centimeters long. The Giant Wren, the largest of the species, is around 22 centimeters long. The Eurasian Wren is one of the smallest birds in Europe. It is eight to 12 centimeters long.

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 White-bellied Wren weighs about 0.32 ounces, while the Giant Wren is around 1.8 ounces in weight.

Where do Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens build their nests in hollows of trees, rocks, and buildings. Nests, shaped like domes, are usually made using leaves, twigs, moss, feathers, and other plant material. In most Wren species, the male makes the structure of the nest with the female finishing it up. In other species, the male constructs several nests and the female chooses one to lay the eggs. It may take one to two weeks to build the nests. Wren eggs are pinkish white or pinkish grey with brown speckles. The female takes the responsibility of incubating the eggs for 12-15 days. Once the eggs hatch, both parents take turns to feed the nestlings. The young ones will be able to fledge when they are 12-18 days old but follow the parents for few days to learn about foraging and safeguarding themselves from predators.

How long do Crane and Wren 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 Wrens depends on the species. The average lifespan is two to seven years. The longest known living Wren was eight years old when it was captured for banding in 1986 in California.

Are Crane or Wren 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 Wren species are migratory. The ones in North America and Canada migrate to the USA and Mexico in winters. They will go back north during March-May. Wrens in the UK are mostly residents. Wren species from northern Europe travel about 1,500 miles to spend their winters in the south. Even in Asia, the same migration pattern occurs. Only the birds from the northern hemisphere typically travel during winters.

Do Crane and Wren 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 Wrens is usually addressed as a herd. Wrens are solitary birds. They forage alone or in pairs. Sometimes they can be spotted in very small groups. On cold nights, however, they roost in packed clusters for warmth. Wrens are extremely territorial. They do not welcome other birds having their nests near theirs. Some species, like the House Wren, are also very aggressive. They can even be acrimonious towards their own species, other birds, and also humans.

Are Crane or Wren 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.

Wrens are protected under the Migratory Bird Act in the USA and Canada. They are protected in the UK as part of conservation efforts. The bird also appears in the European Union’s list of threatened birds requiring special protection.

Are Crane or Wren 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.

Wrens are not primarily endangered birds. Some species like Sedge Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Niceforo’s Wren, Apolinar’s Wren, Fairy Wrens, and Emu Wren are either threatened or endangered. Wrens have a short lifespan, during which time they face threats such as attacks from predators, risk of dying from cold weather, and long flights during migration.

Can Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens are active birds. They are always hopping, running, or taking short flights in search of food. When they have to fly, they take off directly by beating their wings vigorously. Wrens can fly at maximum speed of 20-25 miles an hour. In winters, some species travel as much as 1,500 miles.

Can Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens are not water birds. They are also tiny birds without webbed feet. So, they do not swim.

Mating patterns among Crane and Wren

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.

Wrens generally attain sexual maturity when they are about a year old. The male perches at the nesting sites that he has prepared, singing throughout the day to attract a partner. The female chooses a nesting site and fills in more twigs, grass, and feathers to complete the nest. This is an indication of her approval to pair with the male. The female Wren raises two broods every breeding season with each clutch consisting of three to 10 eggs. While the female mostly incubates the eggs, the male shares responsibility to feed and protect the young ones.

When is the mating season for Crane and Wren ?

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 breeding season for Wrens differs as per species and geography. Typically, it is between April and July each year.

Do Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens are not monogamous. The partners are bonded until they raise a brood. They usually stay together until their young ones fledge. While the male may seek another pair much earlier, the female waits until she has completed her maternal duties.

How do Crane and Wren 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.

Wrens choose cosy and protected locations for sleeping at nights. These locations could include tree holes, bird boxes, corners of buildings, and deserted vehicles. In winters, the birds roost in flocks, huddling to keep warm.

Can Crane and Wren 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.

There are no known instances of humans eating Wren meat. This could be because these birds are tiny with very little flesh. Further, modern laws in many countries prohibit killing of Wrens.

Can you hunt Crane or Wren?

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.

Hunting of the birds is against the law in several countries. However, Wren Day or Hunt the Wren Day is a tradition followed in many parts of Europe in the month of December. On this day, people hunt Wrens and hang them on top of poles.

Can you feed Crane or Wren?

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.

In some countries, it may not be legal to offer food to birds at public places. At bird feeders, the best food you can give Wrens is crickets, worms, peanuts, and berries.