Cranes (Gruidae)

Eurasian Crane (Grus grus) - HBW 3, p. 88

French: Grue cendrée German: Kranich Spanish: Grulla Común
Other common names: Common Crane

Taxonomy: Ardea Grus Linnaeus, 1758, Sweden.
Sometimes divided into W and E races, with lilfordi for E birds; division based on plumage colour variations, due in part to differences in feather-painting behaviour, and no longer widely accepted. Monotypic.

Distribution: Scandinavia and NE Europe to NC China and Russian Far East; also Turkey and Caucasus, in Armenia and possibly Azerbaijan. Winters in France, Iberian Peninsula, NW & NE Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, India and S & E China.