Cranes · Cranes and rails
Demoiselle crane
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Anthropoides virgo
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How to recognize it
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89 cm, smaller than a common crane
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Black head and neck, pale gray patch at the bill base
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Long white plumes behind the eyes
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Loud high-pitched trumpeting, "kurrr-li"
About the species
The demoiselle crane wears a pale blue-gray body, with a black head and neck that are set off by long white plumes behind the eyes. A light gray patch runs from the bill to the nape, and the dark feathers on the chest form a loose front stripe.
It gives a clear, ringing call that sits higher than the common crane’s. In courtship, it pairs off with a duet and a dance that includes hops, quick runs, wing beats, and tossing bits of grass or sticks.
It lives on open ground with short vegetation, usually near water, and also feeds on fields and other farm land. Its diet includes plant parts, grain, legumes, peanuts, insects, and other small animals. In winter it moves south, with western populations heading to Africa and eastern ones to the Indian subcontinent.
Where to find
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On open lawns and vacant lots near water — low grass and long sightlines suit the demoiselle crane, which feeds in the morning with quick steps and pecks.
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Along shallow lake shores, canal banks, and low-lying reed edges — watch for it stepping out to drink or rest on the mudflat.
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In large fields near streams or river edges on the city fringe — it often gathers in flocks and gives a ringing, trumpet-like call at dusk.
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During migration overhead — look for long necks and legs stretched straight in a neat line, often high above the city.
