Demoiselle Crane

Grus virgo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gruidae — Cranes

Demoiselle Crane, Grus virgo, breeds across parts of the Palearctic from north-west Africa through eastern Turkey and Russia to northern China, and spends the non-breeding season in central Africa and India. It is a crane of open country with sparse cover, usually close to water. This is the smallest crane, and it is set apart by a long white stripe on the neck and black extending from the front of the neck down over the chest in a plume. It is migratory, and in winter it may gather in large flocks on farmland.

Order: Gruiformes
Family: Gruidae — Cranes
Breeding range: Palearctic: nw Africa, e Turkey, sw Russia to n China
Nonbreeding range: c AF and India