Crane (5-1)

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Pakistan i.e. Demoiselle and common cranes which are migratory and the sarus crane which is resident. In this country numbers have declined as they are sought after as pet birds and hunted in the North-West in particular. The sarus crane which is found in abuntant numbers in India has almost disappeared in Pakistan although a lone pair was sighted in 2011 in the tharparker area after 10 years. This decline is due to hunting.

• Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo

Demoiselle crane - Bird Aviary

• Siberian crane, Grus leucogeranus
• Sarus crane, Grus antigone
• Tibetan crane, Grus nigricollis
• Common crane, Grus grus