Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo – Birds in Flight

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– smallest crane, considerably smaller than White Stork
– diurnal migrant, nocturnal movements take place
– migrates in small to large flocks in formation

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF1981, 09/06/2016, Chovsgol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– comparably short-necked
– black throat extends to breast
– elongated white nape feathers and crown with no red -> Common Crane

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF1978, 09/06/2016, Chovsgol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– less contrast between grey coverts and dusky primaries than in Common Crane
– shining red eye
– short flesh-coloured bill

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF0170, 27/05/2011, Bui Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– shorter-legged than Common Crane (BIF0168)

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD, 1CY
BIF2778, 25/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF1979, 06/06/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– in active flight powerful wingbeats

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD, 1CY
Greylag Goose Anser a. anser, AD
BIF2781, 03/09/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– very small crane, not much larger than Greylag Goose

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo
BIF0242, 04/04/2011, Aysha Bibi, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– short-tailed
– base of wing broader and hand narrower than in Common Crane

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF1980, 06/06/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– when extension of black on underside not visible very similar to Common Crane, but note proportionally larger head

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD, 1CY
Swan Goose Anser cygnoid
BIF2782, 03/09/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF1221, 16/05/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD, 1CY
BIF2780, 30/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– straight flight in neat formation just as Common Crane

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, AD
BIF0241, 04/04/20122, Aysha Bibi, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– note short neck and legs
– when circling in thermals formation is broken up

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, 60, calls during migration
BIF0172, 06/04/2011, Kocsu, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, 10, calls during migration
BIF0171, 04/04/2011, Kyzyltan lake, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Common Crane

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