The sarus crane (Antigone antigone) is a large nonmigratory crane found in parts of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m, they are a conspicuous species of open wetlands in South Asia, seasonally flooded Dipterocarpus forests in Southeast Asia, and Eucalyptus-dominated woodlands and grasslands in Australia.
Description: The adult sarus crane is very large, with grey wings and body, a bare red head and part of the upper neck, a greyish crown, and a long, greenish-grey, pointed bill. In flight, the long neck is held straight, unlike that of a heron, which folds it back, and the black wing tips can be seen; the crane’s long, pink legs trail behind them. This bird has a grey ear covert patch, orange-red irises, and a greenish-grey bill. Juveniles have a yellowish base to the bill and the brown-grey head is fully feathered.
The bare red skin of the adult’s head and neck is brighter during the breeding season. This skin is rough and covered by papillae, and a narrow area around and behind the head is covered by black, bristly feathers. The sexes do not differ in plumage, although males are on average larger than females; males of the Indian population can attain a maximum height around 180 cm, making them the world’s tallest extant flying bird. The weight of nominate race individuals is 6.8–7.8 kg, while five adults of A. a. sharpii averaged 8.4 kg. Across the distribution range, their weight can vary from 5 to 12 kg, height typically from 115 to 167 cm (45 to 66 in), and wingspan from 220 to 250 cm (87 to 98 in).
Distribution and habitat: The species has historically been widely distributed on the lowlands of India along the Gangetic plains, extending south to the Godavari River, west to coastal Gujarat, the Tharparkar District of Pakistan,and east to West Bengal and Assam. The species no longer breeds in Punjab, though it winters regularly in the state.Sarus cranes are rare in West Bengal and Assam and are no longer found in the state of Bihar. In Nepal, its distribution is restricted to the western and central lowland plains, with most of the population occurring in Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, and Nawalparasi districts.
Feeding: Sarus cranes forage in shallow water (usually with less than 30 cm or in fields, frequently probing in mud with their long bills. In the dry season (after breeding), sarus cranes in Anlung Pring Sarus Crane Conservation Area, Cambodia, used wetlands with 8–10 cm of water.They are omnivorous, eating insects, aquatic plants, fish perhaps only in captivity, frogs, crustaceans, and seeds.Occasionally tackling larger vertebrate prey such as water snakes,sarus cranes may in rare cases feed on the eggs of birds and turtles.
Conservation status: The sarus crane is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.Threats listed include habitat destruction and degradation, hunting and collecting, and environmental pollution, and possibly diseases or competing species. The effects of inbreeding in the Australian population, once thought to be a significant threat due to hybridization with brolgas producing hybrid birds called “sarolgas,” is now confirmed to be minimal, suggesting that it is not a major threat.
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