Common Crane (Grus grus) is a native of northern Eurasia including Siberia that migrates south to Africa and the Orient. In the European area this is found in Sweden and Finland and east across the northern Palearctic. This crane previously was found in all of Europe. However, the elimination of swamps has reduced its breeding range. This crane is dull white with a dark forehead and front neck. This crane is also found in the winter in northern India. Mark Brazil, in his book on the Birds of Japan, notes that this species is an accidental and irregular visitor to Japan during the winter.

This 44 to 48 inch brown backed bird has a black head and a neck streaked with a long white eye patch.

In Birds of Britain and Europe, Karel Stastny states that this species was once common in Europe but now is only found in selected locations in Scandinavia and northern Eurasia to eastern Siberia. In Guide to Birds of Nepal by Inskipp it is noted that this species migrates over Nepal, but rarely stops there.

Some authors do not recognize any subspecies. Other note as follows:
There are two subspecies. The nominate subspecies named by Linnaeus in 1758 is found in Europe as far east as the Urals and migrates to southern Europe and northern Africa. The subspecies lilfordi is found from Turkey east to central Asia and migrating to northeastern Africa, southern Asia, and south eastern China.

It is not considered endangered.

The crane genus (Grus) contains some of the largest and most spectacular birds in the world. There are about 10 species depending upon the method of classification. One recent text shows 13 species. Many of the species are rare and in danger of extinction. Breeding programs are helping maintain several species.

Cranes (Family Gruidae) are a group of very large beautiful birds found in both the Old and New World. Perhaps the most celebrated conservation effort ever attempted has been to preserve the Whooping Crane of the United States and Canada. All of the species in this family are listed below and total fifteen species. About half are seriously threatened or vulnerable and are indicated by a "^".

Anthropoides paradisea - Stanley Crane - Africa
Anthropoides virgo - Demoiselle Crane - Palearctic

Balearica pagonia - Crowned Crane - Africa
Balearica regulorum - S. Africa Crowned - Africa

Bugeranus carunculatus - Wattled Crane^ - Africa

Grus americana - Whooping Crane^ - North America
Grus antigone - Sarus Crane - Orient
Grus canadensis - Sandhill Crane - Northern Hemisphere
Grus grus - Common Crane - Eurasia
Grus japonicus - Manchurian Crane^ - Orient, India, Eurasia
Grus leucogeranus - Great White Crane^ - Eastern Palearctic
Grus monacha - Hooded Crane^ - Eurasia and Orient
Grus nigricollis - Black Necked Crane^ - Orient to India
Grus rubicunda - Brolga - Australia
Grus vipio - Japan White Nape^ - East Palearctic

Cranes and Rails (Order Gruiformes) are a worldwide group of 199 species, some of which have recently become extinct. They are medium to large in size and usually associated with water. Several species have long legs and/or long necks.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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