Anthropoides
Encyclopedia
Anthropoides is a small genus
of cranes
. It contains just two species
:
Both species are between 85–100 cm long with wingspans up to 190 cm. They are bird
s of the dry, grassy uplands which feed on seeds and insect
s and spend little time in wetlands.
The Demoiselle Crane migrates
to Africa
in winter, and the Blue Crane is an altitudinal migrant, nesting in the upper grasslands and moving down to lower altitudes after breeding.
These tall birds are both mainly bluish grey in plumage
. The Blue Crane has a white crown, and the Demoiselle has black and white patterning on the head and neck. Both have dark flight feathers, but these are much blacker in the Blue Crane.
Like other cranes, the Anthropoides species give loud trumpeting calls
, and have energetic dancing displays.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of cranes
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
. It contains just two species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
:
- Blue CraneBlue CraneThe Blue Crane , also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm tall and weighs 4.0–6.2 kg...
, Anthropoides paradisea, resident in southern AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area... - Demoiselle CraneDemoiselle CraneThe Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo, is a species of crane that breeds in Central Asia and winters in India, with a few found in Cyprus and eastern Turkey as well. The crane annually migrates to Africa and South Asia in winter...
, Anthropoides virgo which breeds in central AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and eastern TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Both species are between 85–100 cm long with wingspans up to 190 cm. They are bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s of the dry, grassy uplands which feed on seeds and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and spend little time in wetlands.
The Demoiselle Crane migrates
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in winter, and the Blue Crane is an altitudinal migrant, nesting in the upper grasslands and moving down to lower altitudes after breeding.
These tall birds are both mainly bluish grey in plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
. The Blue Crane has a white crown, and the Demoiselle has black and white patterning on the head and neck. Both have dark flight feathers, but these are much blacker in the Blue Crane.
Like other cranes, the Anthropoides species give loud trumpeting calls
Bird song
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs are distinguished by function from calls.-Definition:The distinction between songs and calls is based upon...
, and have energetic dancing displays.