Stork vs Crane

Stork vs Crane: A Complete Guide About The Two Avians (Plus Fun Facts)

A flock of cranes flying in the sky is truly a sight to behold! White bodies, black flight wings, neck elongated, feet stretched backwards! Wait. Another bird has the exact same characteristics and they are storks. So is the flight of birds flying past a cackle of cranes or storks? Stork vs crane–how do you tell them apart?

Well if you are facing a dilemma telling storks and cranes apart– join the flock. They do not only look similar, they like similar habitats and almost the same kinds of food. However subtle differences do set them apart. Like for one, the two birds belong to two different families. To know more differences, crane your neck and glide through a plethora of information.

Overview Of Stork

Overview of Stork

Source: @naturfotografie_schlauch

Storks are known for their snow-white plumage and long, thin legs, wading in waterlogged conditions looking for their favorite fish. These avians belong to a family of birds known as Ciconiidae, and are often compared to birds like cranes, ibises and herons who share similar characteristics like long beaks, legs and necks.

There are 20 species of storks flying and wading around in this world, with a few species breeding in the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia of the United States. Wood stork is a species that breeds in North America. They are mostly found in Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia. Ponds and pools surrounded by tall weeds are their favorite foraging and nesting grounds.

Overview Of Crane

Overview of Crane

Source: @s__birds

Gruidae is the family of birds that cranes belong to, and though a completely different group of avians, they surprisingly share several similar traits with their close neighbor storks. Long legs, long necks, and a pointed beak are some features that are prominent in these waders too. There are 15 species of cranes in total, and can be found almost everywhere except Antarctica.

Cranes have a voracious omnivorous appetite, choosing among mammals, fish and amphibians, and even insects, berries and grains on a daily basis. They lay 2 eggs per brood and this is a typical occurrence. They migrate long distances and are often found in flocks, except during the mating season. They have a white or gray body that may vary with location.

Similarities Between Stork And Crane

At a glance, cranes and storks do look similar. They are both large with similar colored plumage, wading about in similar looking habitats. Long. thin legs and necks are their unmistakable physical traits, that are noticeable at one look.

When they fly, the necks and legs of both the birds remain extended. They can fly at high altitudes for an extensive period of time. Both the avians have large wings that help them to flap around for longer intervals of time, looking for food and a nice shelter. Both storks and cranes are popular in their habitat for their loyalty– males prefer to stay whole life with the same mate.

Besides the above similarities, both the species are partially migratory. They either choose to live in one place all their life, or if they do migrate, they fly only short distances. Others are completely non-migratory. For example, white and oriental storks are migratory, whereas painted storks and Asian openbills are non-migratory. Wood storks and the greater adjutants may be partially migratory.

In the crane family, sandhill and whooping cranes, for instance, are migratory species. Black -crowned and gray-crowned cranes are sedentary, whereas white-naped cranes and hooded cranes are partially migratory.

Stork vs Crane: Physical Differences

Physical Differences

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To start, the two avians do not belong to the same family of birds. They are not of the same size, though from a distance they may look like they are. They do not even make the same sounds while calling. Keep reading to know more.

Taxonomy

Cranes basically have 3 genera– Antigone, Grus and Balearica, and as previously mentioned, leading 15 different species after them. These species can be broadly categorized into two types– the crowned cranes (Genus Balearica) and the typical cranes (Genus Antigone, Grus and Leucogeranus). The crowned cranes contain the black and the gray crowned cranes.

Stork birds are affectionately called by different titles varying with geographical location, like ‘jabiru’ or ‘marabou’, or even the ‘adjutants’.The word ‘marabou’, for instance, comes from the Arabic word ‘murabit’, meaning ‘holy man’, referring to the spiritual importance of the bird.

The Wood stork is the commonest stork found in North America with the scientific name Mycteria americana, and the White stork being the most commonly sighted in the entire world with the scientific name Ciconia ciconia.

Size: Height, Weight, Length, Wingspan

Crane birds are large and majestic looking, there is no doubt about it. They flaunt 3 feet to 6 feet long torso, and when they spread their wings, the spread measures up to 9 feet long which is astonishingly humongous. Crane birds stand 5 feet high above the ground, which is almost as high as an average-sized human adult. In weight, cranes are 12 kg— as heavy as 3 TV sets!

On the other hand, storks are 3 feet to 4 feet long, but have a wingspan slightly larger than a typical crane bird standing somewhere around 10 feet. Stork birds are, however, almost as tall as cranes, standing 5 feet above the ground. Storks weigh 8 kg, slightly less heavy than cranes, but should not be underestimated at any cost.

Feet

The feet of both the avians have subtle differences. Storks have red or dark-orange colored legs, and the feet are partially webbed. Some species of storks, like the yellow-billed storks, as an instance, have white legs however.

On the other hand, cranes have non-webbed feet. The toes are widely spaced, and the color of the legs is whitish-gray or black. Toes could radiate a rosy tone with a grayish hue.

Vocalization

Stork: Storks are not vocal at all, and basically grunt and rattle to express their feelings. This is because they are trachephone birds, whose syrinxes are thin-walled and as such they cannot make typical bird noises. Storks communicate using their perceptions, and body language or postures, since they are not vocal.

Baby storks communicate with their mothers by tapping their own bill against the mother’s. Adult storks communicate with each other in a similar way, by clicking their own bills and tapping against a companion’s bill.

When they beat their upper and lower beaks together, the throat pouch acts as a sound amplifier. They migrate in flocks and during this time a thunderous clattering of beaks could be audible.

Crane: On the contrary, cranes are extremely vocal, and not only that but they have specialized tones for special occasions. Some say they have a large vocabulary, and that is indeed true.

Cranes have bare patches of skin on their faces that they can contract and relax to make sounds to communicate with other birds. They also have a looped windpipe to vocalize unique bird sounds.

Young crane fledglings will purr and mew to attract their parent’s attention for food. Other sounds they make when they feel threatened or intend to fly in flocks resemble rattling bugle calls. These calls are extremely loud and can be heard from miles away. They also hiss, honk, and make snoring noises. When attacked by a predator, they lower their head and growl.

Bill Size And Color

Stork: Stork bills are longer and larger than those of cranes. The size of stork bills are estimated to be 14 to 19 cm long. These bills are thicker and quite stout. Different species of storks may have different bill shapes. The lesser adjutant, for example, has wedge-shaped bills, whereas its cousin, the greater adjutant, has a broadsword bill.

These variations are related to the diet– the pointier it is, the easier it gets for the species to tear carrion apart. Color variations are also visible with different species— white storks have red colored bills, whereas black-necked storks have black-colored bills.

Crane: Inversely, cranes, although larger birds, have smaller bills that have a pointed edge. The length of the bill is related to their diet and habitat, for example, the short-billed cranes are usually found in dry areas like in meadows or grasslands. Cranes have gray or black bills.

Long-billed cranes, on the other hand, are found more in wetlands. Not only do they hunt with their bills, they also communicate using it. When they pair up during mating season, they raise their bills high up into the air to express playfulness.

Flight

Previously, we have read that storks have larger wingspans than cranes, a little longer than 10 feet, and this is mainly because they fly long distances during migration. All storks fly with their legs and necks outstretched.

Storks have a carnivorous diet so they need to fly around, sometimes long distances, to prey on small mammals, another reason why they have large, strong wings. They fly in an arrow-head formation to achieve aerodynamic benefits. They also take advantage of uplift air currents to soar. They like soaring in circles, but the greater adjutant species find take-offs difficult.

Cranes are the tallest flying bird of North America and can fly at extremely high altitudes, like the whooping cranes, for example. These avians can flap, soar or glide to their destination. Since they are migratory birds, soaring and gliding is crucial for them. Cranes take advantage of thermals when they fly high or long distances.

Plumage Color

The sandhill cranes, which is a typical crane, have a slightly different coloration in their plumage than their other cousins. They flaunt dark brown flight wings as opposed to the black and white exterior of most of their brothers and sisters. The Grus americana or the whooping cranes are North American cranes that are, however, an endangered species.

Storks mostly have a white or gray coloration on most parts of their body, with black primary flight wings. Most storks have a black-and-white appearance, like white stork, saddle-billed stork, painted stork, and black-necked stork. However, the Black stork, Abdim’s stork, and Storm’s stork have grayish-blue plumage all over their bodies.

Crane vs Stork: Behavioral Differences

Behavioral Differences

Source: @dzika_fotografia, draksphotography

These two birds behave differently too. Did you know that storks eat only flesh of other animals, while cranes would settle for berries too? Well, more surprises are waiting! Keep reading.

Dietary Habit

Storks are carnivores, hands down. They do not go for nuts or berries ever. Their diet includes different sizes of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Cranes, on the other hand, are opportunistic eaters, and would eat anything for survival. They are omnivores and will eat mammals and reptiles and also berries, fruits, tubers and rhizomes.

Feeding And Hunting Tactics

Storks are often sketched and painted by artists as large birds wading across waterlogged conditions with their long legs, neck straight, leaning slightly forward, foraging for fish. When they hunt for insects, they stride through water with their head pointing downwards. However, when they are looking for mice, they like to carry out an ambush attack.

Cranes adopt ambush tactics too while catching their prey. As soon as they spot their prey, they stand still behind tall reed grass, and when the prey comes closer, they extend their neck and snatch the prey into their mouth and swallow it whole. They also have good eyesight and can spot prey from miles away. They peck on the ground with their bill to find insects.

Social Behavior

Storks like to flock around in thousands, and migrate long distances to spend their winters. They make use of thermals while flying so when they fly to Europe and Africa, they avoid the Mediterranean Sea because no thermals are generated there. Instead, they take the eastern or the western directions. They are usually social but Jabiru storks and Saddle-billed storks, for example, like solitary lifestyles more.

Cranes are amicable species too and prefer communal lifestyles. They practice a posture called ‘feather sleeking’ to warn other cranes of danger approaching. When cranes feel intimidated by an apparent threat, they run forward with wings flapping, jump into the air, and kick the opponent with their legs.

Nesting Habit

Storks: In the world of storks, males and females build nests together and even brood their chicks together. Nests are humongous with the following perimeters– 70 inches wide, around 100 inches tall, weighing about 60 to 250 kg.

Females lay 3 to 5 eggs at a time, and they are never left alone by their parents while growing up. Right after a couple of months, the babies can fledge. Their breeding season varies with species and geographical location.

Cranes: Cranes build their nests usually in small wetlands, with some short vegetation growing around it. Both the crane parents make the nest by tossing materials over their shoulders to create a mound after which females organize the mound into a nest. The nests are 24 to 60 inches in diameter, and 4 to 6 inches high.

One to five eggs may be laid and right after 10 days, the baby birds start independent foraging. They start flying between 7 and 10 weeks. Cranes breed between April and June.

Mating Ritual

Stork males reserve the best territories and then make loud, clattering noises with their bills to get female attention. The male will pace around the female, laying its head on her back, and will also preen her feathers.

Cranes literally dance to establish a mating courtship. The males and the females pace around each other in quick steps, with their wings half outspread, leaping into the air at regular intervals.They even bow and stretch sometimes. Both will then pick sticks and throw them in the air, and as the sticks fall, the storks will peck at them.

Habitat Preference

Storks prefer waterlogged areas and also dry areas like rocky surfaces or tree-tops. The water-laden areas they look for include wetlands, grasslands, swamps, ditches, marshes, riverbanks and meadows.

Cranes also like wet areas and they mainly roost on water surfaces. Among the many species of cranes, African crowned cranes and Gray-crowned cranes are the only ones that roost on treetops.

Beliefs Surrounding Storks and Cranes

According to a northern European legend, storks carry babies for new parents in white blankets or baskets. This legend has been popularized by Hans Christian Andersen and Aesop in their unforgettables stories and fables.

 

Beliefs Surrounding Storks

Source: @imkhalidsharif

Parents who want babies in Europe will even leave sweets on the window sills to impress storks. According to Greek mythology, storks do not die, instead their souls fly off to distant lands and turn into humans.

Cranes symbolize beauty and elegance. They are quite vocal and social, so they are often associated with harmony and peace. Sometimes cranes are referred to as ‘The King of Birds’ because they demonstrate an imposing posture.

Beliefs Surrounding Cranes

Source: @seejasadath

Cranes are termed as symbols of elegance because when they fly with their neck, legs and wings outstretched, they look like ballerinas dancing. In Japanese culture, individuals believe that folding a thousand origami cranes will grant them a wish.

Interesting Facts About Cranes and Storks

Not only do these two birds bear symbolic importance in cultures around the world, there is some more information about them that will blow your mind.

Stork

Stork nests are so large that sparrows and starlings nest there too!

Though storks are mostly sedentary, European white storks migrate 12000 miles!

Storks sometimes act like garbage men and eat rotting animals to keep areas clean!

Crane

Some cranes fly such long distances that they lose their lives to fatigue or hunger!

Male and female cranes regularly look up at the sky and give out calls together!

Cranes, as young as 11 weeks old, stretch their wings at particular angles and move their bodies to different postures, to signal to other cranes of potential enemy attack!

Differences Between Stork And Crane At-A-Glance

This at-a-glance information table should summarize the differences between the two birds and make the comparison easier for you.

Characteristics Stork Crane
Taxonomy Family Ciconiidae, 20 species Family Gruidae, 15 species
Size 3-4 ft long, 5 ft high, 8 kg 3-6 ft long, 5 ft high, 12 kg
Wingspan 10 ft 9 ft
Feet Orange-red, partially webbed Non-webbed, white or black
Vocalization Mute, makes noise with bills Rattle, purr, honk
Bill Long, large, red or black Smaller, pointed, gray / black
Plumage Black, white, gray, blue Black, white, brown
Diet Carnivores Omnivores
Hunting Stride, wade, ambush Ambush, peck
Nesting 70 in wide, 100 in high 24-60 in wide, 4-6 in high
Mating Ritual Make clattering noises Mating dance

Thoughts

Cranes and storks look quite similar indeed. Both the birds are black and white mostly, living in wetlands and water-logged conditions. They both migrate long distances and when they fly, they have their wings, necks and legs outstretched. Both the birds are quite large, having around 10 feet of wingspread. They are gigantic, modern-day pterodactyls! How do you tell them apart?

When you compare stork vs crane side-by-side, you notice that cranes are a bit longer and heavier. Cranes are surely more heavy, with a 12 kg weight, while storks are 8 kg in comparison. Notice their feet too, one has orange feet, the other has gray or black feet. Both their feet are not webbed either. They are certainly similar but different and unique in their own way.

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