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GRAY CRANE
 BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GRAY CRANE
KINGDOM: ANIMALIA
PHYLUM: CHORDATA
SUBPHYLUM: VERTEBRATA
CLASS: BIRDS
ORDER: GRUIFORMES
FAMILY: GRUIDAE
GENUS: Grus
SPECIES: canadensis
IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIND THIS SPECIES IN THEIR REPRODUCTIVE STAGE AT NORTH ALASKA AND THE ARCTIC COST SOUTH CANADA, INSIDE THE GREAT LAKES ZONE, ALSO IN IDAHO, NEVADA AND OREGON. THE INVERNAL SITES OF THESE BIRDS ARE: CALIFORNIA, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, TEXAS, GEORGIA, FLORIDA AND NORTH MEXICO. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO WATCH THEM IN SIBERIA, ANDYRLAND, CHUKOTSKI PENINSULA AND WRANGEL ISLAND.
THE CRANES ARE BIG SIZE BIRDS WITH HIGH NECKS AND LEGS AND A HEAVY BODY. THEY REACH 1.2 m AND THEIR WING SPREAD IS OF 2 m. THEIR COLOR IS GRAY, WITH JUST A LITTLE RED SPOT IN THE HEAD. THE MALES AND FEMALES ARE SIMILAR IN ASPECT, ALTHOUGH THE MALES ARE BIGGER AND HEAVIER THAN FEMALES.
THERE EXIST FIVE SUBSPECIES OF THE CRANES:
Grus canadensis canadensis
Grus canadensis nesiotes
Grus canadensis pratensis
Grus canadensis pulla
Grus canadensis tábida
OF WHICH TWO SUBSPECIES (nesiotes and pulla) ARE PROTECTED AND APPEAR IN THE LIST OF CITES IN THE APPENDIX II.
THE MAJORITY OF THE SUBSPECIES OF THE CRANES NEST IN LOCATIONS WITH HIGH PASTURES. HAVING FRESH WATER NEAR BY. THEY PREFER TO BE FAR FROM HUMANS. ALTHOUGH DURING MIGRATION THESE BIRDS CONSTANTLY CAN BE FOUND IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS.
CRANES ARE PERMANENTLY MONOGAMISTS AND YEAR AFTER YEAR THEY REPRODUCE WITH THEIR SAME PARTNER, KEEPING THEMSELVES TOGETHER AND CHANTING AT THE SAME TIME AND REALISING A COURTSHIP.
IN MIGRATORY SPECIES THE FORMATION OF ITS NEST AND THE LAYING OF THE EGGS IS IN APRIL AND MAY. THEY BUILD THEIR NESTS FROM PLANTS.
THE FEMALE LAYS FROM 1 TO 3 EGGS BEING GENERALLY REDDISH BROWN. BOTH PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE INCUBATION OF THE EGGS THAT GENERALLY LASTS 30 DAYS.
THE CHICKS ARE FED CONSTANTLY BY THEIR PARENTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND BECOME INDEPENDENT AT THEIR 10 MONTHS OLD. CHICKS ARE WITH THEIR PARENTS UNTIL THEY BUILD ANOTHER NEST AND SPREADS ARE FORMED BY NOMAD AND SEXUALLY IMMATURE CHICKS.
THE OLDEST CRANE EVER REGISTERED WAS 26.6 YEARS OLD.
THEY GENERALLY EMIGRATE IN THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER TO CALIFORNIA, NEW MEXICO, GEORGIA, FLORIDA, TEXAS AND NORTH MEXICO. RETURNING TO THEIR REPRODUCTION SITES BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
THESE BIRDS ARE OMNIVOROUS, THEY FEED FROM INSECTS, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, SMALL MAMMALS, SOME SEA PLANTS, CRUSTACEANS, AS WELL AS SEEDS FROM COMERCIAL CULTIVES PREFERRING SORGHUM.
THESE BIRDS ARE CONSUMED BY COYOTES, BOBCATS, FOX, CROWS, EAGLES AND HAWKS, WOLVES, RACCOONS AND OWLS.
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COMMON NAME: GRAY CRANE
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Grus canadensis
TYPE OF GAIN: Cinegetico
TYPE OF MARKING: Hunting License
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CHRONOLOGY OF THE GRAY CRANE
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ACTIVITY
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J
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F
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M
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A
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M
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J
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J
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A
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S
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O
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N
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D
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COURTSHIP
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X
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REPRODUCTION
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X
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X
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ECLOSION
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X
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X
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MIGRATION
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X
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X
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