Birds
Common Crane
Grus grus · Cocor
A tall grey bird whose trumpeting calls announce flocks passing through on migration.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Migratory
- Habitat
- Wetland / Meadow
- Activity
- Morning · Daytime
- Diet
- Seeds, grain, plants and small animals.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Moderate
Identification
Tall, grey, with a black-and-white head and neck, red crown patch and bushy 'tail' of wing feathers.
Habitat
Open farmland and wetlands used for resting during migration.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Morning · Daytime
Diet
Seeds, grain, plants and small animals.
Behaviour
Travels in large V-shaped flocks with loud bugling calls.
Seasonality in Romania
- JanUnknown
- FebUnknown
- MarPresentMigration*
- AprPresentMigration*
- MayUnknown
- JunUnknown
- JulUnknown
- AugUnknown
- SepUnknown
- OctPresentMigration*
- NovPresentMigration*
- DecUnknown
Existing monthly estimates are retained for reference, but have not yet been verified against a Romanian source and are excluded from seasonal filters. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
How to find it
Large fields and wetlands in the east during spring and autumn migration.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Ethics
- Flocks are wary; stay in a vehicle or hide and do not flush them.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.