Order Gruiformes / Cranes & Rails

According to the taxonomy, there are five families in the bird order Gruiformes:

• Aramidae (Limpkins).
• Gruidae (Cranes).
• Heliornithidae (Finfoots).
• Psophiidae (Trumpeters).
• Rallidae (Coots, Rails, & more).

Based on the current classification, there are roughly about 165 species and 269 sub-species in this bird order.

Here are some general features of Gruiformes:

• Many birds in the order have plumage in subdued colors – grey, white, or brown;
• Many Gruiformes have long, slender bills;
• Gruiformes have long wings rounded at the edges;
• Most species in the order have long and strong legs;
• Many Gruiformes species are known for special mating rituals;
• Gruiformes birds are found on all continents except in Antarctica.
• The bird Kagu in this bird order lives exclusively on the island of New Caledonia near Australia in the Pacific Ocean.
• Cranes can be found on all continents except Antarctica and South America. Interestingly, Rails, gallinules, and coots can be found worldwide.
• According to IUCN, the birds in this order are of least concern (LC).

Here is a sample of Gruiformes species variety:

• Sandbill crane;
• Australian crane;
• Demoiselle crane;
• Courlan, or limpkin;
• Corncrake, or land rail;
• Water rail;
• Inaccessible Island rail;
• American finfoot;
• Mud hen;
• European coot.