Anthropoides virgo
demoiselle crane

There are six main locations of populations of Anthropoides virgo. A stable/declining population of 70 to 100,000 individuals is located in eastern Asia. In central Asia, there is a stable and increasing population of 100,000 individuals. Kalmykia is the third eastern population, which consists of 30 to 35,000 individuals, and this count is presently stable. Northern Africa holds a declining population of fifty individuals on the Atlas Plateau. The population of about 500 individuals near the Black Sea is declining, and in Turkey, there exists a small breeding population of less than 100 individuals. Demoiselle cranes are a cosmopolitan species found within the wide range of the Ethiopian, Palearctic, and Oriental regions. As demoiselles are migratory birds, their winter habitats include those of Northeastern Africa, Pakistan, and India. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

Found primarily in open spaces with a wide range of visibility, A. virgo lives in upland areas, unlike most other cranes which can be found in wetland habitat. Space and solitude are important for the maintenance of demoiselle cranes, therefore their habitats vary from semi-arid savannas, grasslands, and steppes, to high plateaus. They can also inhabit semi-deserts to true deserts as long as water is available within 200 to 500 meters. Ranging in habitat from sea level to 3,000 meters, they are usually found no farther than a few hundred meters away from rivers, for they need the source of water to survive. After migration, the wintering habitats of A. virgo include acacia savannas, grasslands, and riparian areas. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; International Crane Foundation, 1999; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

Generally, cranes are large birds, ranging from a length of 90 cm to 150 cm. Anthropoides virgo is known to be the smallest crane, with an average adult length of 90 cm. Cranes are recognized for their long necks and legs, their streamlined bodies, and long rounded wings. Demoiselle cranes can be distinguished by specific physical features and other unique characteristics. Most cranes have bare, red skin patches on their heads, however, demoiselles have a completely feathered head with a white line that extends from the corner of their red eye, to the back of their head. During display, they can elongate these feathers on the sides of their head. With feathery gray areas ranging from the crown to the nape, the bird has a dark underside, with black legs and toes. The main distinguishing features of A. virgo are their short toes and bills. Adapting to run in the grassland habitat, the toes have evolved to be shorter, as the shorter bills can forge for food more efficiently in upland areas. The length and positioning of the trachea can also distinguish a demoiselle crane from other cranes; Demoiselles have a trachea that makes a slight indentation on the sternum.

After hatching, demoiselle chicks are silver gray, and as they develop into a juvenile demoiselle, they become predominately grey at the time of fledging. This color assists in camouflaging the bird. Once developing into an adult, they appear as previously described above. An important fact about A. virgo is that the male and female are monomorphic - identical in their external features; however, the males are usually larger. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

In captivity, the longevity of demoiselle cranes is at least twenty-seven years, though records do exist of particular cranes living a life of more than sixty-seven years! The lifespan of A. virgo in the wild is unknown presently. The marking of individuals for identification has been initiated only recently. Because life is more hazardous in the wild, the longevity of a demoiselle crane is predicted to be shorter than one living in captivity. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996)

Anthropoides virgo is both social and solitary in behavior. Besides the fundamental activities of sleeping, walking, eating etc., these birds are solitary when performing the activities of preening, bathing shaking, stretching, scratching, ruffling, and feather painting. However, in response to other cranes and other external stimuli, demoiselles are very social. Forming bonds and mating with one other individual for life, and forming flocks for migration and socialization are key factors of their social behavior. Elaborate dancing and a plethora of vocalizations are extensive forms of communication among these social birds, which is further described under the communication portion of this species account.

Diurnal in their habits, throughout the day demoiselle cranes forage, preen, nest, and attend to their young during the breeding season. During the non-breeding season, these birds socialize within flocks. At night, roosting provides security, as they rest on one leg with their head and neck tucked under/on a shoulder.

Demoiselles are migratory birds, and will fly at high altitudes, and travel long distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. Between August and September, A. virgo will collect into flocks of up to 400 individuals and will migrate to their winter ranges. As they fly, their head and neck are extended straight forward as the feet and legs are lengthened directly behind. They generally prefer to migrate at low altitudes, but altitudes of 16,000 to 26,000 feet are reached by some demoiselles that migrate through the Himalayan Mountain passes to their wintering grounds in India. These cranes can be found flocking with Eurasian cranes in their wintering grounds; although, they do maintain separate social groups within these larger flocks. During the months of March and April, A. virgo flies north again to their nesting grounds. The flocks during this returning migration only ranges from four to ten birds. Moreover, throughout the breeding season, these cranes feed in the company of up to seven cranes. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996; International Crane Foundation, 1999; Johnsgard, 1983; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

Home Range

Home ranges vary from 100 to 1000 kilometers throughout Palearctic, Oriental, and Ethiopian regions. (Meine and Archibald, 1996)

Anthropoides virgo has elaborate methods of communication vocally, and visually. The voice of demoiselles is low and raspy, and has an extensive repertoire for communication that develops at an early age. There are several vocalizations that these cranes will make, including: contact calls, stress calls, food begging calls, guard calls, location calls, precopulatory calls, flight-intention calls, alarm calls, and the well known duet of the unison call. All of these vocalizations are crucial for the initiation, development and maintenance of a pair and for the social interaction and survival of the individual bird.

Visual communication is equally important. As mentioned earlier, the spectacular dancing of demoiselle cranes, is very contagious among flocks, and can be a displacement activity when nervous, or the performance of a courtship dance (See "Reproduction"). Other forms of expression include: threat postures, hissing, tail fluttering, feather ruffling, crouching, rigid strutting, ritualized preening of the back of the thigh, flapping, stamping, and growling. Appearing genetically determined, these displays are not learned socially from the instruction of the parents or other cranes. However, the object at which the display is oriented around is learned, and if a young demoiselle is more habituated to humans or other species, these displays will be directed more towards them. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996; Johnsgard, 1983; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

Foraging during the morning and the early afternoon, A. virgo are generalists and opportunists with respect to their diet and foraging behavior. With more efficient shorter bills and toes for feeding in dry uplands, croplands, and pastures, these birds hunt with their heads lowered to peck at the ground. Furthermore, demoiselle cranes are omnivores, consuming a wide variety of plant materials year round, and supplementing their diet with other animals. More specifically, demoiselles can be considered: carnivores, insectivores, molluscivores, folivores, frugivores, granivores. Precisely, their diet includes: seeds, leaves, acorns, nuts, berries, fruits, waste grains, small mammals, birds, insects, worms, snails, grasshoppers, beetles, snakes, lizards, and rodents. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996)

Little is known about the predators of this species. Little information is available regarding the predators of demoiselles other than those species that threaten the breeding territory of these cranes. Anthropoides virgo are fierce protectors of their nests, and will attack eagles (Aquila), and bustards (Otis tarda), and will give chase to foxes and dogs. Man can also be considered a predator, for even though hunting of this species is illegal, in areas with lacking resources, exceptions are made. Information on anti-predator adaptation, behavior, and structure, is sparse also. As mentioned previously, demoiselle cranes have numerous communication behaviors that assist in protecting them from predators, such as various threat postures, vocalizations, visualizations, the modification of the bill and toes for more efficient feeding and running, and the silver-gray coloration of the juvenile crane for camouflage, as well as their eggs that are yellow-green with lavender spots. ("Animal Fact Sheets", 2000; Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996; Johnsgard, 1983; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

As generalist omnivores and potential prey items, A. virgo interacts with many other species. Additionally, demoiselle cranes are hosts to parasites of various nematodes such as the Gapeworm, Capillarids, and Ascarids, which are all intestinal parasites. Coccidiosis is another parasite in chicks that infests the gut and visceral parts of the bird such as the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. (Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996)

The only known adverse affect of A. virgo is that they will use cultivated lands because of the growing pressures on their natural habitat. Sometimes these cranes will cause conflict with farmers. Since the breeding grounds in the Eurasian Steppes are extremely appealing for agricultural development, demoiselle cranes have learned to successfully reproduce in agricultural fields. However, these birds can cause significant crop damage, inflicting serious damage to ripened millet and other crops in result of having to live in these fields. Two of the leading controversies that affect the population of this species are the poisoning and shooting of these birds, mainly by the adversely affected farmers. (Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

The human relationship with A. virgo varies. Africans will raise demoiselle chicks as pets, these cranes are popular in the zoos of Europe and the Orient, and they are also hunted or trapped during migration for food, or for pets. The economic importance of demoiselle cranes is limited mostly to the food and pet trade. (Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996; Johnsgard, 1983; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

There are a variety of threats that affect the population of A. virgo, including:

Habitat Loss and Degradation:

• Conversion of grasslands
• Changes in agricultural land use
• Dams and water diversion
• Urban expansion and land development
• Afforestation
• Changes in vegetation
• Pollution and Environmental contamination
• Oil development
• Collision with utility lines

Direct Exploitation:

• Overhunting
• Poaching
• Live trapping for domestication and commercial trade
• Poisoning

The future of demoiselle cranes is more stable and secure than other cranes species. Measures are being taken however to diminish the threats listed above. Conservation measures that have been successful thus far in benefiting A. virgo include increased:

• Protection
• Establishment of protected areas
• Local surveys and studies of migration routes
• Development of monitoring programs
• Availability of Information exchange

The development of a public education programs in the breeding and migration ranges of demoiselle cranes, and the development of more specialized education programs involving hunters in Afghanistan and Pakistan are currently underway. These programs will assure more public awareness of this species, and will hopefully and eventually derive more support in the conservation of A. virgo.

The Cranes: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan has looked at the conservation status of individuals in the six regional populations where demoiselle cranes are located. Their estimate is as follows:

• The Atlas population:

  Critically endangered

• The Black Sea population:

  Endangered

• The Turkey population:

  Critically endangered

• The Kalmykia population:

  Lower Risk

• The Kazakhstan/Central Asia population:

  Lower Risk

• The Eastern Asia population:

  Vulnerable

(Ellis, Gee, and Mirande, 1996; International Crane Foundation, 1999; Johnsgard, 1983; Meine and Archibald, 1996)

Cranes in general have always inspired expression through art, mythology, legend, and artifacts - continually evoking strong emotional responses. They have also had a predominant place in religion, and have appeared in pictographs, petroglyphs, and ceramics. In ancient Egyption tombs, demoiselle cranes have a strong appearance in the ancient art.

Cranes as a whole have various significance in various cultures, including: watchfulness, steadiness, mutual aid, longevity, happiness, maternal bliss, and good luck. (Meine and Archibald, 1996)