AnimalsThe sarus crane is the tallest flying bird in the world. It is grey with a bare red head and upper neck. Pairs stay together for life and perform leaping, trumpeting dances. It is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Antigone antigone
- Group
- Birds
- Diet
- Omnivore (eats plants and animals)
- Lives in
- India, South-East Asia and Australia
- Habitat
- Wetlands, marshes and paddy fields
- A young one is called
- chick or colt
- A group is called
- herd or sedge
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Gruidae
- Genus Grus
- Species Antigone antigone
Scientists do not always agree on names. The GBIF list files this animal under the name Grus antigone.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The sarus crane is listed as Vulnerable. The species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.