Order Gruiformes | Cranes, Rails & Sungrebes Characteristics

Gruiformes order contains a wide variety of birds, both in size and other features. Most notable species of Gruiformes are cranes and quails, but there also other less known species.

Table of Contents

How to pronounce Gruiformes?
Gruiformes Families
Characteristics of Gruiformes
Gruiformes Habitats
Gruiformes Diet
Gruiformes Birds

How to pronounce Gruiformes?

Gruiformes Families

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.

Characteristics of Gruiformes

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).

Gruiformes Habitats

In terms of habitats, Gruiformes live in diverse locations:

Gruiformes Birds	Habitats
Sungrebes, Rails	Aquatic regions (marshes, swamps, lakes, and streams)
Sunbitterns	Rainforests and swamps
Cranes	Freshwater and marine wetlands
Trumpeters	Tropical Rainforests
Kagus	Forest-lands
Mesites	Rainforest, deciduous forest, and dry scrubland
Bustards	Brush, scrub habitats and open grassland.

Gruiformes Diet

In general, Gruiformes birds eat a wide variety of plant and animal matter.

Gruiformes Birds	Diet
Sungrebes	Small insects, aquatic animals, seeds, and leaves.
Sunbitterns	Insects, small fish, and crustaceans.
Limpkin	Apple snails, insects, and seeds.
Cranes	Seeds, fish, and other animal matter.
Trumpeters	Fruits, berries, seeds,
Kagu	Insects, worms, small frogs and mollusks
Mesites	Fruits, seeds, small insects
Bustards	Seeds, insects, and other small animals.