The Sarus crane is the world's tallest flying bird; a large male may stand six feet tall. There are three recognized subspecies of the sarus crane. The Indian sarus cranes live, as their name implies, predominately in Asia's subcontinent. In areas dominated by the Hindu religion,

About  Indian Crane:

The Sarus crane is the world's tallest flying bird; a large male may stand six feet tall. There are three recognized subspecies of the sarus crane. The Indian sarus cranes live, as their name implies, predominately in Asia's subcontinent. In areas dominated by the Hindu religion, the Indian sarus suffers little persecution. They have, as a result, lost much of their fear of humans and often nest in rice paddies where they are regarded as omens for good crops, especially in India.

Eastern sarus cranes were once abundant in Southeast Asia, but after decades of war they are missing from most of their former range. The few that remain nest in Cambodia in small wetlands surrounded by dry forest, but migrate to Viet Nam's lower Mekong Delta to winter at the Tram Chim National Reserve. There is a smaller non-migratory population, discovered by ICF staff in 1996, that lives in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta. The third subspecies is the Australian sarus crane.

Range: Sarus Cranes are found across wetlands in North and West India and have adapted to human habitation. They are protected by the beliefs of the local people who regard it as a symbol of marital fidelity. Other sub species of Sarus Cranes are found in South East Asia and Australia.

Estimated population. It is estimated that there are about 13,500 and 15,500 Sarus Cranes worldwide, though accurate numbers are uncertain. There are estimated to be 8,000-10,000 Sarus Cranes in India.

Physical characteristics: Sarus Cranes are the tallest flying birds with a height of 6 feet. When flying their wingspan extends to 8 feet. Sarus Cranes are elegant birds with light gray plumage except for the throat and head, which is bare and the skin here is red or orange in color, with a patch of gray feathers over the ear. Young Sarus Cranes have brown plumage, which changes to gray with age. Sarus Cranes have reddish legs and toes.

Habitat: Sarus Cranes prefer wetlands including marshes, ponds, agricultural land and fallow fields. Sarus Cranes in India have adapted to human presence and are often seen in close proximity to villages and settlements, feeding from village ponds and uncultivated fields.

Diet: Sarus Cranes feed on aquatic plants, frogs and other invertebrates and seeds and grain. Their mixed diet makes it possible for them to adapt to varying habitats and survive. They also forage in flooded paddy fields and eat various underground roots and tubers.

Behavior: Sarus Cranes mate for life and engage in a long and elaborate courtship. The dance of the Sarus is a beautiful sight with both birds calling out to each other, flapping their wings and rising up in the air in a series of graceful movements. Sarus cranes build nests made of grass and reeds on the ground, in which female birds usually lay 2 eggs.

Status: Sarus Cranes are threatened by the loss of the wetland areas in which they traditionally reside. Wetlands have been drained for agriculture and industrial development. Pollution of water due to pesticide use and effluent have led to further habitat destruction constricting the range of the Sarus Crane in India. In areas where traditional beliefs and tolerance of the Sarus Crane is practised, the Sarus Crane populations continue to live relatively undisturbed.