Cranes at Ueno Zoo, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Japanese crane with chicks.

A pair of stunningly beautiful crowned cranes from South Africa.

A common crane (Grus grus) spreads its wings. These types of cranes spend their breeding season in northern Eurasia and then move south, sometimes even as far as sub-Saharan Africa, to spend the winter.

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) walking in a grassy field in Kissimmee, Florida, USA. These types of cranes are among the most common and populous crane species.

A pair of Eastern red-crowned cranes (Grus antigone) at Huay Jorrakaemak Reservoir No-Hunting Area, Thailand. These cranes are the highest flying birds in the world.

Black-crowned crane (Balearica pavonina) on one leg looking for insects. This type of crane is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.

A Demoiselle crane stands among yellow and white daisies. This type of crane is endemic to Eurasian wetlands, streams and lakes.

Brolga (Antigone rubicunda), formerly known as native companion, is a bird in the crane family. This type of crane has been named Australian crane.

They are the least social of crane species but still form lifelong pair bonds, gathering in small family groups and joining large flocks outside the breeding season.

Crane flies have legs twice as long as their bodies

Common crane, Grus grus, at Lake Hornborga, Sweden. Cranes fly so high that they even fly over the Himalayas.