The sarus crane (Antigone antigone) is a large non-migratory crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 metres, they are conspicuous and iconic species of open wetlands.
The sarus crane is easily distinguished from other cranes in the region
by the overall grey colour and the contrasting red head and upper neck.
They forage on marshes and shallow wetlands for roots, tubers, insects, crustaceans and small vertebrates. Like other cranes, they form long-lasting pair-bonds and maintain territories within which they perform territorial and courtship displays that include loud trumpeting, leaps and dance-like movements. In India they are revered and considered symbols of marital fidelity,
believed to mate for life and pine the loss of their mates even to the
point of starving to death.
The main breeding season is during the monsoons, when the pair builds an enormous nest "island", a circular platform of reeds and grasses
nearly two metres in diameter and high enough to stay above the shallow
water surrounding it.
-Wikipedia
graceful beauties!
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