What is the difference between a heron and a crane?
The main difference can be seen in structure and behavior. A heron (family Ardeidae, genus Ardea) has a colied neck and straight, dagger-like bills used to capture their prey quickly in one swoop. Other members of this famliy include egrets and bitterns. The most widespread and frequently seen heron is the Great Blue Heron. They usually migrate in small flocks but are most commonly seen singly at a stream or pond edge or fields and meadows foraging for food. They tend to eat fish or small mammals. At a length of 46 inches, it is also the largest of the heron family. The crane (family Rallidae, genus Grus) is close in size to the heron. They are large and tend to fly and search for food in flocks. The most famous of cranes, the whooping crane, is actually rather rare with only about 200 existing in the wild. Living in small family groups year round, they nest in freshwater marshes near tree lines and winter in saltmarshes. This is one of the tallest birds in the US with a height of 52 +
