Sarus Crane

The Sarus Crane is a large species of crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia. This is a non-migratory species of crane and the tallest species of flying bird in the world.

Sarus Cranes have a mostly grey plumage, with a bare red head and upper neck. This skin becomes a brighter shade of red during breeding season, which coincides with the rainy season throughout its range.

The Sarus Crane is revered in India, where it is seen as a symbol of marital fidelity because of their tendency to form long-term pair-bonds (or even mate for life). The name Sarus comes from the Hindi name for the species, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit word for "lake bird".