Order Gruiformes (CRANES, RAILS, LIMPKIN
Gruiformes is an Order of birds, containing several families which generally include those of the Limpkin, Rails and Cranes.
Click on the thumbnails to see more of each species.
Family Aramidae (LIMPKIN)
Today’s Limpkin is the only living member of the family Aradidae, though there are fossil species. It is sort of intermediate between Cranes and Rails.
Family Rallidae (RAILS)
Rails are a diverse group of ground-dwelling birds. Beaks may very a lot, from short and thick to long and slender. Wings are short and rounded, making them weak fliers, easily blown off course when migrating, and thus often vagrants. This has led to them colonizing many islands without predators and subsequently becoming flightless, advantageous in not being blown off.
Family Gruidae (CRANES)
The 15 living species of cranes fly with necks outstretched, making then easy to tell from members of the heron family which pull their neck back. They include the tallest flying birds. Most species have been highly negatively affected by humans and are threatened or endangered, some critically so. Of the 2 species in the USA and North America, the Sandhill Crane is still abundant and is hunted in some states. The Whooping Crane however was once down to only 21 wild and 2 captive individuals due to unregulated hunting. Legislation protecting them and captive breeding have been very successful and now over 800 exist. After thousands of dollars have been spent to increase the species, several have still been shot by irresponsible or ignorant people.
