- Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe
- Class: Birds
- Order: Gruiformes
- Family: Gruidés
There are 14 species of cranes, of which the Demoiselle, also known as the Numidian Demoiselle, is the smallest.
In late autumn and winter, it leaves its breeding grounds in Central Asia and the far east of Europe. It migrates towards Southern Asia and India. It flies with its neck and legs outstretched. Its flight is slow and powerful: a few flaps followed by a short glide. During migratory flights, they gather in large V-shaped groups. The group is then led by an individual who, once tired, takes a place at the back, with permutations being fairly frequent.
They are very sociable outside the breeding season. It reaches sexual maturity late, not reproducing until it is 3 or even 4 years old.
IUCN Status : least concern (Appendix III)