Shortest crane

The shortest species of crane is the demoiselle crane Grus virgo, a very delicate but beautiful, diminutive crane that stands up to 76 cm tall, weighs only 2–3 kg, and is characterized by the lengthy black plumes extending down from its neck contrasting sharply with its pair of long white facial plumes. Native to central Eurasia, but featuring prominently in the culture of India and Pakistan, it is a migratory species and inhabits a wide range of habitats, from deserts to a variety of different types of grassland. It earns its common name from France's Queen Marie Antoinette, who likened the first specimens brought to France to young maidens (demoiselles in French).

In northern India, this beautiful species is known as the koonj, and has attracted much interest and attention from the earliest of times. Indeed, back in those bygone ages Indian infantry formations were actually inspired by the flying formations adopted by these cranes during their migration flights, as documented in the ancient Indian epic poem known as the "Mahabharata".

Along with a related species in Africa, the demoiselle crane is sometimes split from true cranes and placed in a separate genus, Anthropoides.