The demoiselle crane (Grus virgo) is a species of crane found in central Eurosiberia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and Northeast China. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. These cranes are migratory birds. Birds from western Eurasia will spend the winter in Africa while the birds from Asia, Mongolia and China will spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent. The bird is symbolically significant in the culture of India, where it is known as Koonj or Kurjaa.[3]
The demoiselle is 85–100 cm (33.5–39.5 in) long, 76 cm (30 in) tall and has a 155–180 cm (61–71 in) wingspan. It weighs 2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lb). It is the smallest species of crane.[4][5] The demoiselle crane is slightly smaller than the common crane but has similar plumage. It has a long white neck stripe and the black on the foreneck extends down over the chest in a plume.
It has a loud trumpeting call, higher-pitched than the common crane. Like other cranes it has a dancing display, more balletic than the common crane, with less leaping.
The demoiselle was so named by Queen Marie Antoinette, for its delicate and maiden-like appearance.[6]
In cultureedit
Demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) in Jodhpur Bishnoi's Village, Rajasthan, IndiaChick with parent at Hellabrunn Zoo
The demoiselle crane is known as the koonj/kurjan in the languages of North India, and figure prominently in the literature, poetry and idiom of the region. Beautiful women are often compared to the koonj because its long and thin shape is considered graceful. Metaphorical references are also often made to the koonj for people who have ventured far from home or undertaken hazardous journeys.[7]
Demoiselle cranes at Khichan, Rajasthan India
The name koonj is derived from the Sanskrit word kraunch, which is a cognateIndo-European term for crane itself.[3] In the ancient story of Valmiki, the composer of the Hindu epic Ramayana, it is claimed that his first verse was inspired by the sight of a hunter kill the male of a pair of demoiselle[citation needed] cranes that were courting. Observing the lovelorn female circling and crying in grief, he cursed the hunter in verse. Since tradition held that all poetry prior to this moment had been revealed rather than created by man, this verse concerning the demoiselle cranes is regarded as the first human-composed meter.[8][dubious – discuss]
The flying formation of the koonj during migrations also inspired infantry formations in ancient India. The Mahabharata epic describes both warring sides adopting the koonj formation on the second day of the Kurukshetra War.[9]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2018). "Anthropoides virgo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22692081A131927771. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22692081A131927771.en. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^ abR. K. Gaur (1994), Indian birds, Brijbasi Printers, 1994, ISBN9788171070312, ... The smallest member of the crane family, the demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo ) is a distinctive looking bird, with ashy grey ... The local name for this crane — koonj — is onomatopoeic, deriving from the Sanskrit 'kraunch', the origin of the word crane itself ...
^Ali, S. (1993). The Book of Indian Birds. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society. ISBN978-0-19-563731-1.
^"Demoiselle Crane | International Crane Foundation". www.savingcranes.org. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
^Department of English, University of Delhi (September 2005). The Individual and Society. Pearson Education India, 2005. ISBN978-81-317-0417-2. ... kunj: more properly koonj is a demoiselle crane. The word is used metaphorically for a young bride far from her home ...
^Dinkar Joshi; Yogesh Patel (2005). Glimpses of Indian Culture. Star Publications, 2005. ISBN978-81-7650-190-3. ... Valmiki saw a pair of kraunch (cranes) birds making love. Suddenly, a hunter killed the male kraunch with an arrow. Valmiki was moved by the cries of the female ... Valmiki's pain was expressed through a shloka ... The first man-composed meter ...
^Ramesh Menon (20 July 2006). The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering. iUniverse, 2006. ISBN978-0-595-40188-8. ... The second day: Two kraunchas ... Yudhishtira decides to form his legions in the vyuha called the krauncha, after the crane ...
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthropoides virgo.
eBird Species Factsheet
Demoiselle crane at Animal Diversity Web
Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo) from Cranes of the World (1983) by Paul Johnsgard
demoiselle, crane, demoiselle, crane, grus, virgo, species, crane, found, central, eurosiberia, ranging, from, black, mongolia, northeast, china, there, also, small, breeding, population, turkey, these, cranes, migratory, birds, birds, from, western, eurasia, . The demoiselle crane Grus virgo is a species of crane found in central Eurosiberia ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and Northeast China There is also a small breeding population in Turkey These cranes are migratory birds Birds from western Eurasia will spend the winter in Africa while the birds from Asia Mongolia and China will spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent The bird is symbolically significant in the culture of India where it is known as Koonj or Kurjaa 3 Demoiselle crane Flock at Tal Chhapar Sanctuary Churu Rajasthan source source Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Gruiformes Family Gruidae Genus Grus Species G virgo Binomial name Grus virgo Linnaeus 1758 originally Ardea Range of G virgo Breeding Passage Non breeding Synonyms Anthropoides virgo Linnaeus 1758 Ardea virgo Linnaeus 1758 Grus ornata Brehm CL 1855 Contents 1 Description 2 In culture 3 References 4 External linksDescription edit nbsp Portrait The demoiselle is 85 100 cm 33 5 39 5 in long 76 cm 30 in tall and has a 155 180 cm 61 71 in wingspan It weighs 2 3 kg 4 4 6 6 lb It is the smallest species of crane 4 5 The demoiselle crane is slightly smaller than the common crane but has similar plumage It has a long white neck stripe and the black on the foreneck extends down over the chest in a plume It has a loud trumpeting call higher pitched than the common crane Like other cranes it has a dancing display more balletic than the common crane with less leaping The demoiselle was so named by Queen Marie Antoinette for its delicate and maiden like appearance 6 In culture edit nbsp Demoiselle cranes Grus virgo in Jodhpur Bishnoi s Village Rajasthan India nbsp Chick with parent at Hellabrunn Zoo The demoiselle crane is known as the koonj kurjan in the languages of North India and figure prominently in the literature poetry and idiom of the region Beautiful women are often compared to the koonj because its long and thin shape is considered graceful Metaphorical references are also often made to the koonj for people who have ventured far from home or undertaken hazardous journeys 7 nbsp Demoiselle cranes at Khichan Rajasthan India The name koonj is derived from the Sanskrit word kraunch which is a cognate Indo European term for crane itself 3 In the ancient story of Valmiki the composer of the Hindu epic Ramayana it is claimed that his first verse was inspired by the sight of a hunter kill the male of a pair of demoiselle citation needed cranes that were courting Observing the lovelorn female circling and crying in grief he cursed the hunter in verse Since tradition held that all poetry prior to this moment had been revealed rather than created by man this verse concerning the demoiselle cranes is regarded as the first human composed meter 8 dubious discuss The flying formation of the koonj during migrations also inspired infantry formations in ancient India The Mahabharata epic describes both warring sides adopting the koonj formation on the second day of the Kurukshetra War 9 References edit BirdLife International 2018 Anthropoides virgo IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22692081A131927771 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22692081A131927771 en Retrieved 14 February 2022 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b R K Gaur 1994 Indian birds Brijbasi Printers 1994 ISBN 9788171070312 The smallest member of the crane family the demoiselle crane Anthropoides virgo is a distinctive looking bird with ashy grey The local name for this crane koonj is onomatopoeic deriving from the Sanskrit kraunch the origin of the word crane itself Demoiselle Crane Int Crane Foundation Ali S 1993 The Book of Indian Birds Bombay Bombay Natural History Society ISBN 978 0 19 563731 1 Demoiselle Crane International Crane Foundation www savingcranes org Retrieved 2018 10 22 Department of English University of Delhi September 2005 The Individual and Society Pearson Education India 2005 ISBN 978 81 317 0417 2 kunj more properly koonj is a demoiselle crane The word is used metaphorically for a young bride far from her home Dinkar Joshi Yogesh Patel 2005 Glimpses of Indian Culture Star Publications 2005 ISBN 978 81 7650 190 3 Valmiki saw a pair of kraunch cranes birds making love Suddenly a hunter killed the male kraunch with an arrow Valmiki was moved by the cries of the female Valmiki s pain was expressed through a shloka The first man composed meter Ramesh Menon 20 July 2006 The Mahabharata A Modern Rendering iUniverse 2006 ISBN 978 0 595 40188 8 The second day Two kraunchas Yudhishtira decides to form his legions in the vyuha called the krauncha after the crane External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthropoides virgo eBird Species Factsheet Demoiselle crane at Animal Diversity Web Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo from Cranes of the World 1983 by Paul Johnsgard Portal nbsp Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Demoiselle crane amp oldid 1221690607, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
