The common crane (Grus grus) is a majestic long legged bird with a thin neck. It can reach 1.2 metres in height and has an open wingspan of over 2 metres. Its beak is long and it uses it to dig in the soil in search of seeds, acorns and insects.

They are migratory birds, which means that their presence in large numbers in the Gallocanta lagoon depends on the time of year.

Generally speaking, the mass arrival of birds takes place in autumn from mid October to early November, when cranes arrive from the countries of northern Europe en route to warmer lands.

The same event, but this time in the opposite direction, takes place from mid February to mid March, when the cranes flock to the Lagoon (in the early afternoon) before continuing their journey north (they depart from mid morning until midday).

During the month of December and right up to mid February (winter season), the crane population remains constant, given that the lagoon harbours the largest crane population on the Iberian Peninsula during the winter.

This species shows quite routine behaviour patterns.

The cranes rest in the roosts, located in the lowest waters of the lagoon, and then fly off in the early morning in search of food throughout the entire cultivated basin surrounding the lagoon.

Its diet is based on seeds of all kinds (barley, wheat, sunflower, corn...) -depending on the time of year- and, above all on stubble, which is more readily available. When they are feeding there are always some cranes with their necks stretched out and their heads up high scanning the horizon in search of intruders, because they have the custom of feeding and keeping a look out at the same time.

The drinking grounds (small dams, navajos and points where sweet water enters into the lagoon) are used periodically by the cranes. Resting and grooming are activities which take up the middle hours of the day and they occupy the fields near the lagoon for this purpose. In the afternoon the cranes fly off again to their feeding grounds and then return to the roosts in the lagoon with the last rays of sunlight, creating a spectacle of singular beauty.