17 July 2025
On my last visit to Finland eight years ago I was thrilled to see common cranes (Grus grus). Back then their global population was estimated to be half a million strong — and increasing — with “by far the largest breeding populations in Russia, Finland and Sweden.” Considering their preference for Finland, it shouldn’t be hard to find some on this visit.
In the breeding season common cranes prefer “wooded swamps, bogs and wetlands and seem to require quiet, peaceful environs with minimal human interference.” That’s a good description of Finland. Cranes can nest in peace in the countryside because 28% Finland’s 5.6 million people live in metro Helsinki.
Last time I visited, in July 2017, I’d mistakenly assumed I would see flocks of common cranes, but of course that’s not true when they’re nesting. During the breeding season common cranes occur at low density, typically 1 to 5 pairs per 100 km2 (39 sq mi). Each pair’s territory can be more than 1,000 acres.
Chances are I will hear common cranes before I see them. They are much louder than sandhills. (Click here to listen to sandhill cranes.)
Despite their sound they look quite elegant.
If you want to see common cranes outside the breeding season, visit them in the brown areas on this map. {The other colors are breeding (purple), wintering (brown) and year-round(green).} Interestingly, eBird’s map shows them year-round in Germany and Poland but, due to lack of eBirders in Africa, the Nile valley wintering grounds are not listed.
