The former status of the Crane Grus grus in Britain

• Published in: Ibis (London, England) England), 1998-07, Vol.140 (3), p.482-500
• Main Authors: BOISSEAU, S., YALDEN, D.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aves; Biological and medical sciences; British Isles; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grus grus; Paleontology; Vertebrate paleontology; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
• ISSN: 0019-1019; 1474-919X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1998.tb04610.x

The place‐name, archaeological and documentary evidence for the former widespread distribution and abundance of the Crane Grus grus in Britain (mostly England) is reviewed. There appear to be nearly 300 place‐names which include some reference to Cranes very widely distributed across Britain; at least half of the sample has the name associated with other place‐name elements relating to water (e.g. fen, mere, lake). No other wild bird appears in so many place‐names. Crane bones are also quite common in archaeological sites, although they are absent from most cave sites; they are reported from at least 78 excavations. The evidence of bestiaries, illustrated manuscripts and other documentary sources makes it clear that the Crane was a well‐known bird, clearly distinguished from the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea. All three lines of evidence confirm that the Crane was a breeding bird in Britain, not just a winter visitor.