Technological map for fine arts on the topic: Traditions of celebrating the New Year in modern culture. Spring

The crane is a beautiful bird, found in different countries. It turns out that the color of the crane is different. For example, the white crane can be found in warm countries, and the common crane is found in Europe. The wingspan of an adult bird reaches 1 m 90 cm, and the height is slightly more than a meter. A crane is beautiful in flight and you can keep these moments in your memory if you draw a crane.

How to draw a crane. Picture 1

The easiest way to draw a bird with a simple pencil. Gradually, slowly, step by step, add more and more new lines to get beautiful drawing.

How to draw a crane step by step:

• First you need to indicate the size of the bird on a piece of paper. Visually divide the field into 4 segments.
• Draw a bird in flight, starting with the designation of the contours. In this case, a pencil drawing is a series of straight or curved lines. Therefore, you must first draw a vertical line in the center of the sheet.
• The next step is the wingspan - and again you need to draw 2 lines horizontally, and then indicate the size of the wing, also drawing a thin line with a pencil.
• The sketch is still damp, you need to clearly define the head, body and wings.
• The silhouette of a crane is almost recognizable if you use colored pencils and make a contrasting background. It is advisable to shade the bird with a black pencil, adding light “strokes” with a simple pencil. Background is optional.

How to draw a crane. Figure 2

And again, a simple pencil is useful to draw a beautiful bird step by step:

• We start the drawing by drawing the head and beak. Immediately draw the eye;
• the next stroke is the contour of the neck and the designation of the dimensions of the body;
• each pencil sketch gradually turns into the figure of a bird. Let's continue drawing and sketch the long legs of the bird. Then, drawing a smooth curve, we designate the body, and also draw the feathers on the tail;
• a few strokes - and the bird is ready. We recommend that you draw a sketch with a simple pencil, darkening the areas so that the image is realistic.

How to teach a child to draw a crane

The crane bird is unusual, with interesting habits. You can meet the crane in the swamp, on the outskirts of the villages, when the crane builds a nest or in flight. Cranes fly high and it is very difficult to see the bird in detail in order to draw a beautiful picture. But for the child, this is not necessary yet, because the main thing is to learn how to draw the silhouette of a bird. And then, gradually, you can move on to more complex tasks.

Draw a crane with a child:

• draw on a piece of paper big number"9";
• the head of the number - this will be the head of the bird;
• you need to teach the child how to draw a beak;
• ask the baby to show where the bird's eye will be - let him put a dot with a pencil;
• tell an older child that the tail of the number "9" can turn into a beautiful bird, and offer to draw three feathers;
• perhaps the drawing is almost ready, you just need to finish the legs - these will be 2 straight lines, and then draw a swamp in the form of an oval.

The crane is a bird from the order Cranes-like family Cranes. This is a bird of water and near-water spaces. She settles near water bodies. The crane has long legs and a neck. When he flies, he always stretches his legs and neck in length. The head is usually small. It can walk on water in shallow water, thanks to its long and thin legs. It feeds on aquatic insects, which it catches from the water column or gets it by digging it out of the watery muddy soil. It can also eat seeds, shoots and roots of plants. During the breeding season, like many birds, it forms pairs. It builds a nest on the edge of a reservoir, usually hiding it in dense vegetation. There are 2-5 chicks. Cranes are the heroes of many Russians folk tales. Often they are represented in them by very intelligent creatures. Let's draw a crane in stages with a pencil here in the lesson.

Stage 1. Draw helper lines. A small round head, from which we immediately draw two straight lines in front, converging at the end and separated in the middle by a straight line. This is a beak. From the head we outline a smooth S-curved line of a long neck. It connects to the oval body. Below him we draw legs bent at the joint.

Stage 2. We draw the contours of the head, passing into the neck. On the head we designate an eye with a pupil.

Stage 4. On the side of the body, draw the upper feathers of the wing folded at rest. After that, under the first feathers, we show the lower feathers.

Stage 5. Under the belly of the crane, along the outline lines, we denote the legs of the crane. They are quite thin, thickened only from above and at the joint.

Stage 6. At the bottom, draw his foot with thumbs, three of which are directed forward, and one is turned back. On the fingers we show sharp curved claws.

Stage 7. And now let's make a beautiful magnificent tail of a bird. Behind the body we make feathers, first upper layer, then the bottom layer of feathers.

Step 8. Detail the feathers, showing the stem and grooves of the first order (see our lesson on drawing a feather).

Stage 9. This is what an unpainted crane looks like.

Cranes are beautiful, noble and very ancient birds, whose ancestors lived on Earth together with dinosaurs and managed to survive after all the global cataclysms.

Israel: Cranes in the Hula Valley.

interest and respectful attitude to birds can be traced in the cultures of many peoples of the world. The crane is considered national symbol Armenia. In many Asian countries the crane is a sacred bird, the embodiment of happiness and longevity. In Rus', they were considered messengers of God, our ancestors believed that the first person who saw the dance of cranes in the spring would be accompanied by happiness and good luck all year. In Yakutia, even today they believe that terrible misfortunes threaten the killer of the crane.

Aristotle began to study these birds, and today cranes are included in an extensive order of crane-like and crane family. The genus of true cranes forms 10 species of birds, distributed almost throughout the world.

What does a crane look like

A person far from ornithology may confuse the crane with other long-legged, long-necked near-water birds. If we compare the photo of the crane with its very distant relatives of the heron and stork, then the legs and neck of the crane are longer, the body is more elegant, and the beak is shorter.

This is a tall, stately bird, the growth of representatives different types is from 90 to 175 cm with a weight of 2 to 11 kg. The body of the crane is elongated teardrop-shaped. When the bird is standing, due to the long flight feathers of the wing, it seems that it has a magnificent long tail, in some species resembling a train.

The wingspan of an adult crane is about 2 m. Birds take off with a running start in the wind, rapidly pick up speed and open their wings just before takeoff. The flight of the crane is smooth and rhythmic, with a soft lowering of the wings and sharp upstrokes. Unlike herons, cranes fly with their necks stretched forward, in inclement weather they draw their legs.

The long neck of the crane is crowned with a small neat head with an elongated straight beak, 20 - 30 cm long. Part of the head is devoid of feathers, and the bare area of ​​​​rough skin is bright red or orange, so from a distance it resembles a hat.

The color of plumage of cranes is dominated by gray, white and black colors. Individuals of both sexes do not differ in appearance, males are only slightly heavier than females.

Range and lifestyle

Cranes nest in Eurasia, North America and Australia. Residents of warm regions live sedentary, migratory populations winter in the south of France, in Asian countries, in Mexico and in the south of the USA.

Migratory cranes fly at altitudes from 900 m to 1.5 km using ascending air currents, and form a wedge only in headwind conditions. During the flight, the birds make 1 - 2 stops in the same place, where they rest for several weeks.

Unlike herons and storks, cranes never perch on trees, they gather for the night in large groups and sleep in shallow water standing with one leg tucked up. Therefore, the main habitats of birds are humid, low-lying, swampy forest landscapes or places near fresh water bodies. During the winter, the birds live in swampy areas with salt water. It is precisely because of the drainage of swamps and the destruction of biotopes familiar to birds that most species of cranes today are on the verge of extinction.

What do cranes eat

These birds are omnivores and equally successfully consume various parts of plants and animal feed. The diet of cranes does not depend on the availability of certain food, if there is no usual food, the birds switch to any food that they can feed on.

The plant diet includes stems, leaves, roots of various aquatic and terrestrial plants, seeds and fruits. Particular preference is given to grain crops. Often, large flocks of cranes descend on corn and grain fields, causing serious damage to the lands.

Animal foods include worms and insects, amphibians, small rodents, reptiles, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish.

In places where hunting for cranes is prohibited by religion and law, birds are not afraid of people and willingly feed near settlements and cattle pastures.

Reproduction features

Cranes are monogamous and remain faithful throughout their lives. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 3-5 years, and pairs are formed before arrival at the nesting sites.

The union of two birds is celebrated with an obligatory mating ritual, which is called the crane dance. Mutual courtship consists of bouncing, small dashes and bows. The male and female flap their wings, whirl, throw twigs and tufts of grass into the air, and all this is accompanied by a lingering melodious song. After mating, the pair proceeds to build the nest.

Outside the mating season, cranes are not aggressive, but they jealously protect the nesting territory from strangers, the area of ​​which varies from 1 to 40 km2. A secluded hard-to-reach place is chosen for the nest right in the water, in shallow water, often in dense thickets of reeds and reeds.

The finished nest of cranes is a large compacted pile of tree branches, dry grass, pieces of moss and peat, up to 3 m in diameter.

Cranes are clean and carefully look after their feathers, but immediately before incubation they are specially coated with silt and wet earth. If the crane looks frankly dirty in the photo, then the bird is trying to disguise itself in order to become less noticeable to predators and humans.

The female lays from 1 to 3 light beige speckled eggs weighing about 200 g. Both parents incubate, and the incubation period lasts from 28 to 32 days. Chicks are born naked and helpless, but after a day they are already firmly on their feet. To avoid attracting enemies eggshell parents often crumple and hide.

Despite the small number of chicks, competition for survival often leads to the death of the weaker one. Chicks fully fledge 70-75 days after birth, gain the ability to fly, but always spend the first winter with their parents.

In the wild, cranes live up to 20 years, and in captivity, life expectancy increases to 80 years.

Types of cranes: genus real cranes

Of the 10 species of true cranes, most are extremely vulnerable or on the verge of extinction. Therefore, in 1973 in America was created International Foundation crane protection.

An endangered crane species that breeds exclusively in northern Russia and winters in China. These are large birds, up to 140 cm high and weighing from 5 to 8.6 kg. The main color of the plumage is white, only the tips of the flight feathers are black. A distinctive species feature is a very long, bright red beak with a serrated tip. Long legs Siberian Cranes are reddish-pink.

Siberian Crane or White Crane.
Siberian Crane or White Crane.

Numerous species, widespread in Russia, China and Mongolia. Adult birds grow up to 115 cm, the body weight of males is about 6 kg. The legs of the birds are black, the beak is light. The plumage of the back is dark gray with blue, the belly and wings are light gray, the tips of the wings are black. The forehead and top of the neck from the chin are dark gray or black.

small, rare view opened only in 1974. Birds nest in eastern Russia and northern China, winter on Japanese island Kyushu. These are relatively small cranes, no more than 100 cm high and weighing about 3.75 g. The main plumage is dark gray with blue, the head and neck are white. The tips of the coverts of the tail and primary wings are painted black. The limbs are black-brown, the beak is interestingly colored: pink at the base, gradually becoming greenish, and yellow-green towards the tip.

A pair of black cranes in flight.

A rare species, whose representatives live in the Tibetan Plateau of the Chinese province of Qinghai. For wintering, birds descend into the valleys of Tibet or migrate to Bhutan and northeast India.

The growth of the black-necked crane is about 115 cm with a body weight of 5.35 kg. The back and wings of the birds are gray-ashy in color, the belly is off-white. The upper part of the neck and head are black; a white or grayish spot is clearly visible under the eyes. The legs and tail are black.

Black-necked crane: head and neck photo.

Rare cranes, endangered species. Birds live in Russia in the Amur River basin and in Japan. The Japanese population is sedentary, the rest of the birds winter in Asia.

These are large cranes, up to 158 cm tall and weighing about 7.5 kg. In autumn, males of the species can gain weight up to 11 kg. Adult birds are distinguished by their snow-white plumage, including wings, which distinguishes them from other relatives. The legs of the birds are lead grey. The tail and neck are black, and a wide white stripe runs from the eyes to the back of the head and down the neck.

Japan, Hokkaido island. Natural park of Japanese cranes.
Dance of Japanese cranes.

Another name for the birds is the antigone crane, this is the largest species of cranes. Birds live settled in India, Indochina and partly Australia. The average height of the representatives of the species is 176 cm with a body weight of 6.35 kg.

The color of the plumage is bluish-gray. In the photo of the antigone crane, the almost completely bald head and upper part of the neck catches the eye, which is why the red "cap" of the birds seems especially large. Hard, protruding hairs grow on the throat and neck. The legs of the birds are reddish, the beak is long, pale green. Today, the Indian crane is listed as a vulnerable species.

A pair of Indian cranes with a chick.

In appearance, it is very similar to the Indian crane, but smaller and darker in color. The growth of birds is about 161 cm, body weight reaches 6 kg. The general color of the plumage is gray with blue, only part of the tips of the wing feathers are almost black. Gray, strongly elongated flight feathers, covering the tail, form a kind of long train. The legs of the birds are black, the beak is gray. This is a numerous species living settled in Australia and New Guinea.

Australian cranes in the swamp.
Australian crane in flight.

These are the rarest cranes, a small population of which lives in northwestern Canada. Birds winter in the southern United States and in Mexico.

Birds grow up to 150 cm and weigh from 6.4 to 7.3 kg. These cranes are completely white with black wingtips and black "whiskers" located on both sides of the head from beak to throat. The legs of the birds are black, the beak is pale yellow with a greenish tip.

A wedge of American cranes in flight.
American crane in flight.
The head of an American crane.
A pair of American cranes.
American crane caught a crab.

The most numerous species, whose representatives are widespread in Canada, Cuba and Chukotka. For wintering, birds go to Mexico and the USA.

There are 6 subspecies of the Sandhill Crane, whose height ranges from 80 to 150 cm, and their weight is from 3 to 6.5 kg. The plumage color of all subspecies is different shades of gray, the head and top of the neck are light, the cheeks are white, and the legs are black.

Sandhill crane in flight.

Birds classified as endangered species nest in China, Mongolia and eastern Russia, and winter in Japan.

Large crane, weighing up to 5.6 kg. In adult birds, the plumage is dark gray with a silvery tint to the wings. The main difference between these cranes is the bright red "glasses" around the eyes, formed by areas of bare skin, as well as Pink colour legs and white longitudinal stripes running along the neck.

Dahurian crane head.
White-naped crane in flight.



White-naped crane in the Amur region.
Trans-Baikal Territory, Ononsky District, Daursky Reserve, 2001.

Types of cranes: genus crowned cranes

The crowned crane lives in Western and East Africa. The number of this species is declining, although it is still quite numerous.

Crowned crane at the Jerusalem Zoo.

The Eastern Crowned Crane lives in eastern and southern Africa. This is the most common species, of the six species of cranes found in Africa.

Species of cranes: genus demoiselle cranes

The demoiselle crane is the smallest and third largest representative of the crane family.

Demoiselle Crane in Mongolia.
Demoiselle cranes in the Kurai steppe.
The muzzle of a demoiselle crane.

Demoiselle cranes on the shore.
Demoiselle crane in flight.

In this species of cranes, pair, as a rule, persists throughout life.

The paradise crane or African belladonna lives in South Africa and lead a sedentary life. 99% of the paradise crane population lives in South Africa.

One of the closest relatives of cranes - herons, we have a lot of photos of different types of herons on our site.

In the spring, when the snow begins to melt from the fields, and the first brown spots of melt water appear on the forest swamp, you can hear the cranes. “Kurly-kurly-kurly”, is heard not very loudly behind the birch grove. It starts a conversation one bird. “Kurly-kurly-kurly,” another answers her, then a third. The conversation of the cranes is getting closer and closer, and now a wedge appeared over the field crane flock. The birds fly slowly, as if diligently remembering the places they left in the fall. The cranes are returning home. They are tired. Tonight, the whole flock will stay on the field to spend the night. And early in the morning, even before sunrise, they will arrange a short roll call, check whether everyone is ready for a new road, then slowly but surely rise to the wing and reach for their distant crane swamp. There, on a forest swamp overgrown with moss, cranberries and low-growing pines, cranes will find their old, last year's nests. Soon they will have two, rarely three small, ankle-sized chicks. In autumn, when the cranes grow up, the whole flock begins to prepare for departure. Then you will again see these big, strong and beautiful birds above the forest. Young birds try their wings, and the old ones teach the cranes to march. Thick autumn clouds will cover the sky, cold frequent rains will hang over the fields, and the cranes will set off on a long journey. We will wait for them back when the snow melts and the first melt water appears on the forest swamp. The big cooing birds we usually see in our middle lane are the Common Cranes. But in the world there are several more species of cranes, sometimes almost not similar to each other. Demoiselle crane can be found in the south of our country. On his head are tufts of long white feathers. Among the cranes there is also a snow-white handsome man with the mysterious name Siberian Crane. But this crane is found very rarely and only in the north-east of Yakutia.