Some crane species consume insects, tiny crustaceans, tubers, and roots. Other cranes eat acorns, berries, grains, and grasses. Still other varieties of cranes consume other birds, reptiles, and even snakes. A crane’s preferred diet is greatly influenced by its habitat and anatomical structure.

Large bird known as the sandhill crane primarily inhabits western and northern regions of North America. During the breeding season, it migrates to more watery conditions from its usual habitats in grasslands and wetlands. The sandhill primarily consumes grain.

North America is also the home of the whooping crane. It thrives and reproduces in marshes and lagoons with shallow water. In addition to eating grain, it also consumes snails, crustaceans, frogs, fish, and insects.

The red-crowned crane, a representation of Japan, consumes rice and reed buds as well as other water plants. It is also known to consume other water birds as well as goldfish, reptiles, frogs, crabs, and snails.

Although both omnivorous and distributed in Eurasia, the common crane consumes more plant matter than the red-crowned crane. It consumes a wide variety of foods, including acorns, potatoes, olives, grass roots, blueberries, and cereal grains. In addition, it consumes spiders, woodlice, amphibians, and the eggs and young of smaller birds.