They use their long legs to wade in shallow water, and use their long neck and sharp bill to kill small animals and obtain some tender plant roots. Cranes have been a symbol of peace, purity, wisdom, fidelity, prosperity, and longevity for thousands of years. Cranes have a long neck, long legs, long, rounded wings, a long, pointed bill, and a streamlined body.
Some cranes have a feathery head crest.
Males and females have similar plumage, but the males are larger. Most cranes mate for life. Most chicks are brown.