Hematology and Blood Chemistry of Wintering Common Cranes

We studied the hematology and blood chemistry of wintering Common Cranes (Grus grus). Red cell numbers (2.460 × 106 mm-3), hemoglobin content (14.8 g/100 ml), and hematocrit (42.9%) were similar in adult and young birds. Young birds have significantly higher leukocyte numbers (28 × 103 mm-3) than adults (22 × 103 mm-3). Heterophils are the most abundant white blood cells in adults (55%) whereas young have the same proportion of heterophils and lymphocytes (47%). Plasma protein levels are similar in young and adult birds (4.9 g/100 ml), as is the plasma cholesterol level (200 mg/100 ml). However, adults have higher plasma urea levels and lower uric acid and plasma triglyceride levels than young birds (7.1 vs. 5.5 mg/100 ml, 2.9 vs. 4.4 mg/100 ml, and 81 vs. 110 mg/100 ml, respectively).