Bird enthusiast and photographer Benny Scerri has once again captured a remarkable moment in Malta’s skies, photographing the Grawwa, or Common Crane (Grus grus), in flight as it passed over the islands.

Sightings of this majestic bird are always special, as the Common Crane is a scarce and irregular migrant over Malta, with numbers varying greatly from year to year.

The Common Crane is one of Europe’s most iconic migratory birds, instantly recognisable by its powerful call and impressive size. With a wingspan reaching up to 2.2 metres, it is far larger than many expect and is sometimes mistaken for a Grey Heron, despite the two species being very different. The crane’s grey body, pale neck, black face and throat, striking red crown patch, and long dark legs make it unmistakable once properly seen.

These birds breed in remote bogs and undisturbed forests across Northern Europe before migrating south in autumn to Spain and North Africa. Malta lies along this migratory route, and cranes are most often recorded between October and December, with occasional sightings into January.

Have you ever seen the common crane in Malta?