Gruiformes have a long evolutionary history, with fossil evidence dating back to the middle Eocene period. The Gruiformes show great diversity in size, ranging from the diminutive 17 cm Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla) to the very tall Sarus crane (Grus antigone), which can reach a height of 160 cm. The weight of male Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) can reach 18 kg, making it one of the two heaviest flying birds. While Gruidae, Heliornithidae and Rallidae are found in or near the wetlands, the Otididae prefer dry areas and desert. There are about 200 species belonging to this order worldwide. Out of these the following 30 are found in India.

Family: Gruidae

Sarus Crane Grus antigone - scarce resident
Common Crane Grus grus - common winter visitor
Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus - rare winter visitor
Hooded Crane Grus monacha - vagrant
Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis - winter visitor, breeds in Ladakh
Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo
 

Family: Heliornithidae

Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata - resident
 

Family: Otididae

Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps - resident
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata - winter visitor
Bengal Florican Eupodotis bengalensis - resident
Lesser Florican Eupodotis indica - resident
Great Bustard  Otis tarda - vagrant
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax - vagrant
 

Family: Rallidae

Brown Crake Amaurornis akool - common resident
Black-tailed Crake Amaurornis bicolor - resident in Himalayas
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus - common resident
Corn Crake Crex crex - vagrant
Common Coot Fulica atra - common resident and winter visitor
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea - common resident
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - common resident
Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus - common resident
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio - common resident
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca - common resident
Little Crake Porzana parva - vagrant
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana - common winter visitor
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla - common winter visitor, some resident
Andaman Crake Rallina canningi - resident
Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides - common resident
Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata - probable vagrant
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus - common winter visitor, some resident