Same here in Tuscany. Also stubble rice fields in a specific area in a costal plain. Both corn and rice fields are next to one of the largest wetland areas in central Italy and to the mouth of a good-sized river.
Where I am, (Norfolk/Cambridgeshire/Suffolk borders) in Eastern England, UK, our breeding Cranes migrate short distances from their breeding sites (which are primarily wetland habitat with extensive reed growth) to form a larger winter roosting flock which then feed separately on agricultural fields during the day this being their preferred winter habitat here - they are otherwise quite territorial). The count in the winter flock this year was 78 individuals at one point, the highest numbers in recent times in Britain - certainly one of the major conservation successes with the help of cross-agency involvement. Wet weather flooded the fields this autumn and they moved to another location with similar feeding opportunities and roosting habitat - feeding on root vegetables - we have a lot of sugar beet in Norfolk and potatoes (the farmers often provide supplementary feeding with potatoes!), slugs (we have a lot of those too 😁) and of course maize stubble. They stay in highly socialised groups throughout the winter before separating and head back to their respective breeding grounds late February/March where they (hopefully) will again nest in the vast reed beds we have at Lakenheath or the vast marshlands of the Cambridgeshire Fens and Suffolk breeding sites.
www.birdguides.com
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
www.researchgate.net
Some of Cranes I see almost each year west of Berlin.
