The most recent consensus appears to be that geranoidids are outside of Gruoidea, with eogruiids being more closely related to modern cranes.

[4] However, Mayr (2019) argued that close affinities between Geranoididae and the palaeognathous family Palaeotididae are at least as well supported as the classification of geranoidids into the Gruiformes.

[4] Most geranoidids appear to have been flightless, with long legs and short wings, and presumably with herbivorous habits, giving them a profile and lifestyle similar to that of modern ratites.

[5][11] Geranoidids are most common in Eocene fossil sites in North America, particularly in the Willwood Formation where up to six species are known.

Galligeranoides occurs in the Eocene of France in association with another flightless bird, Gastornis, potentially indicating that geranoidids took advantage of land bridges to arrive to Europe.