Crowned Crane
(Grey or East African Crane) Balearica regulorum gibbericeps
WILD STATUS
77,000 to 85,000
77,000 to 85,000
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern and Southern Africa from Zaire, Uganda and Kenya to South Africa
SIZE
Height 1m (3’) tall. Weight 3.6kg (8 lbs)
HABITAT
Prefer mixed grassland and wetland
REPRODUCTION
Lay eggs in clutches of 3-5, both sexes incubate the eggs and the young are hatched after 28-31 days. Chicks are fully fledged at 56-100 days
Lay eggs in clutches of 3-5, both sexes incubate the eggs and the young are hatched after 28-31 days. Chicks are fully fledged at 56-100 days
DIET
Omnivorous, eating both grasses, seeds and insects
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Crowned Cranes along with Black Cranes are the only cranes which roost in trees.
- This bird has a crown made up of stiff, gold feathers.
- All cranes engage in dancing behaviour, including bowing, jumping, running, stick and grass tossing, head bobbing, and wing flapping.
- These birds also forage in crop lands for groundnuts, soybeans, maize and millet.
- Threats to the Crowned Crane include capturing for export, hunting for food, human encroachment due to drainage of land, livestock overgrazing and pesticide poisoning.
- The Crowned Crane is the national bird of Uganda.
HABITAT RANGE
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
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