Grey Crowned Crane
Distribution
Central to Southern Africa
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Savannah
Latin Name
Balearica regulorum
IUCN conservation status
A stilt-walking bird that wears its crown with flair.
Interesting informations
A Diet Based on Opportunistic Feeding in Wetland Environments
Primarily frequenting riverbanks, flooded grasslands, and marshes, the crowned crane's diet is shaped by its habitat. It consists of young shoots, amphibians, invertebrates, insects, and sedge seeds.
A Balancer on Land and in the Air!
Crowned cranes have long hind toes that allow them to perch in trees—a rare behavior among cranes, observed in only two species. They also engage in mutual preening, a behavior that may help strengthen pair bonds even outside the breeding season.
Pairs That Mate for Life
Monogamous by nature, crowned cranes perform a 'courtship dance' during the breeding season, with both partners taking part. While pairs are highly territorial during nesting, interactions between individuals remain mostly neutral the rest of the time. These birds do not undertake true migrations.
A Significant Decline in Wild Populations Over the Past 50 Years
Facing major threats, most notably habitat fragmentation and degradation, the crowned crane has experienced a rapid population decline since at least the mid-1980s. In addition to disturbance caused by human activities, eggs and chicks are also targeted for illegal trade.
