The grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum), also known as the African crowned crane, golden crested crane, golden-crowned crane, East African crane, East African crowned crane, African Crane, Eastern crowned crane, Kavirondo Crane, South African crane, Crested crane, is a bird in the crane family, Gruidae. It is found in eastern and southern Africa, and is the national bird of Uganda.

Appearance

The Grey crowned crane is a magnificent and exquisite bird native to Africa, celebrated for its elegant appearance. It holds significant cultural importance as the national bird and symbol of Uganda. Its name comes from the striking yellow crown of feathers with black tips, which adds to its regal allure. When moving, this crane showcases a graceful and dignified gait, exuding an air of stateliness.

In flight, the Grey crowned crane displays its beauty, employing a mesmerizing combination of slow downward wing strokes and quick upward movements

Distribution

Its distribution spans across eastern and southern Africa, encompassing countries such as Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It thrives in diverse habitats like wetlands, savannahs, open grasslands, and cultivated areas.

Throughout its range, the Grey crowned crane adapts to various environments, often inhabiting modified landscapes such as pastures, croplands, and irrigated regions in parts of East Africa. In South Africa, it can be found in marshes, grasslands, savannahs, and cultivated fields. Its presence in these different settings highlights its versatility and resilience as a remarkable bird species in the Afrotropical biogeographical realm.

Habits and Lifestyle

Grey crowned cranes lead an active diurnal lifestyle, spending their days in grasslands and cultivated areas, where they peck swiftly to find food. They exhibit strong territorial behavior concerning nesting sites, but there’s no such aggression observed during foraging. Social outside the breeding season, they form flocks of 30 to 150 birds, roosting together near water or in trees. During this time, mates engage in mutual preening and captivating dances to strengthen their bond. These non-migratory cranes move locally and seasonally, guided by food availability, nesting opportunities, and weather conditions. Chicks communicate with sharp, shrill calls, and parents respond with affectionate “purring,” while other vocalizations like “Oouuw” and “ya-oou-goo-lung” can be heard.

Diet and Nutrition

Grey crowned cranes are omnivorous, meaning they have a varied diet that includes both plant matter and animal prey. They feed on fresh parts of grasses and consume seed heads of sedges. Insects play a significant role in their diet, and they may eat grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, worms, as well as small vertebrates like lizards, frogs, and crabs. This diverse diet allows them to adapt to different environments and find food sources in various habitats they inhabit.

Mating Habits

Grey crowned cranes exhibit monogamous mating behavior, forming lifelong partnerships. During the breeding season, they engage in mesmerizing displays, involving dancing, bowing, running, and jumping while emitting deep booming calls that resonate from their gular sacs. This enchanting courtship usually peaks between December and February, aligning with the rainy season.

As devoted partners, the cranes choose a nest site within their territory and jointly build the nest, often locating it on the edge of wetlands or concealed amidst dense aquatic vegetation. The female lays a clutch of 1-4 eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them for approximately 50-60 days.

Once the chicks hatch, they are precocial, capable of running shortly after birth, and achieve independence within 56-100 days. As they grow, young cranes of different genders will eventually separate from their parents to establish their own families. At around 3 years of age, they reach reproductive maturity, continuing the cycle of life for these graceful and majestic birds.

Population