Crowned crane
Balearica Regulorum
IUCN Status: Endangered
Diet
A typical omnivore eating plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, small fish & their eggs! They can be observed stamping their feet when feeding in the vegetation to flush out insects.
Breeding
A large nest of rotting vegetation is made nearby to water (usually on rushes) where two white eggs are laid and incubated for about 30 days. The chicks are cared for by both parents and are precocial being able to run and feed with their parents straight after hatching.
At The Zoo
We have a pair of these crowned cranes the female still quite young (born in 2012) that are still bonding and have yet to reproduce. They share an aviary with our monal pheasants and we have high hopes for the future breeding potential from this pair. During the breeding season the cock crowned crane can often be seen displaying up on the platform nests when you visit.
Habitat
Dry savannah of Africa to the East and south of the Sahara near wetlands and marsh.
Fun Facts
There are two sub species of crowned cranes one with a grey neck from east Africa (Uganda etc.,) and the other a black neck from West Africa. Crowned cranes unlike virtually all other species of crane do not migrate but flock when not breeding.
Behaviour
An unusual crane possibly the oldestof the crane species as they still have a long hind toe which enables them to perch at roost in trees! This species does flock but for breeding like other cranes becomes territorial. They have a red gular sac which inflates giving a booming call while they dance and pair bond.