West African Crowned Crane displaying crown feathers
Cranes are large, long-legged birds with short, straight bills. Of the 15 species world-wide, six live in Africa. The West African crowned crane eats grass, seeds, corn, rice, insects, small reptiles and amphibians, fish, and crustaceans. It sometimes stamps its feet to flush insects and will join grazing animals for the same purpose. Usually seen in pairs or groups of up to several hundred, the cranes perform a colorful dance involving bowing, jumping, flapping wings, and circling. This is done in all seasons but particularly before breeding season. Monogamous, probably pairs for life. Lays two to three eggs in a nest in marsh. Gives low purr when feeding, loud honk when alarmed. The body of the Black Crowned Crane is mostly black, with distinctive white upper and under wing coverts. The head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers. Cheek patches are red and white. The subspecies are most easily distinguished by the differences in the coloration of their cheek patches. In the West African subspecies, the lower half of the cheek patch is red; in the Sudan subspecies, the red extends into the upper half of the cheek patch. The gular sac under the chin is small and dark. The gular sac is similar to a wattle, except that it can be inflated. Legs, toes, and bill are black. All crowned cranes have the ability to perch because their long hind toe (hallux) allows for grasping. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable, although males tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles are generally blackish, the upper body feathers are edged with rufous, and the lower body feathers are sandy buff. The nape is brown, the face is feathered and buffy, and the crown is spiky and golden buff. The Black Crowned Crane is found in the Sahel and Sudan savanna region of Africa, from Senegal and Gambia on the Atlantic coast to the upper Nile River basin in Sudan and Ethiopia. The West African Crowned Crane (estimated population 15,000) occupies the western part of this range fr
Size: 3411px × 5117px
Photo credit: © Crystal Silver / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: african, animal, avian, bird, black, captive, chad, crane, crowned, ethiopia, gambia, nigeria, nile, portrait, sahel, savanna, senegal, sudan, west, wildlife, zoo
