| Range: |
Eastern Africa |
| Habitat: |
Wetlands, open grasslands, savannas |
| Conservation Status: |
Common |
| Scientific Name: |
Balearica regulorum gibbericeps |
This bird gets its name from the distinctive golden "crown" of
feathers on its head. It lives in open areas and grasslands, where it
feeds on grass seeds, insects, frogs and lizards. Crowned cranes
usually mate for life. Both the male and female cooperate in building
the nest, and in defending the eggs and the chicks. Crowned crane
parents often pretend to be injured to lure predators away from their
nestlings.
Did You Know?
With an average of four eggs per clutch, these cranes have the largest average clutch size of any crane species.
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