 Blue Cranes
are the national bird of South Africa. One of the smaller crane species, the Blue Cranes
plumage is silvery bluish gray becoming darker on the upper neck and the lower half of the
head and nape. The feathers of the crown and forehead are light grayish white, while the
cheeks, ear coverts and nape are dark ashy gray, which they raise (or fluff) during threat
displays, producing a distinctive cobra-like look. Blue Cranes have short bills and black
legs. The primary feathers are black or slate gray. The tertial feathers of the wing are
long, dark and dangle nearly to the ground, giving this crane an elegant appearance.
Name: Anthropooedes paradisea
Height: 117 cm, Weight: 5.1 kg
Trend: Declining / Population: 20,000 - 21,000 in South Africa and
60 in Namibia
Distribution: Blue Crane are endemic to southern Africa, with more than 99% of
the population occurring within South Africa. A small disjunct breeding population of
approximately 60 individuals exists in northern Namibia, in and around Etosha Pan.
Diet Description: All cranes are omnivorous. Principal foods of the Blue
Crane include the seeds of sedges and grasses, waste grains, insects, and small
vertebrates.
Habitat: The Blue Crane is a bird of dry grasslands and other upland habitats.
Where shallow wetlands are available, Blue Cranes will roost and feed in them.
Socialisation: Mated pairs of cranes engage in unison calling, which is a
complex and extended series of coordinated calls. The birds stand in a specific posture,
usually with their heads thrown back and beaks skyward during the display. The male always
lifts up his wings over his back during the unison call while the female keeps her wings
folded at her sides. In Blue Cranes the male initiates the display and utters one call for
each female call. All cranes engage in dancing, which includes various behaviors such as
bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing, and wing flapping. Dancing can occur at
any age and is commonly associated with courtship, however, it is generally believed to be
a normal part of motor development for crane s and can serve to thwart aggression, relieve
tension, and strengthen the pair bond.
Reproduction: Preferred nesting sites of Blue Cranes include secluded grasslands
in higher elevations where eggs are laid amid the grass or on the bare ground. In
agricultural areas, they nest in pastures, in fallow fields, and in crop fields when
stubble becomes available after harvest. Females usually lay two eggs and incubation (by
both sexes) lasts 30-33 days. The male takes the primary role in defending the nest
against possible danger. Chicks fledge (first flight) between 3-5 months of age.
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