Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum
Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) — Cranes & Rails of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) is a member of the Gruidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 3.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Gruidae Cranes
- Genus Balearica
- Species regulorum
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.8 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Gruidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Crowned Crane is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Grey Crowned Crane is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) is a species of bird in the Gruidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, se.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.8 kg, with a wing length of about 56.9 cm and a tail of around 24.3 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Crowned Crane?
The Grey Crowned Crane is a very large bird that weighs around 3.8 kg.
Where does the Grey Crowned Crane live?
The Grey Crowned Crane is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, se, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Grey Crowned Crane belong to?
The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) belongs to the Gruidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Grey Crowned Crane eat?
The Grey Crowned Crane is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Grey Crowned Crane migrate?
The Grey Crowned Crane is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey Crowned Crane endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Grey Crowned Crane make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Crowned Crane — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey Crowned Crane's range?
The Grey Crowned Crane has a mapped global range of about 3.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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