Grey Crowned Crane

Grey Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum

Tall, flamboyant and beautiful, Grey Crowned Cranes were once considered the same species as the more northern Black Crowned Cranes (Balaearica pavonina). As with all cranes, graceful and spectacularly ballet-like dances form part of breeding and social displays. This species is listed as ‘Endangered’ because populations have rapidly declined during the past few decades due to habitat loss and the illegal removal of birds and eggs from the wild.

Distribution: eastern and southern Africa, from Uganda and Kenya to South Africa and Zimbabwe
Conservation status: Endangered
Evolutionary distinctiveness: Low