Blue crane

Physical features

• They are a uniform bluish gray becoming darker on the upper neck.  The crown is white The lower half of the crane’s head and nape where the feathers are longer and thicker give the bird a cobra like appearance.

• The tail is black or nearly black and is hidden under the ornamental secondary wing feathers that drag behind the crane.

• Wingspan is 514mm- 590mm (1.7 – 1.9 feet).

Diet: Omnivore

• Wild – Grasshoppers, frogs, crabs and seeds

• Zoo – Grain mix, crickets, mealworms and peanuts

Reproduction

• During breeding season, cranes are isolated on their territories with their mate.

• Breeding season takes place during the summer months, and a clutch of one or two eggs is laid.

• The nest is often built in pastures, fallow fields and in recently harvested crop fields.

• Once the chicks have matured, the adults and their respective offspring will form flocks with other groups in the vicinity. The offspring will then seek offspring from within the flock to ultimately find a mate.

Interpretive Information

• The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa.

• They have a distinct call that is loud raspy and pulsed at a fairly low pitch.

• They are also known as Stanley Cranes.

• All cranes are diurnal in their activities.

• During the day they forage, rest, preen, socialize with the flock and attend to their young during breeding season.

• At night during the breeding season, cranes protect their nest and young from predators and other dangers.

• In nonbreeding season, cranes roost in large flocks at roosting sites in ponds, swamps etc.

• Dancing is a common activity among most cranes and it serves to help the young to develop physically and behaviorally. Mates dance to reinforce pair bonding and single birds dance to promote pair formation. Some dances during courtship have been observed to last anywhere from ½ hour to as long as 4 hours. Some birds will even dance as a form of displacement when they are nervous.

Updated March 2008