crested crane

The Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. This animal does not migrate. There are two subspecies.

          The East African Crested Crane occurs from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda, of which it is the national bird of Uganda, and Kenya to eastern South Africa. It has a larger area of bare red facial skin above the white patch than the smaller nominate species, South African Crowned Crane, which breeds from Angola south to South Africa.

     The Grey Crowned Crane has a breeding display involving dancing, bowing, and jumping. It has a booming call which involves inflation of the red gular sac. It also makes a honking sound quite different from the trumpeting of other crane species. The nest is a platform of grass and other plants in tall wetland vegetation. The Grey Crowned Crane lays a clutch of 2-5 eggs. Incubation is performed by both sexes and lasts 28–31 days. Chicks fledge at 56–100 days.
                The Grey Crowned Crane is about 1 m (3.3 ft) tall and weighs 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs). Its body plumage is mainly grey. The wings are also predominantly white, but contain feathers with a range of colors’. The head has a crown of stiff golden feathers. The sides of the face are white, and there is a bright red inflatable throat pouch. The bill is relatively short and grey, and the legs are black. The sexes are similar, although males tend to be slightly larger. Young birds are greyer than adults, with a feathered buff face. The Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of Uganda and features in the country's flag and coat of arms.
                       The gray crowned crested Crane of Uganda – one of the most beautiful and majestic birds in Africa found in Uganda where it is also the the National symbol and the national bird of Uganda.  This elegant bird moves in grace in a most stately manner with a very dignified gate.  If you see the grey crowned crane in flight it is simply beautiful to behold with its slow down strokes of the wings followed by quick flicking upward strokes.
                                 The gray crowned cranes have a crest crown made up of stiff golden feathers – the sounds of the crested cranes can be heard over a wide distance.  Crested Cranes use their strong bills to dig into the soil in search of of roots and bulbs beneath the surface of the ground.  One of the most beautiful to behold is the gray crowned crested cranes very elaborate mating ritual.  It is a most beautiful display of grace, strength and power amazing visitors who have the privilege to view this ritual as the court their lifelong partners and the courting dance is not  a one time event for a pair of cranes – it continuous throughout their relationship.