The Blue Crane - Anthropoides paradiseus – is endemic to Southern
Africa.
The
Blue Crane
The Blue Crane - Anthropoides paradiseus - is our national bird, yet it is
threatened. Of the 15 species of crane, the Blue Crane has the most restricted
distribution of all.
Description
Body plumage is
silvery bluish grey becoming darker on the upper neck and the lower half of the
head and nape. Blue Cranes have a long neck supporting a rather bulbous head,
short pink bill and black legs. The primary feathers are black or slate grey.
The tertial feathers of the wing are long, dark and dangle nearly to the
ground, giving this crane an elegant appearance. Males and females are
virtually indistinguishable. Juveniles are slightly lighter blue gray than
adults, and lack the long wing tertials.
Call
It is usually
quiet, but has a distinctive rattling croak, ‘kraaaarrrk’.
Food
The blue crane is
primarily vegetarian and eats small bulbs, seeds and roots. They do, however,
eat a variety of insects (locusts, termites, caterpillars, grasshoppers,
beetles, etc.), worms, crabs, fish, frogs, reptiles, and small mammals.
Breeding
A pair of blue
cranes is said to mate for life and display a wonderful courtship dance which
comprises of the two individuals jumping up and down with their wings extended.
They usually lay two eggs with an incubation period of 30 to 33 days and both
male and female incubate the eggs. Both chicks are frequently reared with each
attempt and are fed on an initial diet of insect larvae and worms. The chicks
are able to fly at about three to five months.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to
create a tour for you or book on one of the following Aves scheduled tours: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East
Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour
/ Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.