Newsletter / Blog
2012-04-04 What is the largest species of crane in Africa?
The Wattled
Crane - Bugeranus carunculatus – is the largest species of crane in Africa.
The
Wattled Crane
The Wattled Crane - Bugeranus
carunculatus - is by far the most endangered crane species in South Africa
with only 240 left. They are the most wetland-dependent of Africa’s
crane species and are exceptionally susceptible to disturbance while nesting in
wetlands, and will easily desert a nest if disturbed.
Description
It is the largest crane in Africa with the back and wings ashy gray. The feathered
portion of the head is dark slaty gray above the eyes and on the crown, but is
otherwise white, including the wattles, which are almost fully feathered and
hang down from under the upper throat. The breast, primaries, secondaries, and
tail coverts are black. The secondaries are long and nearly reach the ground.
The upper breast and neck are white all the way to the face. The skin in front
of the eye extending to the base of the beak and tip of the wattles is red and
bare of feathers and covered by small round wart-like bumps. Wattled Cranes
have long bills and black legs and toes. Males and females are virtually
indistinguishable although males tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles have
tawny body plumage, lack the bare skin on the face, and have less prominent
wattles.
Call
Wattled cranes are usually quiet
birds. Their calls are high-pitched and include a far-carrying kwaamk
bugle-call.
Food
The wattled crane mainly eats
aquatic vegetation, but also eats tubers, rhizomes, seeds, small reptiles,
frogs and insects. It often submerges its entire head under water when feeding.
Breeding
Wattled cranes breed only in
wetlands. Breeding pairs maintain a territory, so that nests are always at
least 500m apart. The nest is a large mound of grasses and sedges placed on a
tuft, surrounded by open water. One or two eggs are laid, but only one ever
hatches, the other being abandoned. Incubation period is 33-36 days. Fledging
period is 135 days. Chicks reach adult height and can fly by four months, but
are not sexually mature for 4 to 8 years.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the
following Aves scheduled tours: -
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
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