HEIGHT: 117 cm, 4 ft
WEIGHT: 5.1 kg, 11 lbs
POPULATION: 25,000 – 30,000
TREND: Western Cape population increasing; Karoo and Grasslands populations stable; Namibian population decreasing
STATUS: IUCN: VU; Cites Appendix II; CMS II
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the pandemic shutdown in the U.S. and ...
Our monthly summary of media stories highlighting the International Crane Foundation’s global programs. ...
In this week’s post, we focus on South Africa’s national bird. Behold the beauty ...
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Our monthly summary of media stories highlighting the International Crane Foundation’s global programs. ...
HEIGHT: 117 cm, 4 ft
WEIGHT: 5.1 kg, 11 lbs
POPULATION: 25,000 – 30,000
TREND: Western Cape population increasing; Karoo and Grasslands populations stable; Namibian population decreasing
STATUS: IUCN: VU; Cites Appendix II; CMS II
Both the Xhosa and Zulu tribes in Africa revere the Blue Crane. Zulu royalty were the only tribe members traditionally allowed to wear Blue Crane feathers, while only Xhosa warriors were permitted to wear Blue Crane feathers into battle.
Adults – Body is silvery bluish gray, black wingtips, extra-long tertial feathers that are dark and dangle nearly to the ground, black legs; juveniles – slightly lighter blue grey feathers.
Download FREE Blue Crane images.
Endemic (only found in a certain region) to southern Africa, with more than 99% of the population occurring within South Africa. A small, disjunct breeding population exists in northern Namibia, in and around Etosha Pan.
Seeds of sedges and grasses, waste grains, insects and small vertebrates.
Listen to Blue Crane calls:
Guard Call | A sharp, single call expressing alarm.
Unison Call | A duet performed by a pair, to strengthen their bond and protect their territory.
Changes in agriculture practices, power line collisions, human disturbance, unintentional and intentional poisoning, land conversion, live capture and egg collection for commercial trade.
Conserving Blue Cranes on agricultural landscapes in South Africa. We are:
Fight the African Crane Trade.
Become a member of the International Crane Foundation.
Learn more about Blue Cranes:
Johnsgard PA. 1983. Cranes of the world. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.