Little Rock Zoo

Crowned Crane

One of East Africa's most beautiful birds, the Crowned Crane is usually found in open country or on the edges of swamps and marshes, where it feeds on a wide variety of items, including insects, frogs, vegetation and seeds. It is thought to mate for life and is usually found in pairs or small groups, though occasionally it gathers in large flocks.
Its familiar loud, melodious and evocative cry, normally given in flight, is unforgettable and may explain why some African tribes hold this crane in

superstitious regard. Some believe that the Crowned Crane brings rain, while others, including the Masai, incorporate its nuptial ritual into their own dances. This mating 'dance' is a wonderful sight: a pair of cranes, sometimes a group, will suddenly start to hop and jump gracefully about each other with their wings partly spread. Then they open their wings fully, bow to each other and jump several feet in the air. On landing they run round each other and start all over again.
At breeding time a pair of cranes will move into a swamp or marsh, where they build a nest mound on the ground. These days, many swamps and marshes are being drained and the land is being reclaimed for agricultural purposes. The Crowned Crane is often the victim of illegal trade which means its future is far from certain. It would be a very sad day in Africa if the sight and sound of the Crowned Crane were to disappear forever.
You can see this beautiful animal at your Little Rock Zoo. Proudly we had two hatchlings this Spring and the proud papa is taking excellent care of them.

photo taken by Harris Lloyd of AOPC