Gray Crowned Crane
Gray Crowned Crane
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| ホオジロカンムリヅル | |||
| Character Data | |||
| AKA | Grey-Crowned Crane, White-Crowned Crane
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| Romaji | Hōjirokanmuridzuru
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| Debut | ? | ||
| Animal Data | |||
| Scientific Name | Balearica regulorum
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| Distribution | East Africa, South Africa
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| Diet | Omnivore
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| Avg. Lifespan | 22 years
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| Read More | Grey crowned crane
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| Conservation | 
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| Gray Crowned Crane | Festival | Gallery |
The Gray Crowned Crane is a type of bird Friend that first appeared in the Misaki Park Collab.
Series Appearances
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In Real Life
The elegant Grey crowned crane is the national symbol and national bird of Uganda, and is one of Africa’s most majestic and beautiful birds. The name is due to its yellow crown of feathers, tipped with black. This crane moves gracefully in a most stately manner with a very dignified gait. In flight it is beautiful, using slow down strokes followed by quick upward strokes of its wings. The Grey crowned crane lives in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya and Uganda to South Africa and Zimbabwe, frequenting wetlands, savannahs, open grasslands and cultivated areas. In parts of East Africa, it occurs in modified habitats like pastures, croplands and other irrigated areas, while in South Africa, it is found in marshes, grasslands, savannahs, and cultivated fields.
This species forages in grassland and areas of cultivation, pecking rapidly to reach the food. It is very territorial with regard to nesting sites; however, as regards foraging sites, no observations have been made of a territorial display. These birds are gregarious outside of the breeding season, roosting together in trees or water. Flocks may include 30-150 individuals. Outside the breeding season, mates will preen one another to strengthen their bond, and perform dances as well. These birds are non-migratory, moving locally and seasonally according to food sources, availability of nest sites and the rains. Chicks will make a sharp shrill “peeep” when communicating with their parents, who will reply with a “purring” sound. “Oouuw” and “ya-oou-goo-lung” can also be made.
The Grey crowned crane is omnivorous bird, it eats plant matter, including fresh parts of grasses, seed heads of sedges, and insects such as grasshoppers, locusts and crickets, and worms, lizards, frogs and crabs. Grey crowned cranes are monogamous and mate for life. During the breeding season, these birds perform beautiful displays: dancing, bowing, running and jumping, while making low booming calls which inflate their gular sacs. The calls are made while their head is lowered to shoulder level. Varying with the rains, the breeding season generally peaks from December to February. The two adults select the nest site together, within their territory, and will give unison calls from it. They build their nest together. It is often placed on the edge of the wetland, rarely in a tree, and hidden in the dense aquatic vegetation. 1-4 eggs are laid, the number varying sometimes according to the elevation. Incubation is by both parents and is for about 50-60 days. Chicks fledge at around 56-100 days old and will join a flock with other juveniles to continue developing, to reach reproductive maturity at about 3 years old.
Trivia
The Grey crowned crane, being Uganda’s national bird, is featured on the country’s coat of arms and flag. This bird is a sacred symbol for Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. Many people have the belief that these cranes can bring rain, so they include pictures of cranes in their rituals to encourage the rainy season to come.