Blue crane

Description

These birds are pale blue in colour although they can seem grey from a distance. They are relatively small and have small heads, thick necks and very long feathers in their wings, which can easily be confused with the feathers in the tail. The feathers on the head stand upright when the crane gets excited or during aggressive confrontations. 

Ethology

Courting involves a “dance” that the male performs for the female, with sudden jumps, curtseys and combative moves. The eggs are laid in the grass or bare ground without building a nest. Normally the female will lay 2 eggs that will be incubated for 30-33 days. They migrate locally in autumn to nearby areas at a lower height. 

Interesting facts

The blue crane is South Africa’s national bird and it appears on the country’s coins and even on several stamps. The reasons for the drops in its population are poisoning, collisions with high voltage electricity lines and loss of breeding areas due to deforestation, agriculture and mining. Another threat is the capture of chicks for use as pets or food.