Back to Field Guide
Gray Crowned-Crane
Balearica regulorum
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
Last Spotted Near You
About the Gray Crowned-Crane
The grey crowned crane or gray crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) is a large crane species native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It occurs mainly in dry savannah, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats, and can also be found in marshes, cultivated lands and grassy flatlands near rivers and lakes. Its body plumage is mainly grey and it has white cheeks, a red throat patch, and a stiff golden crown. It is omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of animal and plant matter, including plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish and the eggs of aquatic animals. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is the National bird of Uganda.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Balearica regulorum
- Family
- Cranes
- Order
- Gruiformes
Similar species
Other members of the cranes family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
Know when the Gray Crowned-Crane turns up near you
How rare bird alerts work →Gear for spotting Gray Crowned-Crane
Optics
Best Binoculars for Beginners
You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.
8 min readRead guide
Cameras
Cameras for Bird Photography
From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.
12 min readRead guide