South Africa's National Bird: The Elegant and Endangered Blue Crane

Birdorable Blue Cranes

The Blue Crane, with its enchanting grace and striking presence, holds the esteemed title of the national bird of South Africa. This elegant avian animal (Anthropoides paradiseus) is not just a symbol of the nation's fragile, rich biodiversity, but also an emblem deeply woven into the cultural fabric and heritage of South Africa. The choice of the Blue Crane as the national bird reflects the country's commitment to conservation and the importance of preserving its natural wonders for future generations.

Endemic to the southern regions of Africa, today the Blue Crane can be found almost exclusively in parts of South Africa, with a small, isolated population living in Namibia.

Displaying Blue Crane photo

Blue Crane by Bernard DUPONT
(CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

Though small for a crane, the Blue Crane is a large bird, standing about four feet tall, with a wingspan that can reach up to seven feet. It is easily recognizable by its pale blue-gray plumage, elongated neck,  extended head feathering that gives them the appearance of having a large, uniquely shaped head, and the strikingly long feathers that droop from its wings, creating an effect of having a long tail. These wing feathers, or tertials, flutter captivatingly in the breeze.

These graceful birds exude an air of nobility and grace, whether observed feeding and loafing in their natural grassland habitats or while performing their intricate mating dances, flapping their tail-like wing feathers as they move.

Historically, the Blue Crane has been a symbol of importance among various South African cultures. For the Xhosa people, the bird is a symbol of bravery, and warriors were often awarded feathers to signify their strength and valor in battle. These feathers, worn as part of traditional regalia, are highly prized and considered sacred, showing the deep cultural respect and reverence held for this majestic bird.

However, the Blue Crane faces significant threats that have put its population at risk. Habitat loss, primarily due to agricultural expansion and urban development, has led to a drastic reduction in their natural grassland habitats. Additionally, poisoning, both intentional and accidental, along with collisions with power lines, has further exacerbated the decline in their numbers. Today, the Blue Crane is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), highlighting the urgent need for concerted conservation efforts to ensure its survival.

Blue Cranes photo

Blue Crane by Bernard DUPONT (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

Conservation initiatives across South Africa have been mobilized to protect the Blue Crane and its habitat. Elevating the bird to national symbol status has helped with these efforts.

Conservation work to help Blue Cranes include the establishment of protected areas, the implementation of captive breeding programs, and environmental education campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the bird's plight. Farmers and local communities are also being engaged to adopt bird-friendly practices, such as marking power lines to prevent collisions and reducing the use of harmful pesticides.

The designation of the Blue Crane as South Africa's national bird serves not only as a symbol of the country's natural beauty but also as a constant reminder of the fragile connection between humans and nature. It underscores the responsibility of each citizen to protect and preserve their natural heritage, not just for the aesthetic and cultural value it provides but for the ecological balance it maintains.

Moreover, the Blue Crane's status as the national bird has significant implications for tourism, drawing bird watchers and nature enthusiasts from around the globe to South Africa's diverse landscapes in hopes of catching a glimpse of this rare and beautiful species. During our fall 2023 trip to South Africa, we were extremely excited to be able to see flocks of Blue Cranes in the wild.

For South Africa, the Blue Crane is more than just a bird; it is a national treasure that encapsulates the spirit, beauty, and ecological diversity of a unique country. Its selection as the national bird honors the country's rich cultural heritage and its commitment to conserving natural resources. As efforts continue to protect and preserve the Blue Crane, it stands as a beacon of hope and a symbol of the resilience of nature, inspiring future generations to cherish and safeguard the natural world around them.

Birdorable Blue Crane Gift Ideas

Of the 15 species of crane in the world, six of them have a color in part of the name: black, grey, white, red, or blue. This Crane Week we've added four new crane coloring pages to our free downloads collection. You can get creative with our new additions:

Birdorable crane coloring pages

Direct links to the coloring pages:

All of our coloring pages are free to download and are perfect for schools, nature centers, zoos, and other environmental education locations.

Thanks for following along as we celebrated cranes this week on the Birdorable blog!

Baby Sandhill Crane with parent

We're celebrating cranes on the Birdorable blog this week! Today we'd like to share a bird term that relates to cranes and other birds. Let's learn about what it means to be precocial!

The term precocial comes from the Latin praecocia, which refers to "places where fruits ripen early." A precocial species is one in which the newly hatched or born young are relatively mature. In birds, this means the baby is usually covered in downy feathers and is able to walk and even feed itself within a short time of hatching. This adaptation is found in most ground-nesting birds as a strategy to evade predators when the nest offers little shelter.

Cranes have precocial young, as do many other birds, including ducks and geese, chickens, and rails. Malleefowl chicks can even already fly within a day of hatching. There are some mammals born precocial, like the Hartebeest, whose calves can stand and walk within hours of being born.

On the other end of the development spectrum are altricial babies. In birds, this usually means at the time of hatching the chick is naked (without feathers), has its eyes shut, and is completely helpless and dependent on its parents for care all of its needs.

Two other terms related to precocial and altricial are nidifugous and nidicolous. Nidifugous species leave the nest site shortly after hatching; all nidifugous species are precocial but not all precocial species are nidifugous. Precocial birds that remain in the nest for a period are called nidicolous.

Crane Festivals

Sandhill Cranes in flight

It's Crane Week! You may be wondering where you can find cranes. There are cranes on every continent except for South America and Antarctica. With their elaborate mating dances, haunting calls, impressive size, and epic migrations, cranes are celebrated all around the world. You can join other crane enthusiasts at various crane festivals around the United States and beyond.

The Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas, Texas This huge annual festival celebrated its 22nd year in 2018. The fest takes place at the end of February each year and features field trips, speakers, workshops, a trade show, and more.

Crane Festival in Kearney, Nebraska This annual festival takes place in late March. Birding field trips, information sessions, and other activities are offered for participants.

Monte Vista Crane Festival in the San Luis Valley of Colorado This festival takes place in March each year. Visitors enjoy viewing spectacular flocks of cranes, ducks, and geese in a beautiful mountain setting.

Chrissiesmeer Crane Festival in Chrissiesmeer, South Africa This annual festival takes place in July. Visitors can see South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane, as well as the spectacular Grey Crowned-Crane.

Cranes of the World Festival at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin This family-friendly event will next take place on August 4, 2018.

Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival in Alaska This annual festival will next take place August 24-26 2018.

Yampa Valley Crane Festival in northwest Colorado This festival from the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition will next take place starting August 30, 2018. The fest features guided bird viewings, live raptor presentations, photography workshops, and much more.

Whooping Crane Festival in Princeton, Wisconsin This annual one-day festival includes activities like a pancake breakfast, vendors, triva, and guided tours.

CraneFest in Bellevue, Michigan This combined crane and art festival will next take place October 13-14, 2018. Each day the festival features artists, food vendors, and conservation-related information and activities. Stay for the spectacular evening fly-in of cranes that takes place in the hours before dusk.

Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi, California This festival will next take place November 2-4, 2018. The event celebrates the return of the cranes for the winter and features related presentations and workshops for participants.

Black-necked Crane Festival in the Phobjikha Valley of Bhutan This celebration takes place in mid-November, when the cranes return to Bhutan. The fest highlights the importance of preserving and appreciating the endangered crane.

Festival of the Cranes in Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico This huge six-day festival takes place in November at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and offers over a hundred activities like photography sessions, birding trips, and more.

T-Shirt Tuesday: National Cranes

For T-Shirt Tuesday [Crane Edition] we're unveiling several new t-shirt designs inspired by cranes that are honored as avian emblems in several different places around the world. These cute crane t-shirts are available from our Birdorable store on Amazon. Click a design to view the t-shirt on Amazon.

The Black Crowned-Crane is the National Bird of Nigeria. In this t-shirt design our cartoon bird stands proudly before the Nigerian national flag.

Birdorable Black Crowned-Crane with Nigeria Flag T-Shrit

The Black-necked Crane is the official state bird of Jammu and Kashmir in India. A stylized image of the crane is featured on the state flag, which is part of our t-shirt design.

State Bird of Jammu & Kashmir India Black-necked Crane

The Blue Crane is the National Bird of South Africa. It is featured in a collegiate style on our t-shirt.

National Bird of South Africa Cute Cartoon Blue Crane Shirt
Blue Crane of South Africa Cute National Bird T-Shirt

The Red-crowned Crane is the unofficial National Bird of China. The bird features prominently in Chinese culture; it is shown along with a map of China in our t-shirt design.

Cute Cartoon Bird Red-crowned Crane of China from Birdorable

The Grey Crowned-Crane is the National Bird of Uganda. Here, too, the bird is featured stylized on the flag, and on our shirt as well.

Uganda National Bird Grey Crowned-Crane Cute Cartoon T-Shirt

These shirts are all available via our Amazon page.

Continue to follow Birdorable here and on Facebook as we celebrate Crane Week!

Cranes in Mythology and Popular Culture

Almost anywhere you can find cranes living in the wild, you can find cranes in human mythology and popular culture. They are often symbols of happiness, youth, good luck, and/or peace.

In Japan, as in many other parts of Asia, cranes are regarded as symbols of good fortune, peace, and youth. Japanese legend tells that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted one wish.

Crane origami
Crane origami by Japanexpterterna.se (CC BY-SA 2.0)

In China, the Red-crowned Crane is prevalent in mythology. It is a symbol of nobility, as well as youth, longevity, and immortality.

Pine, Plum and Cranes (1759) by Shen Quan from the Palace Museum in Beijing, China

In heraldry or coats of arms, a crane is often shown holding a rock with its foot. The symbolism comes from a legend attributed to Pliny the Elder. He wrote that a group of cranes under attack put one bird on watch. The bird on guard duty would hold a rock; if the crane accidentally fell asleep, the sound of the falling rock would awaken the bird.

Crane coat of arms
Image by Christer Sundin (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The elaborate mating and pair-bonding dances performed by cranes are noted in several cultures. The Blue Crane is prominent in the culture of the Xhosa of southern Africa. Feathers from the bird are used in ceremonies to decorate distinguished men.

In native Siberian culture, the Siberian Crane is sacred, a symbol associated with the sun and spring time.

In Germany, there is a museum devoted entirely to the natural history of the Common Crane! The Kranich Museum is in a renovated manor house in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. There are displays of various pieces of artwork related to the birds, including video, murals, costumes, and other media.

The Sarus Crane is considered sacred in several Indian cultures. They are known as symbols of marital virtue because they mate for life. When a Sarus Crane dies, its mate was believed to starve to death in sorrow.

Cranes are featured in a few of Aesop's fables. In The Geese and the Cranes, a mixed flock of geese and cranes were feeding in a meadow. A birdcatcher came to ensnare them in his nets. The cranes, being light of wing, fled away at his approach; while the geese, being slower of flight and heavier in their bodies, were captured. The moral of this story is that those who are caught are not always the most guilty. Other fables attributed to Aesop that include cranes are The Wolf and the Crane and The Peacock and the Crane.

Illustration from 1909 of the fable of the geese and cranes from Aesop's Fables
Birdorable Cranes

Join us in the following days as we celebrate all things cranes! It's time for our second ever Crane Week! Our first Crane Week was back in 2015.

We chose today to kick off Crane Week because the birds are honored each year in Sweden on March 25th. The Swedish Trandagen is meant to celebrate the return of migratory cranes to the country following winter. The celebration is observed in certain southern parts of Sweden.

All 15 species of crane are found here at Birdorable. To kick off this celebratory week, on Crane Day, let's take a look back at how we've featured cranes here at Birdorable in the past:

We hope you'll join us this week as we celebrate cranes on the Birdorable blog!

Crane fans in Wisconsin are talking about a unique chick being raised by a mixed pair of cranes in Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. The chick appears to be the offspring of a male Whooping Crane (identified as DAR 16-11) and a female Sandhill Crane.

The chick, who has earned the nickname "Whoopsie" from crane fans, may be the first of its kind. It is certainly the first documented offspring from a mixed Whooping-Sandhill pairing in the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes.

In the 1940s there were just 21 Whooping Cranes left. Since then, groups have been working to save the species and bolster the various flock populations. As of 2011, there were almost 600 birds, including both wild and captive birds.

Whooping Crane DAR 16-11, given the nickname "Grasshopper", was hatched on June 15, 2011. He was costume-reared by International Crane Foundation handlers. At about five months of age, he and his 2011 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) cohorts were released at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in the presence of wild Whooping Cranes. The wild birds show the DAR birds the migration route from their northern breeding grounds to their winter home in Florida.

Whoopsie the Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane hybrid chick

This week's highlighted t-shirt design features a cute pair of Sandhill Cranes in flight, shown here on our customizable Basic Long Sleeve T-Shirt from Zazzle. The cartoon birds on this graphic tee are illustrated in our signature Birdorable style. You can customize this gift by moving the birds around, changing the background color or style, and adding text or images -- make it your own! This will make a great gift for crane fans and birders. For more Birdorable cranes visit our new Cranes of the World page.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight Basic Long Sleeve T-Shirt

More t-shirt styles with this design

Birdorable cranes from around the world

We're wrapping up our week-long celebration of cranes with some more cool crane facts. These extreme facts show how diverse this amazing family of birds can be.

Oldest Crane
The average lifespan for wild cranes is typically between 20 years and 30 years. The longevity record for all crane species goes to the Siberian Crane. A bird living at the National Zoological Park of the Smithsonian Institute reached the ripe old age of 62! That bird passed in 1968. Another Siberian Crane, named Wolf, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for reaching 83 years of age!

Most Abundant
There are more Sandhill Cranes than any other species of crane in the world. There are an estimated 650,000 Sandhill Cranes found across North America.

Longest Migration
The Siberian Crane may fly up to 10,000 miles round trip in a year. Some birds breed in western Siberia and winter as far south as parts of India.

Most Endangered
With an estimated wild population of just over 430 birds, the Whooping Crane is the least abundant of all crane species. They have a conservation status of Endangered and are the subjects of conservation efforts from several groups. Whooping Cranes do breed in captivity and there are over 165 individuals at zoological facilities throughout the world.

Fancy Footwork
While all crane species perform some kind of dancing ritual as part of courtship and pair-bonding, Red-crowned Cranes are especially known for their fancy footwork. Pairs of Red-crowned Cranes will duet as they dance, moving rhythmically as they approach one another.



Highest Flyer
The Common Crane is one high-flying species! One bird was recorded flying at an altitude of up to 33,000 feet over the Himalayas. This record is second only to the Rüppell's Vulture flying up to an altitude of 37,000 feet.

Ancient Species
Sandhill Cranes have been around a very long time. In fact, their fossil history is among the longest of any living bird. Sandhill Crane fossils up to 2.5 million years old have been found.

Can't get enough of these amazing birds? Be sure to check out our great collection of cute and original crane apparel and gifts.

Birdorable Crane Gifts