The Black Crowned-Crane is a magnificent species of crane found in sub-Saharan parts of Africa. These birds have a mostly dark plumage, with white along the upper wings. They are named for their black body plumage and for the distinctive crown of golden feathers that they have on their heads.
The preferred habitat of Black Crowned-Cranes is freshwater marshes and wet grasslands. They are omnivorous and feed on plant material like grasses and seeds, as well as small prey items including insects and small vertebrates and invertebrates.
The Black Crowned-Crane is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2012 by BirdLife International. This species is classified as Vulnerable as recent surveys have shown a rapid population decline which is predicted to continue into the future, primarily due to habitat loss and trapping for domestication or illegal international trade. However, trend data for the eastern sub-population is poorly known, and should the worst-case scenario for B. p. ceciliae prove to be accurate this species may warrant uplisting in the future.
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... Read more »
