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Fast Facts:

East African crowned cranes are gregarious, often living in family flocks of more than 100 individuals.
The call for its mate comes from a 5-foot long windpipe that gives the crane their powerful trombone-like call that can carry for miles.

East African Crowned Crane

Scientific Name	Balearica regulorum gibbericeps
Classification	Phylum Chordata, Class Aves,Order Gruiformes; Family Gruidea
Status	Non-threatened
Range	Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and eastern Zaire.
Habitat	The largest concentrations are found in marshes and grassy flatlands near the rivers and lakes, but also inhabit cultivated land.
Diet	Plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, snakes, small fish and the eggs of water animals. They stamp as they walk, flushing insects to eat.
Size	4 feet tall
Location
Print Fact Sheet	East African Crowned Crane

Social Structure & Behavior

Cranes mate for life, but the remaining partner will take another mate when one dies.

They spend their entire day looking for food. At night, the crowned crane spends it time in the trees sleeping and resting.

Breeding and Care of Young

During the breeding season, cranes are known for their elaborate courtship dance with each other. The dance is outstanding as the crowned crane prances with wings outstretched to display its feathers, struts about and jumps high into the air.