Overview
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.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Seeds, grasses, insects and frogs.
How to identify it
- Golden bristly crown on a black-and-white head
- Red throat wattle
- Grey body with white and gold in the wings
Voice
Honking calls; pairs dance.
Where to see it
- Lake Naivasha, Kenya
- Uganda's wetlands
Destination guides featuring this bird
Similar species
- Black Crowned Crane
- darker body; West and Central Africa
Range and habitat
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Grey crowned crane
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
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