H3_W1_006

Date: 2022

Location: Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Did you know?

The Grey-Crowned Crane has multiple names – the African Crowned Crane, Golden-Crested Crane, Golden-Crowned Crane, East African Crane, East African Crowned Crane, African Crane, Eastern Crowned Crane, Kavirondo Crane, South African Crane, and Crested Crane. It is the national bird of Uganda. Apart from the Black-Crowned Crane, the Grey-Crowned Crane is the only other crane species that can roost in trees, because of a long hind toe that can grasp branches. This trait is assumed to be an ancestral trait among the cranes, which has been lost in other subfamilies. In 2012 it was uplisted from vulnerable to endangered by the IUCN.

About the picture

This photo of a pair of Grey-Crowned Cranes was taken in Lake Nakuru, Kenya in 2022. The pair was foraging for food amidst the grass and shrubs. The light falling on them shows off their beautiful colours even better.

Fun Fact

Grey-Crowned Cranes have been observed to congregate in large numbers in some sort of ceremony similar to a wedding when two adults pair off. The new couple dance for a while before flying off together to start a new family.