Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Black Crowned Crane

Balearica pavonina (Linnaeus, 1758)

3.6 kgWeight

The black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina) is a part of the family Gruidae, along with its sister species, the grey crowned crane.

Busiest months: February and November–December · Most records: Senegal, Ethiopia, Gambia

Vulnerable

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: February and November–December · Most records: Senegal, Ethiopia, Gambia

Black Crowned Crane has been recorded at 47 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 13 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. PN des Oiseaux du DjoudjSenegal203 records
  2. Lake Koka – western shoreEthiopia89 records
  3. Lake Ziway – southwestern shoreEthiopia78 records
More places
  1. Lake ChelelekaEthiopia60 records
  2. Waza NPCameroon53 records
  3. Zakouma NPChad44 records
  4. Pirang Fish PondsGambia36 records
  5. Plaine de (dé)crue du fleuve SénégalSenegal32 records
  6. Les Trois Marigots – Brousses de ToddéSenegal30 records
  7. Bango – Djeuss et berges jusqu'à SanarSenegal25 records

Countries and regions with the most records

SenegalEthiopiaGambiaCameroonChadNigerBeninMauritania

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina) is a part of the family Gruidae, along with its sister species, the grey crowned crane. It is topped with its characteristic bristle-feathered golden crown. It is usually found in the shallow wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa during the wet season, which act as its principal breeding, feeding and roosting sites although it can also be found foraging in grasslands and near croplands of dry savanna.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black Crowned Crane?

The Black Crowned Crane weighs around 3.6 kg.

Where does the Black Crowned Crane live?

Its breeding range: Africa: northeastern, central, western. It is most often recorded in Senegal, Ethiopia and Gambia.

When is the best time to see the Black Crowned Crane?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February, November and December (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Black Crowned Crane endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black Crowned Crane as Vulnerable.

What does the Black Crowned Crane eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Black Crowned Crane in?

It belongs to the family Cranes (Gruidae), order Gruiformes.

At a glance

Weight
3.6 kg
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Vulnerable
More measurements
Wing
543 mm
Tail
258 mm
Bill
65 mm
Tarsus
201 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: northeastern, central, western

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Cranes Gruidae
Genus
Balearica

Other birds in the genus Balearica

Grey Crowned CraneGrey Crowned CraneBalearica regulorumSiberian CraneSiberian CraneLeucogeranus leucogeranusSandhill CraneSandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWhite-naped CraneWhite-naped CraneAntigone vipioSarus CraneSarus CraneAntigone antigoneBrolgaBrolgaAntigone rubicundaWattled CraneWattled CraneGrus carunculataBlue CraneBlue CraneGrus paradiseaDemoiselle CraneDemoiselle CraneGrus virgoRed-crowned CraneRed-crowned CraneGrus japonensis
Black Crowned Crane

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Asrat Ayalew Gella. ↗

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