Paradise crane

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Paradise crane
Paradise crane

Paradise crane

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Crane birds (Gruiformes)
Family : Common crane (Gruidae)
Subfamily : Common cranes (Gruinae)
Genre : Anthropoides
Type : Paradise crane
Scientific name
Anthropoides paradisea
( Lichtenstein , 1793)

The paradise crane ( Anthropoides paradisea ) is a species of bird from the crane family . It is considered the national bird of South Africa .

features

The paradise crane reaches a size of 110 to 120 cm and a weight between 4.8 and 5.4 kg. The wing span is 180 to 200 cm. The males are larger than the females. Just like the Jungfernkranich ( Anthropoides virgo ) it has a completely feathered head. It is also characterized by the lack of red facial skin. The plumage is predominantly slate gray. The head is pale gray-brown. The iris is dark brown. The legs are black and the beak pink-yellow. The black inner arm wings, which can reach down to the ground, are particularly noticeable. Loose feathers on the cheeks and neck give the head a striking cobra-shaped shape. The juvenile birds are lighter. They lack the extended arm wings.

Vocalizations

The deep, scratchy, and broken call is similar to that of the young crane.

Way of life

The paradise crane is sexually mature from the age of three to five years. In the mating season, the lateral head feathers lengthen and males and females fight each other. The breeding season is October to December. After a period of 30 days, two eggs with yellow-brown and olive-brown spots are placed in a nesting trough on the floor. Both parents take care of raising the young.

The paradise crane feeds on insects, roots, fish, frogs, worms, crabs, and even reptiles and small mammals. It can usually be seen in larger groups.

Occurrence and endangerment

The paradise crane is native to open steppes, on river banks and in the cultivated land of South Africa. Since the 1970s, due to the use of pesticides and reforestation projects in the cultural landscape, its population has fallen sharply, so that today there are only about 25,700 specimens.

  • Eggs of the paradise crane

  • Paradise crane couple

  • Paradise crane chick

  • Paradise Cranes in Bontebok National Park, Western Cape, South Africa

literature

  • Bruce Campbell: The Great Book of Birds . Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1976, ISBN 3800170256 .

Web links

Commons : Paradise crane  - album with pictures, videos and audio files