Quick Facts
Conservation Status:
Endangered
Average Lifespan:
20 to 25 years
Diet:
Omnivore
Our Crowned Cranes
We have two Crowned Crane exhibits at Zoosiana. The exhibit near our Critter Cafe is the home of our mated pair of Crowned Cranes. They have had multiple successful hatchings at our facility and guests can meet the 3 males from their first clutch at the Crowned Crane exhibit near the entrance to the zoo. With the declining population of Crowned Cranes, we are proud of the work we've completed to keep this species alive. Zoosiana is committed to helping our community learn more about the endangered species of our world in hopes that you will form a lifelong connection with these wonderful animals.
In the Wild
The crowned crane is a tall, majestic-looking bird with a "crown" of tall, stiff, golden feathers. The crane's long legs and neck, and excellent peripheral vision help it spot predators in the tall savanna grasses. Crowned cranes are famous for their courtship, especially their mating dance. It includes bobbing, wing flapping, and swinging circles around each other. Crowned cranes are usually found in pairs, but may be alone or in small flocks of 3 to 20 individuals. A successful pair keeps its family group together for almost a year. After that, the young birds often form their own flock and spend much of their time feeding in fields.
Fun Facts
- Fossil records show that crowned cranes existed 37 to 54 million years ago. Prehistoric cave paintings of cranes have been found in Europe, Africa, and Australia.
- Cranes have been clocked flying 45 miles per hour.
- The flag of Uganda features a crowned crane, making it one of the few national flags to bear the image of a bird.