Grey Crowned Crane

One of the most colorful, adorned and elegant-looking cranes I have seen. The crane is native to the African continent. Size is about that of a Sandhill Crane.

There was a pair of breeding cranes at this conservancy. This female was very aggressive and protective of the male in a role reversal! Morning sunshine illuminates the crown here.

To my Avanthi!

Nikon D6, Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G lens, f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO 320

Thanks to all of you who fave and/or comment on the photograph!

Flickr Explore: November 18, 2024

Tags:   Red Grey-crowned Crane Balearica regulorum African Crowned-crane Ripley Conservancy Avanthi

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Adult is grey overall, with dull red skin on the crown and lores; whitish chin and upper throat; blackish primaries. Sandhill cranes may stain their upper back feathers, lower neck and breast with ferrous solution contained in the mud while preening with muddy bills. In winter, they regularly feed in dry fields consuming corn, insects, amphibians and rodents, returning to water at night.

Nikon D6, Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G lens, f/8, 1/1600s, ISO 320.

Thanks to all of you who fave and/or comment on the photograph!

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Adult is grey overall, with dull red skin on the crown and lores; whitish chin and upper throat; blackish primaries. Sandhill cranes may stain their upper back feathers, lower neck and breast with ferrous solution contained in the mud while preening with muddy bills. In winter, they regularly feed in dry fields consuming corn, insects, amphibians and rodents, returning to water at night. Compare the rump of a crane with that of a Painted Stork or a Great Blue Heron.

Compare the Sandhill crane with a Sarus crane.

Nikon D6, Nikon 200-400mm f/4G lens, f/5.6, 1/1000s, ISO 320.

Thanks to all of you who fave and/or comment on the photograph!

Tags:   Delta, BC, Canada Sandhill Crane Blue

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Rare and endangered species! Tallest bird of N. America. Named after its whooping sound. Sparse wild population breeds in freshwater marshes of Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta, winters in Aransas NWR on Gulf Coast of Texas. Birds are found spaced out in pairs or family parties up to 5 birds. Adult is white overall with red crown and whiskers; black primaries show in flight. Juvenile strikingly orange, buff, and white through first year. Adults stay with young through first winter. As of April 2021 there were 808 wildlife and captive birds around the globe.

Additional reading

Compare with Sarus Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Common Crane, Sandhill Crane.

Thanks to all of you who fave and comment on the photograph! Had to toil very hard to get this shot.

Nikon 200-400mm f/4G lens, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/400s, ISO 560

Tags:   The amazing Whooping Crane Aransas NWR Tallest flying bird The graceful crane Elegant crane Cranes of N. America Cranes of the World Grus americana Endangered crane Sunrays+5 coth5

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Adult is grey overall, with dull red skin on the crown and lores; whitish chin and upper throat; blackish primaries. Cranes may stain their upper back feathers, lower neck and breast with ferrous solution contained in the mud while preening with muddy bills. In winter, they regularly feed in dry fields consuming corn (as above), insects, amphibians and rodents, returning to water at night.

Compare with Sarus Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Common Crane.

Nikon 200-400mm f/4G lens, x1.4, f/5.6, 1/6400s, ISO 400, NPF

Thanks to all of you who fave and/or comment on the photograph!

Tags:   Sandhill Cranes Bosque Del Apache NWR New Mexico

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