Wattled Crane

The wattled crane is a large bird with a long white neck, gray body, black undersides and bare red face with a black “cap.” Its name comes from the white wattles that dangle from its throat. The crane’s secondary, inner wing feathers are elongated, and look like a tail when the crane is standing. It is mostly found in south-central Africa.

^ Back to top

The wattled crane mainly eats aquatic vegetation, but also eats tubers, rhizomes, seeds, small reptiles, frogs and insects. It often submerges its entire head under water when feeding.

^ Back to top

Like all cranes, the wattled crane performs an elaborate courtship dance, which involves much bowing, tossing of the head, jumping into the air, and vocalizing between both birds. Pairs mate for life and live in flocks.

^ Back to top

The wattled crane is the most wetland-dependent of Africa’s crane species, and its distribution is reliant upon annual river basin flood patterns. Agricultural expansion is the leading cause of loss and degradation of its wetland habit—a serious threat to this endangered species. Estimates number the world’s population of wattled cranes at about 8,000 individuals.

There is a small population of wattled cranes in AWF’s Limpopo Heartland. In this region, AWF is developing a conservation program where the cranes and other types of wildlife can recover.

^ Back to top

Back to Wildlife Gallery