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A photo of a Blue Crane (Grus paradisea)
Blue Crane

Blue Crane

Grus paradisea

The blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The blue crane is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm (3 ft 3 in – 3 ft 11 in) tail. This crane is pale blue-gray in color becoming darker on the upper head, neck and nape. From the crown to the lores, the plumage is distinctly lighter, sometimes whitish. The bill is ochre to greyish, with a pink tinge. The long wingtip feathers which trail to the ground. The primaries are black to slate grey, with dark coverts and blackish on the secondaries. Unlike most cranes, it has a relatively large head and a proportionately thin neck. Juveniles are similar but slightly lighter, with tawny coloration on the head, and no long wing plumes.
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Blue Cranes on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦉
Melani Grobler
Thursday 21 Sep 2023 - 6:22am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🐦
Ben Van der Schyf
Wednesday 20 Sep 2023 - 8:25am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦉
Emma Jean Wright
Wednesday 20 Sep 2023 - 5:49am
South Africa
A photo of a Blue Crane photographed in  South Africa
Profile picture for Graham Willers
Graham Willers
Tuesday 19 Sep 2023 - 11:30am
South Africa
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