Britannica AI Icon

crowned crane

bird
Also known as: Balearica pavonina, crested crane

Quick Summary

The crowned crane is a relatively small African crane belonging to the genus Balearica. It is distinguished by a large, yellow crest of stiff feathers on the back of its head. These birds are known to roost in trees. Cranes, in general, are tall wading birds of the family Gruidae. They are found worldwide except in South America, though many species are endangered due to hunting and habitat destruction. Cranes typically have a partly naked head, a heavy bill, and compact plumage. When flying, they extend their long necks forward with their legs trailing behind. The crowned crane, specifically, is found across nearly all of Africa.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.