Cranes are members of the Gruidae, characterized by large, long legs and long necks. There are presently 15 species of Cranes placed under 3 sub-families of Grus, Antigone and Balearica and two of these species are found in Uganda. Cranes are incredibly different from the similar-looking but greatly unrelated herons because they fly with their long necks outstretched and not pulled back.
Cranes are found in five Continents (Africa, North America, Australia, Asia and Europe). One interesting thing about these birds is that they are opportunistic feeders who alter their diets based on the time of the year and nutrient requirements. However, they primarily consume berries, small rodents, insects, eggs of other birds, grains, Amphibians and fish.
Cranes are very huge birds, often mistaken for being the World’s tallest flying birds and extend for length of about 90 centimeters and can weigh up to 12 kilograms.
The two species of Cranes in Uganda are the Black-crowned Cranes and Grey-crowned Cranes.
Grey Crowned Cranes
Also known as Crested Crane and scientifically Balearica regulorum, this bird is the National bird of Uganda although are widely distributed across most Eastern and Southern Africa countries. These Cranes are surprisingly closely related to the Black-crowned cranes, bird species also found in Uganda and are often interchangeably identified. These birds have height of 1-1.2 meters tall, weight of approximately 3.5 kilograms and wingspan of 2 meters. They are omnivorous and feed on snakes, seeds, insects, plants, small fish, grains (rice, millet and maize), frogs, eggs of aquatic animals and worms.
Their body plumage is primarily grey while wings are mostly white with several colors, but the black pack at their very tops stand out. Crested Cranes have heads with crowns of stiff golden feathers while their face sides are white with bright-red inflatable throat pouches.
Bills of Grey-crowned cranes are proportionately short and grey while their legs are black. Their long legs are important for wading through the grasses while their large and slender feet are handy for balance then grasping and balance. In Uganda, the Grey crowned Cranes are always spotted roaming across the vast savannah plains of Murchison falls National Park among other places. You will also see them in other dry and open areas although they nest in wet areas such as River banks, wetland marshes and Lakes shores.
Black Crowned Cranes.
Black-crowned Cranes are scientifically known as Balearica pavonina and also found in Uganda. These Cranes are exceptionally recognized by their bristle-feathered golden brown color and usually inhabit the shallow swamps of Sub-Saharan Africa. Wetlands are their primary breeding and roosting spots much as they can also be found roaming and feeding within the dry savannah grasslands and close to farmlands.
If keenly observed, you will discover that the Black-crowned Cranes have dark slate-gray to black plumage and stiff golden feathers at their head-tops, making up their crowns. Their golden bristle-like feathers are spiral and white on one side while brown on the other with black at their edges. These Cranes also have white feathers on the upper sides of their wings. Unlike the Grey-crowned Cranes, Black crowned Cranes have a small touch of red skin that act as their gular sacs and they hang underneath their chins.
They are about 105 centimeters long and weigh between 3 and 4 kilograms, with a wingspan of 180 to 200 centimeters. Much as Black-crowned Cranes are found in Uganda, they are rare and feed on small reptiles, insects, fish, locust, grasshoppers, Amphibians, flies, millipedes and other invertebrates.
Besides Cranes, other unmissable bird species in Uganda are Pelicans, Flamingos, Kingfishers, Herons, Bitterns and egrets, Guinea-fowls and Francolins, storks among others.
