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Art by Barry Kent MacKay

(Artwork - 255)
Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum)

The name of this bird may be confusing. It is the crane that is grey, not the crown, thus the lack of a hyphen between “grey” and “crowned”, or “gray” to give the alternative spelling of that word! The name separates this species from the very closely related and similar-looking Black Crowned Crane (B. pavonine) which has a blackish, not grey neck and body plumage. In the past some taxonomists considered them to be conspecific, but thorough analysis shows them to be two separate species, both with crowns of stiff, thin feathers that are a golden-wheat color. Both naturally occur only in Africa, but are easily kept in captivity and because of that, and their overall attractiveness, they are often seen in zoos.

The Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of Uganda, and a stylized image of it appears in the center of the country’s delightfully colorful black, red, and yellow barred flag. The cranes stand about a meter tall and weigh about 3.5 kg (roughly 7.7 lbs). Fun fact: the two species of crowned crane are the only two of the 15 species of crane who perch in trees, thanks to a longer hind toe than other family members. They also lack the long, coiled trachea of other cranes that allows the Whooping Crane to so loudly whoop and trumpet; crowned cranes honk.

They are omnivorous, eating both plant food, such as seeds and grain, and large invertebrates such as locusts, and small vertebrates such as snakes, lizards, baby birds, mice, and frogs. They may stomp about flushing prey, and with their slender, long toes can grasp and hold small animals. They may associate with various species of African herbivores, such as antelopes.

The sad news is that the species is in decline, and while still common in some parts of Africa, it is officially listed as endangered.

I forgot to measure this painting before it sold but I think about 30 by 20 inches, in oils, on birch panel.

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