Black crowned crane

The black crowned crane, also known as the black crested crane, is a captivating bird from the crane family, Gruidae. This striking species can be found in the dry savannas of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, and occasionally in slightly wetter regions.

There are two subspecies of the black crowned crane: B. p. pavonina, which inhabits the western parts of Africa, and the more commonly seen B. p. ceciliae, located in East Africa.

The black crowned crane, along with its close relative, the grey crowned crane (B. regulorum), is distinguished by its rare ability to nest in trees—a trait suggesting that these smaller Balearica cranes closely resemble the ancient ancestors of the Gruidae family.

In terms of dimensions, the black crowned crane stands approximately 1 meter (3.3 feet) tall, has a wingspan of about 1.87 meters (6.2 feet), and weighs around 3.6 kilograms (8 pounds).

Like all cranes, the black crowned crane's diet consists of insects, reptiles, and small mammals. Sadly, this beautiful bird is considered endangered, particularly in the western parts of its range, due to habitat loss and degradation.

The black crowned crane holds significant cultural importance as the national bird of Nigeria, one of the countries where it can still be found.