The blue crane, 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.
Region
Southern Africa
Typical Environment
The blue crane is concentrated in South Africa, with strongholds in the Eastern and Western Cape, the Karoo, Free State, and Highveld grasslands, and small numbers in neighboring areas such as Namibia and Lesotho. It favors open short-grass habitats, fallow fields, pastures, and lightly grazed rangelands. Nests are placed on the ground in flat, open areas with good visibility. Outside the breeding season, it readily uses agricultural landscapes for foraging. Proximity to scattered water sources is typical, but it is less wetland-dependent than most cranes.
Altitude Range
0–2500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Stanley crane or paradise crane, the blue crane is South Africa’s national bird. It is listed as Vulnerable, with main threats including habitat loss, powerline collisions, and disturbance during breeding. Unlike many cranes, it favors open, dry grasslands and agricultural fields rather than wetlands. It performs graceful threat displays, raising its long wing plumes when alarmed.
A blue crane at the International Crane Foundation
Blue crane seen in Etosha, Namibia
Eggs of Blue Crane MHNT
Temperament
wary yet social
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats; occasional soaring
Social Behavior
Monogamous pairs defend open territories during breeding, nesting on the ground with minimal cover. After breeding, birds gather in loose flocks, especially in agricultural areas. Courtship includes elaborate dances, leaps, and tossing of grass. Both parents tend the young and lead them to foraging areas soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are clear, high, bugling trumpets, often given in duet by pairs. Alarm calls are sharper and more rapid, while contact calls are softer and more conversational. Vocalizations carry over long distances in open country.
Plumage
Smooth, uniform pale blue-grey body with elongated, darker slate-grey tertial plumes forming a trailing 'train'. Neck and head are paler with a neat, refined profile. Flight feathers are darker, giving contrast in flight.
Diet
Omnivorous, taking seeds and grasses, cereal grains in stubble fields, and a wide range of invertebrates such as insects and larvae. It also consumes small vertebrates including frogs, lizards, and occasionally small rodents. Foraging is mostly by walking and gleaning, with probing in soft soil for hidden prey. Agricultural lands can provide abundant spilled grain and invertebrates.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in short-grass pastures, ploughed or harvested fields, and lightly grazed rangelands. It also uses the margins of dams and pans but is not strongly tied to wetlands for feeding. Open visibility is preferred to detect predators and disturbances.
