Balearica pavonina ceciliae

(Mitchell, 1904)

Vernacular names
English : Black crowned-crane
French : Grue couronnée

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Gruiformes
Family : Gruidae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known

Identification
Adults can reach a body size of 105 cm and a weight of 4 kg. The species has dark slaty-grey plumage on most of body except white wings and brown tail. Bright golden crest. This subspecies has close to entire cheeks bright red.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in Subsaharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia, this subspecies being found from Chad all the way to Ethiopia, in scattered populations. Lives in shallow wetlands, marshes and wet grasslands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is declining because of habitat loss, egg collection and overhunting. So far, this subspecies seems to be the safest of the two.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, ESB in Europe

Observation
Khao Kheow Open Zoo (Thailand)

 

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