Wattled Crane

Grus carunculata (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Wattled Crane, Grus carunculata, breeds in Africa from DR Congo and Tanzania south to Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is a crane of wetlands and grasslands, and its range includes eastern and southern Africa. The bird is notable for its red bare skin around the face and the fleshy wattles that hang beneath the throat. It has black legs and toes, a long bill, and dark slate grey, white and black plumage. Juveniles are tawny and show less obvious wattles.

Order

Gruiformes

Family

Gruidae — Cranes

Breeding range

Africa: DR Congo and Tanzania to Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa