Updated
Grey crowned crane Uganda is the national bird of Uganda and one of the most elegant of all African birds, the golden feather crown and red facial wattle making it unmistakable in the wetlands and grasslands of the national parks. The grey crowned crane is Uganda’s national bird, shown on the national flag and coat of arms. It is a tall, elegant crane about 1 m high, with a slate-grey body, white and golden wing patches, a bare white and red cheek and a spectacular crown of stiff golden feathers. It lives in wetlands and nearby grassland and farmland across Uganda and is now listed as Endangered, mainly because of wetland loss and capture for trade. Visitors often see it at Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth National Park and in the wetlands of the south-west.
Grey Crowned Crane Uganda: The National Bird Complete Guide
How to recognise it
The golden crown is unmistakable, but look also for the black forehead, white cheek with a red patch above, and a small red throat pouch that the bird inflates when calling. In flight, the large white wing patches stand out. Males and females look alike, and they weigh around 3–4 kg. Unlike most cranes, crowned cranes have a long hind toe that lets them perch and roost in trees. Their call is a deep, honking sound, often heard at dawn.
Behaviour and breeding
Crowned cranes feed on seeds, grasses, insects, frogs and small reptiles, walking slowly through grassland and shallow wetland and stamping to flush prey. They pair for long periods and perform striking dances, bowing, jumping and spreading their wings, especially in the breeding season. Nests are built in wetlands among sedges and reeds, and pairs defend their breeding territory. Outside the breeding season, they may gather in flocks to feed.
Why it is endangered
Numbers have fallen sharply across East Africa, and the species was moved to Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2012. The main threats are the draining and farming of wetlands where cranes breed, disturbance, poisoning, and the capture of chicks and adults for the pet and ornamental trade. Conservation groups in Uganda work with farming communities to protect breeding wetlands, and as the national symbol, the crane has strong cultural support.
Where to see grey crowned cranes
Good places include Lake Mburo National Park, the Kasenyi plains and channel shores of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls, and wetlands and farmland in the south-west around Lake Bunyonyi and Kabale, so many visitors see them on the way to or from Bwindi. Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe is another possibility. Ask your driver-guide to stop: they are photogenic and relatively easy to approach in a vehicle. See our guides to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, a 22-day birding safari and the shoebill, another iconic wetland bird.
Frequently asked questions
The grey crowned crane, shown on the flag and coat of arms.
Yes. It was listed as Endangered in 2012, mainly due to wetland loss and capture for trade.
Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and wetlands in the south-west, including around Lake Bunyonyi.
Yes. Unlike most cranes, they have a long hind toe and roost in trees.
