Blue Crane
Anthropoides paradiseus
A small, elegant, uniformly blue-gray crane that dwells in open habitats in pairs and variably sized groups. The bulbous head, plain face lacking any naked skin, and lack of contrast in the wings are distinctive. It is a resident and partial nomad in semi-desert, grassland, and cereal cropland. A staccato, bugling “kkk-kk-kk-kk-krraaak” call often first gives them away.
Identification
The blue crane is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm (3 ft 3 in – 3 ft 11 in) tall, with a wingspan of 180–200 cm (5 ft 11 in – 6 ft 7 in) and weighs 3.6–6.2 kg (7.9–13.7 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord measures 51.4–59 cm (20.2–23.2 in), the exposed culmen measures 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) and the tarsus measures 20.5–25.2 cm (8.1–9.9 in). This crane is pale blue-gray in color becoming darker on the upper head, neck and nape. From the crown to the lores, the plumage is distinctly lighter, sometimes whitish. The bill is ochre to greyish, with a pink tinge. The long wingtip feathers which trail to the ground. The primaries are black to slate grey, with dark coverts and blackish on the secondaries. Unlike most cranes, it has a relatively large head and a proportionately thin neck. Juveniles are similar but slightly lighter, with tawny coloration on the head, and no long wing plumes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Anthropoides paradiseus
- Authority
- (Lichtenstein, AAH, 1793)
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Gruidae
- Genus
- Anthropoides
Range and habitat
Blue cranes are birds of the dry grassy uplands, usually the pastured grasses of hills, valleys, and plains with a few scattered trees. They prefer areas in the nesting season that have access to both upland and wetland areas, though they feed almost entirely in dry areas. They are altitudinal migrants, generally nesting in the lower grasslands of an elevation of around 1,300 to 2,000 m and moving down to lower altitudes for winter.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Sylvia abyssinica
Unusual warbler with a gray head and underparts and a rich brown back. There is some geographical variation, and one subspecies in south and east Tanzania shows a black face. Found in tangles in the mid-story of montane forest. Shy and skulking bird that is usually in small groups. Most often detected by voice: a chatty, up-and-down series of slurred whistles. Somewhat similar to illadopsises, but usually found in the mid-story, not on or near the ground.
Utcubamba Tapaculo
Scytalopus intermedius
Small, plain bird found at high elevations in the eastern Andes in northern Peru. Adult male is dark gray, often looking black in the field. Females and young birds are browner, especially on the lower underparts. Similar to Large-footed Tapaculo, but smaller and has a different voice. Gives low-pitched, froglike notes either in a steady series or in shorter, faster bursts. Inhabits understory of elfin cloud forest, often near tree line, and stays low where it is hard to see.
Peruvian Screech-Owl
Megascops roboratus
Small screech-owl restricted to dry forests of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Note yellow eyes, small ear tufts, and vertical stripes on underparts. Overall plumage coloration ranges from brown to bright cinnamon. Very similar in plumage to several other screech-owls, and best identified by range, habitat, and voice. Typical song is a fast, gargling trill; also gives soft yaps.
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