Black Crowned-Crane
Balearica pavonina
An unusual, distinctive, and beautiful crane. The body is mostly blackish, but there is a pale wing panel, a pale pink-and-white cheek patch, and a bizarre yellow crest. Looks hunched in flight, when white wing panels become distinctive. Found in both wetland habitats and dry fields. Usually in pairs or flocks, which can sometimes be large. Similar to Gray Crowned-Crane, but distinguished by much darker base coloration and more pink on the face; there is little overlap in range. The call is a goose-like honking, often given in flight.
识别特征
The black crowned crane can measure up to 105 cm (41 in) in length, weigh between 3,000–4,000 g (110–140 oz) and has a wingspan of 180–200 cm (71–79 in). Naturally, it is characterized by its dark slate-grey to black plumage, and it has stiff golden feathers at the top of its head which make up its crown. Each golden bristle-like feather is a spiral that is white on one side and brown on the other with black at the very tip. <p>Other distinct features of these birds include the white feathers on the upper section of their wings and the small pouch of red skin, the gular sac, hanging underneath their chins. Their long legs and their toes are black, and they possess a long hind toe that allows them to grasp onto perches. The black crowned crane also has large red cheek patches just behind its eye that differ in size between its two subspecies; the West African black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina pavonina) has red on the lower half of its cheek patch while the Sudan black crowned crane (Balearica pavonine ceciliae) has red extending to the upper half as well. Male black crowned cranes are larger but are otherwise indistinguishable from females. Juveniles are mostly grey with a brown crown and a nape, grey to brown body.
分类信息
The black crowned crane is of the order Gruiformes, which includes all cranes as well as the rails (family Rallidae). Cranes are further classified in the Gruidae family which includes sister species like the grey crowned crane as well as the sandhill crane and the whooping crane. The black crowned crane has two subspecies: Balearica pavonina pavonina and Balearica pavonina ceciliae.
- 学名
- Balearica pavonina
- 命名信息
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- 目
- Gruiformes
- 科
- Gruidae
- 属
- Balearica
分布与栖息地
The black crowned crane is found across the Sahel and Sudan savanna regions of Africa, occupying open areas such as grasslands, shallow wetlands, marshes, as well as the margins of lakes and rivers. It is also known to roost in trees. Its range extends from the Senegal Basin and Guinea-Bissau Drainage in West Africa to the Ethiopian Highlands and South-West Rift Valley in East Africa. Balearica pavonina pavonina occupies the western part of this range, while Balearica pavonina ceciliae is found in the east with the greatest numbers in Sudan.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Migration pattern: Resident species.
保护状况
Population trend: declining.
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
White-bellied Fantail
Rhipidura euryura
As the name indicates, a dark gray fantail with a white belly. Also note white eyebrow and white-tipped tail feathers. Malaysian Pied Fantail is somewhat similar, but has a bright white throat, is darker overall, and favors different habitats. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it is generally uncommon. Forages actively, often associating with mixed flocks, moving through the lower and middle levels of forest. Often in dense, tangled vegetation. Song is a jumble of high whistled notes. Calls include a quiet “ch’reer” and pips.
Kerguelen Tern
Sterna virgata
A slender tern with a short bill. Breeding adults are dark-capped with an ashy-gray body, a strongly contrasting white cheek stripe and rump, and a reddish bill and legs. In flight, underwings and uppertail are mostly grayish. In non-breeding plumage resembles other non-breeding terns, but note structure. Restricted to a handful of subantarctic islands, where it forages in inshore waters; common on Kerguelen and uncommon on Crozet and Marion. In breeding plumage, the larger Antarctic Tern is paler gray than Kerguelen, with a larger bill and whitish (not grayish) uppertail and underwings. Arctic Terns (in non-breeding plumage) only overlap with Kerguelen Terns (in breeding plumage) in austral summer.
Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
This long-tailed game bird is native to Asia and has been introduced in many other parts of the world. Male has fleshy, red facial wattles, iridescent blue neck, and richly colored red and golden underparts with dark spots; his namesake white neck ring is indistinct on some birds. Female is buffy-brown, heavily marked with black, and usually shows some white markings around the eye. In much of its introduced range, including North America, there are no similar species. Elsewhere, note male’s blue neck and heavily spotted body, and female’s spotted or chevroned (not barred) underparts and mostly plain face lacking strong red markings. Found in farmland, scrub, and along the edge of forest, and often gives a loud, abrupt rasping call that draws attention to its presence. Japanese birds are now treated as a separate species, Green Pheasant.
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