Grey Crowned Crane in Murchison Falls National Park

How to identify the grey crowned crane

Grey body, white wing patches, white cheeks with a red patch above, a red throat wattle and a crown of golden bristles. Sexes look alike.

In wet grassland and at the edges of swamps on game drives, and sometimes on open ground near villages outside the park.

Marshes, wet grassland and open savanna close to water; it also feeds on farmland.

Seeds, grass tips, insects, frogs and other small animals. It stamps its feet as it walks to flush insects.

Pairs dance by bowing, jumping and spreading their wings, at any time of year. Unlike most cranes, crowned cranes can perch and roost in trees.

All year. Resident, here all year.

Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Further reading: en.wikipedia.org.

What is the national bird of Uganda?

The grey crowned crane, also called the crested crane. It stands in the centre of the Ugandan flag.

Is the grey crowned crane endangered?

Yes. It is listed as Endangered, mainly because wetlands are being drained and birds and eggs are taken from the wild.