Identification.
The body of the African Grey Crowned Crane is mainly gray.The wings are predominantly white,but contain feathers with colors ranging from white to brown to gold.The head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers.Cheek patches are white,and a red gular sack is present under the chin.The gular sack is similar to a wattle,except that it can be inflated.Legs and toes are black.The bill is short and dark gray.All crowned cranes have the ability to perch because their long hind toe (hallux) allows for grasping.The subspecies are most easily distinguished by their facial features.The East African crowned crane has a larger area of bare red skin above the white cheek patch than does the South African crowned crane.Males and females are virtually indistinguishable,although males tend to be slightly larger.The range of the Grey Crowned Crane in eastern and southern Africa stretches from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,Uganda, and Kenya to southeastern South Africa.
The body of the African Grey Crowned Crane is mainly gray.The wings are predominantly white,but contain feathers with colors ranging from white to brown to gold.The head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers.Cheek patches are white,and a red gular sack is present under the chin.The gular sack is similar to a wattle,except that it can be inflated.Legs and toes are black.The bill is short and dark gray.All crowned cranes have the ability to perch because their long hind toe (hallux) allows for grasping.The subspecies are most easily distinguished by their facial features.The East African crowned crane has a larger area of bare red skin above the white cheek patch than does the South African crowned crane.Males and females are virtually indistinguishable,although males tend to be slightly larger.The range of the Grey Crowned Crane in eastern and southern Africa stretches from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,Uganda, and Kenya to southeastern South Africa.
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |
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| East African Grey Crowned Crane |