Wattled Crane

Wattled Crane ( Bugeranus carunculatus )

The Wattled Crane ( Bugeranus carunculatus ) is an African Kranichart.

Features

His name has the wattled crane of the two white feathered flaps which hang down on either side of his throat. With a floor height of 165 to 175 cm of the wattled crane to 8.5 kg heavy. The male differs little from the female and is possibly slightly larger and stronger physique. Place as well as only 1 egg. The young bird has smaller lobes than the adult birds, and is at the vertex not colored gray, but white.

Occurrence

The Wattled Crane is more dependent than other crane species of wetlands. Therefore, he sometimes leads by larger hikes when its habitat becomes too dry. The main distribution area extends over southern Africa to the Congo. A small separate population lives in Ethiopia.

Food

The diet consists of tubers and roots of aquatic plants and also from insects, snails, frogs and other vertebrates.

Reproduction

The Wattled Crane breeds for the first time at the age of eight to nine years. The nest has a diameter of 120-180 cm and is built of reeds and other dry plant parts in a well- protected location in shallow water. The breeding season is generally from May to August and is also heavily dependent on seasonal rains. The only egg is incubated for 31 to 34 days. After hatching, the young bird leaves the nest and begins immediately with 15-18 weeks with the first flight tests, but they can really fly until 21 weeks.