# Balearica The Balearica, also known as the crowned crane, is a beautiful bird with a striking golden crown of feathers. They are known for their graceful dance and can often be seen in wetlands and grasslands. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Crowned Crane ![Balearica](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Balearica_regulorum_1_Luc_Viatour.jpg&width=800) Photo: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balearica_regulorum_1_Luc_Viatour.jpg) ## Appearance The Balearica has an elegant grey body with white and reddish-brown wing patches. It's instantly recognizable by its stiff, golden-feathered crown and bright red gular wattles, making it look like royalty. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Gruiformes - **Family:** Gruidae - **Genus:** Balearica ## Interesting facts - Balearica is the only crane that can roost in trees! - Their unique "dancing" displays can involve bowing and jumping! - They are the national bird of Uganda, symbolizing peace. - Young cranes look like fluffy brown balls with no crown yet. ## Special abilities - **Golden Crown Display:** Balearica uses its stiff, golden crest feathers for spectacular courtship dances and communication, helping it attract a mate. - **Perching Power:** Balearica can perch in trees thanks to a long hind toe, which helps it roost safely away from ground predators at night. - **Booming Call:** Balearica can produce a powerful, booming call by inflating a red throat sac, helping it communicate across long distances. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-105 cm - **Wingspan:** 180-200 cm - **Weight:** 3-4.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 28-31 days - **Migration Distance:** 300 km ## Diet & Feeding Balearica are omnivores, munching on everything from bugs and seeds to small fish! - **Age differences:** Young chicks initially rely more heavily on protein-rich insects for growth. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Seeds, Grains, Small fish, Frogs, Crabs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — preys on crane eggs and vulnerable chicks - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — targets eggs, chicks, or adults near water - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — a significant food source during outbreaks - **Eats:** Maize (*Zea mays*) — often feeds on cultivated crops in agricultural areas ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Balearica? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Balearica? 90-105 cm ### What is Balearica's wingspan? 180-200 cm ### How much does Balearica weigh? 3-4.5 kg ### How long does Balearica live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Balearica move? 65 km/h ### What does Balearica eat? Balearica are omnivores, munching on everything from bugs and seeds to small fish! ### Where is Balearica usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Balearica: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/balearica)