Portrait of a Crowned Crane looking for insects in a garden. I think that the Crowned Crane is one of the most beautiful birds in Africa. I have frequentally seen them in flocks of 30-50. [Virunga Mts., Rwanda];
Crowned Cranes at a pond. The bird in the foreground is a Sacred Ibis. [Serengeti, Tan.].
Crowned Crane flock taking flight because of our presence. Initially, this was a large flock feeding, but as we approached, many flew off. A lechwe is in the foreground.
An unusual sighting of two Crowned Crane females regarding a lioness lying about 30 feet away. I don't believe that the lioness is interested in pusuing such a scanty and feathery meal. They would be in the air before she got near them. [Serengeti, Tanzania].
It was a lucky afternoon that we came across this pair of Crowned Cranes going into a pond to court (see also next 3 images). They are being watched also by members of a lion pride who, like we, watched the 3-hour spectacle progress to its conclusion. [Masai Mara, Kenya].
Two adult Crowned Cranes (with reflections) go into the pond to court. [Matusadona, Zimbabwe]
It's evening, and the pair of Crowned Cranes are still courting. [Masai Mara, Kenya].