Crane-Wattled Crane
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The Wattled Crane is much larger than the Crowned Crane, but, in my opinion, not as beautiful. It is much less numerous---and the species is considered threatened. It is very shy & wary. Note the bi-colored (white with anterior red border) wattle hanging beneath the male's chin, the female's is all white. [Chobe NP, Botswana;]
A Wattled Crane male better demonstrating the male's wattle red anterior edge and the warty skin on the face. [Botswana]
A small group of Wattled Cranes:along a shoreline. (The small, white birds in the background are Little Egrets). [Lewa Downs, Zambia].
Wattled Crane (Pair): The male, standing behind, has a red streak on the posterior edge of his wattle that is barely seen here, (but easily seen in the enlarged print) compared to the female's (standing in front) all white wattle. I was lucky---they were originally standing facing one-another, but they then began slowly walking towards each other while they probed the muddy bottom. I snapped the picture just as they superimposed---reflections and all! [Botswana].
Wattled Crane Pair: This very clearly shows the difference between the male's wattle (L, red stripe on anterior edge) and female's (R, all-white wattle). (Please see text of other images). [Northern Zambia].
A triple image of Wattled Cranes: (M,F, Juvenile in each). 1st image (L>R). M, with small crustacean in beak, juvenile, F, probing grass; L>R: M, Juvenile, F with wings spread; Family walking away. This is a seriously threatened species, especially in South Africa, because it requires an undisturbed habitat during breeding season. It will abandon its eggs, customarily laid in an open field, if it feels threatened. [Busanga Plains, Zambia].
Two fully mature Wattled Cranes (males) out foraging. These are large birds who feed on small mammals, as well as frogs, reptiles, tubers, and large insects. [Botswana].
Another pair of Wattled Cranes out foraging. The species may be threatened because of their nesting in open fields (as above) where their eggs can easily be found and eaten. The parents just flee, making no effort to defend them.[Botswana '07].
[Botswana 2011]