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Grey Crowned Crane


Grey Crowned Crane
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-30 7:03
Viewed: 432
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This week I was in my favorite bird park, Avifauna. The weather was cloudy, but good enough to make a few photos.
This bird I met several times in many countries in Africa, but I only got them on slides or a bit far away. I prefer birds in the wild, but sometimes……

The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats.

There are two subspecies. The East African B. r. gibbericeps (Crested Crane) occurs from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda, of which it is the national bird, and Kenya to eastern South Africa. It has a larger area of bare red facial skin above the white patch than the smaller Balearica regulorum regulorum (South African Crowned Crane) which breeds from Angola south to South Africa.

This species and the closely related Black Crowned Crane are the only cranes that can roost in trees, because of a long hind toe that can grasp branches.

This habit, amongst other things, is a reason why the relatively small Balearica cranes are believed to closely resemble the ancestral members of the Gruidae.

The Grey Crowned Crane has a breeding display involving dancing, bowing, and jumping. It has a booming call which involves inflation of the red gular sac. It also makes a honking sound quite different from the trumpeting of other crane species.

The nest is a platform of grass and other plants in tall wetland vegetation. The Grey Crowned Crane lays a clutch of 2-5 eggs. Incubation is performed by both sexes and lasts 28-31 days. Chicks fledge at 56-100 days.

The Grey Crowned Crane is about 1 m (3.3 ft) tall and weighs 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs). Its body plumage is mainly grey. The wings are also predominantly white, but contain feathers with a range of colours. The head has a crown of stiff golden feathers. The sides of the face are white, and there is a bright red inflatable throat pouch. The bill is relatively short and grey, and the legs are black. The sexes are similar, although males tend to be slightly larger. Young birds are greyer than adults, with a feathered buff face.

Like all cranes, it feeds on insects, reptiles and small mammals.

Although the Grey Crowned Crane remains common over much of its range, it faces threats to its habitat due to drainage, overgrazing, and pesticide pollution.

The Grey Crowned Crane eats grass seeds and insects, along with other invertebrates.

The Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of Uganda and features in the country's flag and coat of arms.
roges, nglen, cirano, maurydv, siggi, Gert-Paassen, jconceicao, xTauruSx, bahadir, CeltickRanger, jaycee, boreocypriensis, zulfu, albert, MMM, uleko, Noisette, lousat, rousettus, cypturk, anemone has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Peter,

Impressive approach, very good to appreciate great detail. Excellent colors and textures. Very good contact with the eye of the bird. Well composed!

TFS!

Jesús

hallo Peter
super kleuren een mooie scherpe kop
goed van licht en een goede achtergrond
groetjes lou

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 613 W: 0 N: 546] (3180)
  • [2009-08-30 7:38]

Hi Peter,

Uitzonderlijke beeld dat geeft ons vandaag.
Sommige kleuren en een uitstekende presentatie top!
U wilt een leuke dag,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-08-30 8:23]

Hi Peter. As you say some time we have to go to bird parks if we want to see this type of bird. You were able to get a first class close up . A good picture working under dull weather. Good detail and colours. I love the head dress and the big blue eye. well done TFS.
Nick..

Very good portrait capture.Excellent sharpness,details and splendid colors.TFS.
Regards
Dűrzan

Hoi Peter,
Een erg mooie foto van deze prachtige vogel. Het detail in de veren en 'kroon' is prachtig. De heldere compositie is van erg hooge kwaliteit. Misschien had je diafragma iets kleiner gemogen zodat ook de punt van de snavel scherp was geworden.
Groeten,
Niek

Hello Peter,
a beautiful and intense portrait of the Grey Crowned Crane, fine details and vivid colours, excellent POV and composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2582] (9107)
  • [2009-08-30 9:04]

Hi Peter,
this one is really splendid. the colours is very vibrant and exciting. you have emphasis the head for a good focus and deep trance of appreciation.
The background is simply wonderful in giving better emphasis. to me, this is an enviable shot that so rare to be seen. good subject and excellent skills in the presentation.

regards,
Foozi

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1380 W: 56 N: 4759] (16364)
  • [2009-08-30 10:09]

Hello Peter.
WOW! Wonderful portrait of this crane.The crop and composition is well done.Excellent DOF and POV.The details and colours are first rate.An excellent presentation.TFS
Best regards Siggi

Hallo Peter,

wat een mooie portretopname van deze Kraan.
Prachtige kleuren en mooie dof en detailering.

Gert

Hello Peter,

Splendid photo.
Beautiful colours with great definition.
Lighting and composition are fantastic.

Great portrait shot of this cute crane Peter.
Perfect in all aspects.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hello peter, superb shot of this colourful beauty that i liked it so much. Wonderful details and great composition.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-08-30 15:26]

Hi Peter,

An absolutely fantastic portrait of this amazing looking Crane. He posed perfectly for you and this is a wow of a shot. Colors and clarity are excellent - the eye and crown are magnificent. A perfect background which shows off this beautifully colored bird.

Jane

hello Peter

a beautiful portrait photo of this Crane, with fine POV,
also fine framing (the way it is framed on the image),
fine focus great sharpness and details, a lovely expression
on his blue eye glance, TFS

Asbed

Hi and Good Morning Peter,

A lovely and wonderful portrait capture of this Grey Crowned Crane from wonderful POV with a delightful framing and excellent details.
TFS and have a nice Week!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1065 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2009-08-31 2:07]

Hello Peter, what a beautiful crane species. perfectly photographed by you. Excellent portrait.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

Hi Peter
A very nice portrait of this beautiful crane
TFS
Albert

Ciao Peter. Perfect coloured and detailed portrait. Well done.

roberto

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2009-08-31 5:17]

Hello Peter
Excellent portrait.Great colors on that sharp image.plumage detail are also very good.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984] (2877)
  • [2009-08-31 7:25]

Hello Peter,
A lovely close portrait of the Crowned Crane. Details are ever so clear and the colours beautiful. I like the framing too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Ciao Peter, superb portrait with fantastic colors, wonderful details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

hello Peter
impressive close up, one very interesting photo
TFS
Nasos

Hello Peter
Very great portrait of this Crane, this is a so beautiful species
in your shot we can see all the fine details on his head and crown
the colors looks very natural, i like the dark BG
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-08-31 15:27]

Hi Peter,not easy to comment a beautiful portrait like that,a queen of bird surely whit the crown taken whit the best sharpness and beautifuls colors too.Thanks for this top class pic,have a nice day,LUCIANO

Hello Peter
cranes are very beautiful birds, also one of my favourite birds (you can see some of them on the theme Gruiformes).
This is great portraite work, with great sharp details, POV/DOF, colors and eyes contact. Nicely composed. thanks for sharing this beauty
best wishes my friend
Ahmet

Very beautiful portrait of this colourful beauty Peter.
Well done!
Merih

Hello Peter,
Beutiful capture and nice composition.. nice sharpness and details..
TFS
Best Regards
Özgür

Merci Peter, pour ce portrait...
Les nuances de couleurs sont bien naturelles
Amicalement
LAurent

Buena pose y bien captada la impresionante belleza del ave. Efectivo encuadre Peter.
Saludos y buen fin de semana: Josep Ignasi.

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