A blue-gray blue crane with long trailing wing feathers walking on rocky ground. — Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Blue Crane

Anthropoides paradiseus

The national bird of South Africa, a blue-gray crane of grasslands famous for courtship dances that can last for hours.

🪿 Wading Birds

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About the Blue Crane

Blue cranes live in open grasslands and semi-deserts of southern Africa, mostly in South Africa, with a small group in Namibia. They are bluish-gray with a white crown, and the long, thick feathers on the lower head and neck give them a cobra-like look. Their wingspan can reach about 7 feet. They walk through the grass hunting insects and frogs and eating seeds.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Anthropoides paradiseus^[1]
Size: Wingspan up to about 7 feet.^[1]
Lifespan: Can live more than 40 years in the wild.^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Insects, frogs and seeds.^[1]
Habitat: Open grasslands and semi-deserts, including farm fields.^[1]
Where it lives: Southern Africa, mainly South Africa, plus a small population in Namibia.^[1]
Group life: Pairs hold territories when breeding; large flocks the rest of the year.^[1]
Babies: One or two eggs.^[1]
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa.^[1]
A blue crane courtship dance can last up to four hours.^[1]
Feathers on its head and neck give the blue crane a cobra-like look.^[1]

Vocabulary

courtship: Behavior animals use to attract a mate.
roost: To rest or sleep, often in a group, at a safe spot.
national bird: A bird chosen as a symbol of a country.
wingspan: The distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.
vulnerable: A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Zoo AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia · All AnimalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Zoo Atlanta. “Blue Crane.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/blue-crane/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Anthropoides paradiseus (Blue Crane).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22692109/177514877 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

More Wading Birds

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Marabou StorkLeptoptilos crumeniferA huge, bald-headed African stork that feeds mostly on dead animals and often gathers near lakes, rivers, garbage dumps and fishing villages.Northern Bald IbisGeronticus eremitaA glossy black ibis with a bald red head, also called the waldrapp, that was once common in Europe and is now one of the world's rarest birds.Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajajaA bright pink wading bird of the Americas that sweeps its spoon-shaped bill through shallow water to catch food.Scarlet IbisEudocimus ruberA bright red wading bird of northern South America that feeds mostly on crayfish and small crabs.Snowy EgretEgretta thulaAn all-white heron of the Americas with a black bill and bright yellow feet, famous for its lacy breeding plumes.Straw-Necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollisAn Australian ibis with straw-like neck feathers and a shiny back, nicknamed the "farmer's friend" for eating grasshoppers.Wattled CraneBugeranus carunculatusA tall African wetland crane with flaps of skin hanging from its chin that shrink when it's nervous and lengthen when it's excited.White StorkCiconia ciconiaA big white-and-black bird with a red bill that breeds in Europe, winters in Africa and inspired the story of storks delivering babies.White-Naped CraneGrus vipio (also called Antigone vipio)A tall gray-and-white crane of East Asian wetlands with a red face and pink legs, famous for its dancing.Yellow-Billed StorkMycteria ibisA tall white African stork with a bright yellow bill and red face that feels for fish and frogs in shallow water.