Animal Behavior:  Grey-crowned cranes are usually found in grasslands close to bodies of water. They prefer to nest near bodies of water that provide cover. However they often feed in open savannas and grasslands. 

Native Habitat: Southern Africa

Eating Habits:  These cranes have a very general, omnivorous diet. They are known to eat insects, small animals such as lizards and worms and seeds. Some have been observed to stamp the ground to disturb the insects. Grey-crowned cranes often utilize disturbance by other species in foraging for insects.

Range:  Grey-crowned cranes are very territorial when it comes to nesting sites, however when it comes to foraging sites there have been no observations of a territorial display.

Conservation Efforts:  Grey-crowned cranes are currently not endangered but populations are rapidly declining. The major threats that grey-crowned cranes face is the loss and degradation of wetlands. Other factors that are leading to the decline are the increased use of pesticides and decreased practice of leaving fields fallow.

Animal Facts:  Grey-crowned cranes are a monogamous species and appear to mate for life.  Clutch size can vary from 2 to 4 eggs.  The eggs have an incubation period of 28 to 30 days. About 12 hours after hatching they are capable of swimming and float like little cork balls. They begin eating after 24 hours.  Grey-crowned cranes may live up to 22 years in the wild or 25 in captivity.