In case you were wondering they’re the tall, willowy birds that you sometimes see in pairs, or flocks, in open grassland or on farms. As the common name suggests, it is pale blue in colour, although it can appear grey from a distance. These birds prefer dry grasslands and shallow waters. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. The Blue crane is the national bird of South Africa and is only found in the southern region of in the southern region of South Africa. It is South Africa’s national bird. South Africa is home to three species of crane – the blue crane, grey crowned crane and the wattled crane.. The grasslands and wetlands of South Africa are prime areas for bird watchers to catch a glimpse of some endangered bird species like the Blue Crane and the African Black Oystercatcher. Often spotted in farmland roadsides, the Crane’s metallic-blue sheen makes this one of the most exquisite birds in the country. The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa. Volunteer with Via Volunteers in South Africa and check our our amazing birds! Whether lying in bed and listening to the dawn chorus or watching a spray of swallows dive and swim dolphin-like in the sky. Distribution. In fact, there is an established avi-tourism industry that invites birding enthusiasts from all over the world to indulge in top-class bird-watching. We are also a registered Public Benefit Organisation (No. Educating landowners, doing intense research and managing habitats for the Blue Crane have become a priority for South Africa to ensure the survival of their heritage and national bird. The national bird of South Africa, the Blue Crane, is endemic to southern Africa with most of its range falling in South Africa. (Image: Wikipedia) The national bird of South Africa is the blue crane (Anthropoides paradisia), the distribution of which is almost entirely restricted to the country. They will lay their eggs in higher elevations of grasslands and they lay their eggs on dry ground or in grass. Of course, many of them are in parks and game reserves, where their population numbers can be monitored and, to some extent, protected.. It is the world’s most range-restricted crane. Females usually lay only 2 eggs with an incubation period of 30-33 days. A small breeding population of approximately 60 individuals exists in northern Namibia, in and around the Etosha Pan. Blue cranes eat waste grains, seeds of … African Birds 10 - Blue Crane, South Africa: The elegant blue crane is the national bird of South Africa. The Blue Crane is a bird of dry grasslands and other upland habitats. The blue crane stands about 3.5 inches and has an average wingspan of 6 ft 4 in. Cranes are a family, the Gruidae, of large, long-legged, and long-necked birds in the group Gruiformes.The 15 species of cranes are placed in 3 genera, Antigone, Balearica, and Grus.Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back.Cranes live on all continents except Antarctica and South America. South Africa has an established avi-tourism industry that invites birding enthusiasts from all over the world to indulge in top-class bird-watching.