Southafrica | 1981 | 5 Cents | Blue Crane

 


Blue crane


The Blue crane (Anthropoides paradiseus), South Africa’s national bird, is a relatively small crane species, standing 100–120 cm tall with a wingspan of up to 200 cm and weighing 3.6–6.2 kg. It is pale blue-grey with darker shading on the head and neck, lighter colouring on the crown and lores, and long trailing wingtip feathers. Its bill ranges from ochre to greyish pink. Unlike most cranes, it has a large head and slender neck. Juveniles resemble adults but are paler, with tawny heads and without the long wing plumes.


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