Ethiopia is a haven for diverse and exotic bird species, making it a prime destination for birdwatchers. Among the nearly 900 species of birds found in Ethiopia, around 20 are endemic, contributing to the country's rich avifauna. The official national animal of Ethiopia is the lion.
One of the most notable birds in Ethiopia is the Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina), a member of the Gruidae family, closely related to the grey crowned crane. This bird is easily distinguished by its characteristic bristle-feathered golden crown.
Blue, Crowned cranes under threat
Taxonomy and Naming
The black crowned crane was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He placed it with the cranes and herons in the genus Ardea and coined the binomial name Ardea pavonina. He specified the type locality as Africa. Linnaeus cited earlier authors including the English naturalist George Edwards who in 1751 had included a description and a hand-colour etching of the "Crowned African Crane" in the fourth volume of his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds.
The black crowned crane is now placed together with the grey crowned crane in the genus Balearica that was introduced in 1760 by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The genus name is from Latin Baliaricus meaning "of the Balearic Islands".
Physical Characteristics
The black crowned crane can measure up to 105 cm (41 in) in length, weigh between 3,000-4,000 g (110-140 oz) and has a wingspan of 180-200 cm (71-79 in). Naturally, it is characterized by its dark slate-grey to black plumage, and it has stiff golden feathers at the top of its head which make up its crown.
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Other distinct features of these birds include the white feathers on the upper section of their wings and the small pouch of red skin, the gular sac, hanging underneath their chins. Their long legs and their toes are black, and they possess a long hind toe that allows them to grasp onto perches.
The black crowned crane also has large red cheek patches just behind its eye that differ in size between its two subspecies; the West African black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina pavonina) has red on the lower half of its cheek patch while the Sudan black crowned crane (Balearica pavonine ceciliae) has red extending to the upper half as well. Male black crowned cranes are larger but are otherwise indistinguishable from females.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Black crowned cranes are generalist feeders, with a diet consisting of insects like grasshoppers, locust, and flies; other invertebrates, like molluscs, millipedes, and crustaceans; fish, amphibians, and small reptiles. Black crowned cranes may also forage in croplands and feed on rice, corn, teff, millet, chickpea, and lentil. They will seldom dig for food but rather will peck at it off surfaces.
They will be mostly resident to wetlands except during the dry season and will sometimes forage in short and dry grasses or in upland areas by livestock where insect numbers are high.
Nesting and Reproduction
Nests (base of 69-109 mm x 71-140 mm diameters) are built within or on the edges of dense wetlands and are constructed with grasses and sedges modified into circular platforms. Due to their opportunistic nature regarding food availability and shelter, Black crowned cranes may alter their nesting sites accordingly with the season.
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Clutch sizes for the black crowned crane are made up of 1 to 3 eggs, which will be 122-168 g (4.3-5.9 oz) in mass. Incubation of eggs will be performed by both males and females and will last 28-31 days. Males are known to stand guard by the nest in nearby trees, prepared to signal a threat, as females forage. Chicks will forage with their parents in grassland areas the day after hatching.
Conservation Status
Currently, the black crowned crane is listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, with a population of 28 000-47 000 individuals remaining. Black crowned cranes face major conservation threats due to the degradation of wetlands which act as the principal breeding, feeding and roosting sites for the species.
Increases in drought and the draining of wetlands in the name of farming, dam construction or irrigation projects have led to the destruction of these ecosystems. Furthermore, fragmented wetlands result in reduced movement of aquatic mammals and therefore limits Black crowned crane food availability.
Other Notable Ethiopian Birds
Ethiopia is home to a diverse range of bird species, many of which are endemic. Here are a few other notable birds found in Ethiopia:
- Blue-winged Goose
- Moorland Francolin
- Harwood’s Francolin
- Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco
- Spot-breasted Lapwing
- Yellow-fronted Parrot
- Stresemann’s Bushcrow (Zavattariornis stresemanni)
The Stresemann's bushcrow, also known as the Abyssinian pie, bush crow, Ethiopian bushcrow, or by its generic name Zavattariornis, is a rather starling-like bird, which is a member of the crow family, Corvidae. It is slightly larger than the North American blue jay and is a bluish-grey in overall colour which becomes almost white on the forehead. The throat and chest are creamy-white with the tail and wings a glossy black.
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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the Stresemann's bushcrow as endangered because of its very restricted range and loss of suitable habitat. Due to its extremely unusual and specific temperature requirements, the Stresemann's bushcrow is considered one of the most threatened birds by climate change.
Ethiopian Birdwatching Tours
For birdwatchers seeking a deeper experience than a trip to the local park, birding tours offer a structured and enriching way to explore lots of bird species. Travel further South and you will discover the unique birdlife of the Omo Valley (a vast geographic region in southwest Ethiopia) - such as the elegant, White-collared Starling and the Long-tailed Widowbird, famous for its impressive tail display.
Birding tour guides will take you to prime locations at the right times and climate to identify elusive species. A birding tour in Ethiopia is a special experience. It’s about appreciating the country’s diverse birdlife, the beauty of its landscapes and the richness of the culture.
Ethiopia’s stunning birding adventure isn’t confined to a checklist. Don’t forget the Danakil Depression. This fascinating site plunges over 125 meters (410 feet) below sea level, making it one of the lowest points on the African continent. Even though it is rife with volcanic activity, it has thriving biodiversity.
List of Common Birds Found in Ethiopia
Native Birds
- Abyssinian Catbird
- Abyssinian Longclaw
- Abyssinian Long-eared Owl
- Abyssinian Oriole
- Abyssinian Roller
- Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher
- Abyssinian Woodpecker
- African Fish-eagle
- African Gray Hornbill
- African Paradise Flycatcher
- African Sacred Ibis
- Ankobar Serin
- Banded Barbet
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Black Headed Forest Oriole
- Black-headed Siskin
- Black-winged Lovebird
- Blue-winged Goose
- Brown-rumped Seedeater
- Common Hoopoe
- Common Ostrich
- Degodi Lark
- Ethiopian Cisticola
- Ethiopian Emerald Cuckoo
- Ethiopian Lark
- Ethiopian Siskin
- Ethiopian Swallow
- Ethiopian Woodhoopoe
- Golden Backed Woodpecker
- Hadada Ibis
- Hamerkop
- Harwood’s Francolin
- Helmeted Guinea Fowl
- Hooded Vulture
- House Sparrow
- Lammergeier
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Lesser Flamingo
- Lilac-Breasted Roller
- Little Bee-Eater
- Marabou Stork
- Moorland Francolin
- Northern Bald Ibis
- Nechisar Nightjar
- Northern Red-Billed Hornbill
- Nubian Woodpecker
- Pied Crow
- Pied Kingfisher
- Pin-Tailed Whydah
- Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco
- Red-billed Pytilla
- Red-Throated Bee Eater
- Rouget’s Rail
- Rüppell’s Vulture
- Rüppell’s Black Chat
- Ruppll’s Chat
- Salvadori’s Seedeater
- Secretarybird
- Somali Ostrich
- Speckled Pigeon
- Spot-breasted Lapwing
- Spot-breasted Plover
- Stresemann’s Bushcrow
- Tawny Eagle
- Thick-billed Raven
- Village Weaver
- Wattled Crane
- Wattled Ibis
- White Backed Black Tit
- White-backed Vulture
- White-bellied Go-away-bird
- White-billed Starling
- White-cheeked Turaco
- White-collared Pigeon
- White-rumped Babbler
- White-tailed Swallow
- White-Throated Bee Eater
- White-throated Seedeater
- White-winged Cliff Chat
- Woodland Kingfisher
- Yellow-fronted Parrot
- Yellow Throat Seed Eater
- Yellow-throated Serin
Non-native Birds
- African Swift
- Black Tern
- Broad-billed Sandpiper
- Caspian Gull
- Cream-colored Courser
- Demoiselle Crane
- Denham’s Bustard
- Dunlin
- Egyptian Nightjar
- Eurasian Coot
- European golden-plover
- Franklin’s Gull
- Great Bittern
- Great Crested Tern
- Greater sand-plover
- Little Crake
- Long-toed Stint
- Madagascar Pratincole
- Pallid Swift
- Parasitic Jaeger
- Red Phalarope
- Rock Pigeon
- Sanderling
- Slender-billed Gull
- Swamp Nightjar
- White-tailed lapwing
