Grey-Crowned Crane: National Bird of Uganda

Uganda is a country in eastern Africa that is just west of Kenya. As a landlocked nation, it does not touch the Mediterranean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean, but about half of Lake Victoria — the largest lake in Africa — is in Uganda. Along the western border is the Rwenzori Mountains with its highest peak at Mount Stanley. Lake Albert also stretches along the western border.

Much of Uganda is fertile plateaus providing habitats for a wide range of wildlife. The birds in Uganda vary from great white pelicans to colorful red-throated bee-eaters, but the national bird is an elegant and worthy choice. Read on to find out all about the national bird of Uganda!

What is the National Bird of Uganda?

The national bird of Uganda is the grey-crowned crane. These graceful cranes have a remarkable display of thin golden feathers on their heads forming a regal crown. Their heads are black and white with a bright red wattle on their necks. Their light gray necks flow to their darker grey back, and their wing feathers have a mix of white, gold, and rust at their wing tips. It is quite an amazing sight to see a whole flock of these magnificent birds.

How Big are Grey-Crowned Cranes?

Grey-crowned cranes, sometimes called crested cranes, can reach heights of 3.3 feet, which is about the same height as your kitchen counter. They have heavier bodies and long skinny legs with an average weight of about 7.5 pounds. When their wings are outstretched they have a wingspan of about 6.5 feet.

Do Grey-Crowned Cranes Dance?

Grey-crowned cranes have an elaborate mating dance that involves lots of strutting, head-bobbing, wing-flapping, and short runs with wings outstretched. When one starts, the rest often join in. These dances are not just limited to the mating season but can be seen throughout the year. Cranes can be quite loud as well, with a variety of distinctive calls — some being heard as far as three miles away. They put on quite an impressive song and dance routine.

Why is the Grey-Crowned Crane the National Bird of Uganda?

The grey-crowned crane symbolizes elegance and beauty. It has been a symbol for the people of Uganda for more than 100 years. Their range includes the southern half of Uganda.

Is the Grey-Crowned Crane on the Flag of Uganda?

Of all the symbols that a nation can put on its flag, Uganda chose its national bird. The elegant grey-crowned crane is proudly displayed on a white circle in the center of the flag. The image of the crane is facing the hoist and its leg is raised to symbolize forward progress. The symbol of the crane was the military badge of the soldiers of Uganda when they were ruled by Britain. The flag itself has six equal horizontal stripes in black, yellow, red, black, yellow, and red.

• Black represents native ethnic groups of the country.
• Yellow represents Africa’s sunshine.
• Red represents the African brotherhood.

What Animals are Featured on the Coat of Arms of Uganda?

There are two animals featured on the coat of arms of Uganda and, yes, one of them is the grey-crowned crane! The grey-crowned crane is prominently displayed on the side of the shield with one of its legs holding onto the side of the shield. The second animal, on the other side of the shield, is the Ugandan kob which represents abundant wildlife. What is a kob? A kob is an antelope — a reddish-brown deer-like animal with spiral rear-facing horns found across grasslands and floodplains in Uganda.

The shield on the coat of arms features three images. At the top is waves of blue and white representing the waves of both Lake Victoria and Lake Albert. The middle is the golden sun representing the sunshine. The bottom has a symbolic drum. A banner at the bottom reads, “For God and My Country.”

Are Animals Featured on Ugandan Money?

The people of Uganda truly treasure their fauna and flora. The grey-crowned crane is featured on the back of the 500/= and 1,000/= shilling coins. The 200/= features the Nile perch, which is a native fish of Lake Albert and Lake Victoria. The Nile perch is not a hand-sized pan fish; they can grow to be six feet long and weigh upwards of 300 pounds!

The third animal featured on the shillings is the Ankole-Watusi, a cattle breed with unusually large horns. They belong to the Sanga family of African cattle breeds and the horns jut out from the side of their heads and veer upward at the ends. These cattle can get to be 1,000-1,600 pounds. They are a symbol of wealth and power.

What Other Animals Live in Uganda?

Other animals in Uganda include the rare mountain gorillas that can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These mighty gorillas used to be listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but, because of joint efforts, their numbers have increased and they are now listed as endangered. There is hope for these magnificent gorillas with continued cooperation essential to continue to maintain and increase the population.

Here are other wildlife found in Uganda.

• Giraffe: Uganda is home to the Nubian giraffe, or Rothschild giraffe, with one of the largest populations located in the Murchison Falls National Park.
• Hippo: They can be found in all four of the national parks but most are in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Leopard: They live in some national parks but are very solitary animals. Some of the most sightings are reported on the Mweya peninsula in northern Queen Elizabeth National Park, but it is still rather rare.
• Cape Buffalo: Cape buffalo have large curved horns on the side of their heads. They can get to be 65 inches tall and weigh nearly 1,500 pounds!
• Crocodile: The Nile crocodile is the most common and can be found along the Nile River. They also live in and around Lake Victoria and Lake Albert. Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park provide a protected space for them to live since they are prone to be hunted in the wild.
• African Elephant: They live mostly in Kidepo, Murchison-Semilike National Park, and the Greater Virunga Landscape. It is estimated that throughout Uganda there are around 5,000 elephants. The African Savanna Elephant is considered endangered by the IUCN.

Are Grey-Crowned Cranes Endangered Animals?

Unfortunately, grey-crowned cranes are endangered animals. According to the IUCN, their population is down to 17,700-23,300 and decreasing. The threats to the cranes are loss of habitats, use of pesticides, live-trapping, egg harvesting, and hunting. Conservation groups are working together across Uganda and other countries to help support the remaining populations and reverse the declining numbers.

It is important to act now so future generations of Ugandans have the opportunity to watch one of the spectacular dancing rituals of their country’s national bird.

Up Next

• 10 Extinct Animals of Africa
• The 10 Largest Cranes in the World
• The Flag of Uganda: History, Meaning, and Symbolism

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Kateryna Kukota