Crested Crane

The Crested Crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) is a bird in the family Gruidae. It is one of several species comprising the Crowned Crane family, which range over eastern and southern Africa. These are the only cranes that can roost in trees.

Crested Cranes are still common in the wild, although conservationists are concerned about possible threats to their habitat caused by human encroachment. The Crested Crane is the national bird of Uganda and is featured on Uganda’s flag, where it is pictured with one leg raised, “to symbolise that Uganda is not stationary but is moving forward" . In Uganda, killing a Crested Crane is an offence punishable by imprisonment. <ref> sourced at: http://www.orphanage.org/africa/uganda/fed/facts_about_uganda.htm on 29th August 2007