The Crowned Crane is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. It is a stately bird with subtle colors and an exquisite shape. More than a meter long, it has a huge wing span and a delicate, long neck, also chararteristic of other types cranes. Male and female crowned cranes look alike. The dark back feathers attractively frame the pure white wing feathers that run down both sides of thn bird and turn golden near the tail. Other wing feathers are a rich chestnut brown. The trumpeting call of the crowned crane is one of the unforgettable sounds of Africa: O-wahng! O-wahng! This loud cry can be heard for great distances. They are enthusiastic and entertaining dancers too. Flapping their large colorful wings, they lift themselves into the air vertically and then float gently back to the earth as if attached to a parachute. Gracefully bounding about, they run and spring into the air, circling their mates and bobbing their heads with quick, clownish jerks. Holding their large wings open, they stand erect and display the beautiful colors of their feathers. No doubt, it would be sad if the day were to come when the sight and sound of the spectacular crowned crane disappeared.