Brolga

Images ©:

Brolga - Bob Winters | Brolga - David Tait | Brolga - The State of Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries/McCann | Brolga - Bob Winters

Grus rubicunda

Large, grey crane from 0.8-1.3 m tall, with a wingspan from 1.7-2.4 m. Long, grey legs. Black dewlap under the chin.

Details
Type
Bird
Group
Animals
Crane
Other Common Names
Australian Crane
Biology

Breeding season from August to December in the southern parts of Australia. They lay two (sometimes three) eggs that are white, blotched with brown and purple. Incubation is by both sexes and lasts 30 days. The young fly at 14 weeks.
Distinctive Markings

Featherless red head and grey crown.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Gruiformes
Family
Gruidae
Genus
Grus
Species
rubicunda
Found across tropical northern Australia and southwards through north-east and eastern central areas as well as central New South Wales to western Victoria.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Brolgas participate in an elaborate courtship dance during the breeding season.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivore, feeding mainly on tubers and some crops. Also eats insects, molluscs, amphibians and occasionally mice.
Habitat

Freshwater swamps, flooded grassland, billabong margins, lagoons, dry grasslands, floodplains, irrigated pasture, estuaries, mangroves.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Audio
Sounds
Breeding call far carrying bugle, contact call, low purring "grruw", in flight - hoarse grating "graough", alarm "ga - r - r -oo".