Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus): The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird but fairly small by the standard of the crane family. The blue crane is pale blue-gray in colour with a white crown, pink bill, and long, dark gray wingtip feathers which trail to the ground. This
species is found in dry grass lands and wetlands and normally feed on seeds and insects. The Blue Crane is special to the AmaXhosa, who call it “Indwe”. The feathers of these birds were used by the chief to herald
and decorate men of exceptional personal courage in a battle. The blue crane has largely disappeared
in most areas in South Africa. The majority of the remaining population is found in the eastern and southern provinces of South Africa.