From Opus

Photo by bigbadja

Grus rubicunda

[edit] Identification

70-130cm. Grey upper and lowerparts, featherless red head, grey crown, broad red band around back of head, bone bill, black chin wattle, grey legs. Juvenile lacks red band.

[edit] Distribution

N and e Australia and Trans-Fly of s New Guinea

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes wetland plants, insects, invertebrates, small vertebrates such as frogs.

Both sexes build a raised mound of sticks, grass and plant material, in shallow water on an island. 2 dull white, reddish brown splotched eggs are laid and incubated by both parents for about 30 days.

[edit] External Links