- Grus rubicunda
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.
Distribution
N and e Australia and Trans-Fly of s New Guinea
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
Habitat
Wetlands.
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.
