East African crowned cranes, Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

The East African crowned crane ranges through Uganda and Kenya frequenting the grasslands bordering marshes or swamps. Adults are four feet tall weighing 8.5 pounds with wing spans of six to seven feet. Their life span is fifty to sixty years. Males and females are nearly identical but the females may have a smaller crest. They feed on insects and small animals along with some vegetation and grains. They also consume aquatic animals. Their foraging technique consists of moving through grass and stamping their feet to scare up insects or other small animals. They are usually seen in pairs or small groups. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for American Broadcasting Company and traveled to Africa from June 1966 to early August 1966.