FaunaHub
VUVulnerablePartial review

Wattled Crane

Bugeranus carunculatus

Wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), a large crane with white throat wattles.

Wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus).

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
VU · Vulnerable
Animal group
Birds
Population trend
Decreasing
FaunaHub record reviewed
Checked against IUCN
Matches source — IUCN's 2018 global assessment of Bugeranus carunculatus says VulnerableChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment

Conservation overview

The wattled crane is the largest crane in Africa, named for the fleshy wattles hanging from its throat. It is assessed as Vulnerable.

It depends closely on large, healthy wetlands.

Range & habitat

Wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa, with a stronghold in south-central Africa.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Loss and alteration of wetlands
  • Dams and changed water flow
  • Disturbance

Why it matters

A wetland specialist and Africa's largest crane, the wattled crane is a flagship for conserving the continent's great floodplains and marshes.

Gallery

A wattled crane in a wetland.

Wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), Namibia.

Image: Per Arne Slotte from Trondheim, Norway, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Wattled Crane

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the wattled crane's wattles?
They are two feathered, fleshy flaps that hang from the upper throat, giving the bird its name and a distinctive appearance among cranes.
Why is the wattled crane Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite the loss and alteration of wetlands, dams and changed water flow, and disturbance. See the IUCN Red List.