The only national animal of Guinea-Bissau is the black-crowned crane. This is a striking species of crane with a remarkable tuft or crown on its head which is instantly recognizable. They are found in sub-Saharan Africa, typically in the shallow wetlands. They are very important symbols in Guinea-Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau’s national animal and bird, then, are presently one and the same.
The black-crowned crane is among the nation’s most iconic species and it is easy to see why.
They are a sight to behold and look rather like nothing else in nature beside their own sister species, the grey crowned crane.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Guinea-Bissau?
The national animal of Guinea-Bissau is the same as its national bird, the black crowned crane.
This is a species of crane in the family Gruidae, with its sister species the grey crowned crane.
Their most characteristic feature is the bristle-feathered golden crown on the top of their head which is impossible to miss.
They are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are found typically in the shallow wetlands as many crane species often are.
This acts as their principle ground for feeding, breeding and even roosting.
They can, though, also be found foraging in the grasslands and drier shrublands.
There are two subspecies of black crowned crane recognized today.
They are all part of the same order of wider cranes which also includes things like the sandhill crane and the whooping crane.
The black crowned crane typically measures around 41 inches in length and weighs between 110 and 140 ounces.
Their wingspan is generally around 71 to 79 inches long.
They have dark black, slate gray plumage along with the stiff golden feathers at the tops of their heads.
They also have a distinctive red patch on their faces and a gular sac hanging under their chin.
They have a low-pitched and mellow honk among a couple of other vocalizations which they use to communicate with one another.
They are generalist feeders and eat a variety of different foods, such as insects like grasshoppers as well as locusts and flies.
They will eat other invertebrates like molluscs and crustaceans, as well as fish when they can find them.
In the dry season they are more likely to be found in the grassland where they will forage for other foods, though they generally prefer aquatic diets of fish and amphibians.
Why, then, are they the national animal of Guinea-Bissau?
Why is the black crowned crane the national animal of Guinea-Bissau?
The black crowned crane is the national animal of Guinea-Bissau for a variety of reasons, some more symbolic and others more literal and physical.
On the one hand, they are seen to embody a great many important aspects of national values to the people of Guinea-Bissau.
They are seen as symbolic of freedom, liberation, and grace. Birds are very often seen in this way by people as they are able to fly and roam more or less wherever they please.
For this reason, the black crowned crane is a very important emblematic species to the people of Guinea-Bissau.
On the other hand, they are also more literally seen as embodiments of the natural beauty of Guinea-Bissau.
Few species are as boldly ostentatious in their physical appearance and this is seen to reflect the dynamic, dramatic landscape of the nation and its physical geography.
The people see the bird as an inextricable part of its local, physical identity.
Sadly, though, the species is considered vulnerable by the IUCN, and so making the bird the national animal also serves to bring attention to this fact and help to aid conservation efforts in the future.
Where do black crowned cranes live?
Black crowned cranes are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are mostly to be found in the wetlands when they are available.
This is their preferred environment as indeed it is for many species of crane, as this is where their preferred prey is most abundant and this is where they will both hunt and roost.
They will also breed.
As mentioned, though, they will also move to grassland and shrubland when the dry season hits and there is less water to be found and thus greater competition for space in the wetlands.
They are adaptable birds and will move around as need dictates.
Do black crowned cranes fly?
Black crowned cranes do indeed fly as most species of crane do and this is essential for their ability to hunt and breed.
They need to move over large areas to get access to the best quality food and indeed to be able to move around as need dictates over the course of the year.
Cranes may be large birds but they are elegant flyers and their wide, strong wings compensate for their relatively large frames.
Again, their ability to fly is central to their symbolic significance to the people of Guinea-Bissau and they are not flightless birds.
So, again, while many countries make a distinction between their national bird and their national animal, the national animal and bird of Guinea-Bissau are presently not distinguished.
The black crowned crane is in any case one of the most iconic animals in the nation and not just among its birds.
They hold a great deal of symbolic significance to the people of Guinea-Bissau and will continue to do so for a long time to come.