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BrolgaAlternate name(s): "Native Companion", "Australian Crane" ![]() Size: 80 cm - 1.3 m; wing span 1.7 - 2.4 m Weight: 3.7-8.7 kg |
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See Brolga
at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Dorsal view of a male Brolga
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Victoria Highway, NT, April 2018]
Direct comparison of a male Brolga seen from behind with a
Little Egret
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wyndham, WA, January 2016]
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FEMALE |
Lateral view of a female Brolga looking at the observer; note the small dewlap
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[20 km SE of Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]
Lateral view of a female Brolga
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bollon, QLD, June 2019]
Lateral view of a female Brolga in lush
pasture
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Murrumba Downs, near Brisbane, QLD, July 2017]
Lateral view of a resting female Brolga
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Quilpie, QLD, July 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a (due to the small dewlap probably female) Brolga in
lush pasture
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Murrumba Downs, near Brisbane, QLD, July 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a female Brolga - for those who are not familiar
with the size of Brolgas: this bird is about as tall as a man
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, July 2009; see credits page for details]
Female Brolga preparing for landing (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Diamantina Lakes NP, QLD, August 2013]
Direct comparison between a female Brolga, back, and an
adult Sarus Crane,
front (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Croydon, QLD, September 2019]
Frontal view of a (female?) Brolga in flight
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2019]
Frontal view of a (female?) Brolga in flight
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2019]
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PAIR |
Lateral view of a pair of Brolgas on a
paddock
- the male, with the larger dewlap, is seen in the foreground,
the female behind
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, July 2009; see credits page for details]
Lateral view of a pair of Brolgas in grassy downs in a
riverine
wetland (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Gwydir Wetlands, near Moree, NSW, April 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Brolgas
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, June 2020]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Brolgas on a shallow
riverine
wetland (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Gwydir Wetlands, near Moree, NSW, October 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Brolgas
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, July 2009; see credits page for details]
Dorsal view of a pair of Brolgas; male in front, female behind
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Victoria Highway, NT, April 2018]
Pair of Brolgas on the edge of a billabong
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kakadu NP, NT,
November 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Brolgas in flight
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, June 2020]
Distant view of a pair of Brolgas in flight; this is the pair whose
calls were recorded
on 20 August 2014 over a distance of at least 0.5 km
[Holmes Jungle NP,
NT, August 2014]
Sex unknown |
Small group of Brolgas and Sarus Cranes, with a juvenile
Sarus Crane
on the right; note the large number of birds in the background
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[100 km NW of Croydon, QLD, October 2014]
Lateral view of Brolgas in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Diamantina NP, QLD, September 2019]
Part of a flock of about 80 Brolgas in flight
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Gwydir Wetlands, near Moree, NSW, October 2013]
Brolgas preparing for landing (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Gwydir Watercourse, near Moree, NSW, November 2013]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of an immature Brolga; note the emerging red
colouring on the head
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, November 2020]
Frontal view of an immature/juvenile Brolga, left, in flight with
one of its parents
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2019]
Close-up near-lateral view of an immature Brolga in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, Mareeba, QLD, August 2020]
Lateral view of a female Brolga with a juvenile in tow
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bollon, QLD, June 2019]
Dorsal view of a female Brolga with two juveniles; note how
Brolgas, that are often found in wetlands, are also well adapted
to life in the semi-arid Outback, even with dependants in tow
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[20 km SE of Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Brolga
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bollon, QLD, June 2019]
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Breeding information |
Pair of Brolgas, possibly working on a land-based nest
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
Pair of Brolgas, possibly working on a land-based nest,
with one bird carrying a stick
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
Brolga carrying a stick, possibly working on a land-based nest
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/flock |
As part of their mating ritual or an attempt to attract a partner, pairs - and even groups - of Brolgas perform a nuptial dance. Click here for a photo sequence of a dancing pair.
Pair of dancing Brolgas (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2013]
Brolgas can be found in a surprising variety of habitats.
Male Brolga venturing from a
lake
into dry surrounding country dominated by Galvanised Burr
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Bindegolly NP,
near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]
Male Brolga venturing from a
lake
into dry surrounding country dominated by Galvanised Burr
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Bindegolly NP,
near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]
Pair of Brolgas on a cotton farm in inland NSW
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Near Harparary, 40 km south of Narrabri, NSW, February 2013]
Brolgas in a shallow
ephemeral wetland
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Gwydir Watercourse, near Moree, NSW, November 2013]
Another example of Brolgas in a commercial crop (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Gwydir Wetlands, near Moree, NSW, October 2013]
Brolgas in submerged, possibly tidal,
grassland
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cox Peninsula, near Darwin, NT, August 2019]
Brolgas in rank
grassland
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Diamantina NP, QLD, September 2019]
After inundating rainfall in the tropics the going can get tough
even for Brolgas
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Near Timber Creek, NT, March 2021]
In such circumstances Brolgas tend to walk on the elevated
roads
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Near Timber Creek, NT, March 2021]
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Food, Diet |
Brolgas are omnivorous, feeding on plants, insects and other small animals, including crustaceans.
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
brolga_pb_20201103.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Contact call(?) | © PB | |
brolga_20140820.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Pair Q&A (in-flight; distant) | © MD | |
brolga_20190621.m4a | (NW NSW) | ? (very distant) | © MD |
More Brolga sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.