The wattled crane (Grus carunculata) has long wattles that dangle like ornamental ear-rings and earn the species its common name. The wattles become elongated when the bird is aggressive and shrink when the bird is threatened. Once ranging from the coastal west of Africa to the African horn down to the southern tip of Africa, the wattled crane is now concentrated to the Okavango Delta. The only African crane with an all-white neck, it is the largest and rarest of the six species of crane in Africa. Wattled Cranes are the second tallest flying birds in the world, after the Sarus Crane.
