The range of the African Crowned Crane lies in Africa. It is found in southern Sudan, southwestern and central Ethiopia, and occasionally in the extreme north of Uganda and Kenya. Essentially a bird of the open plains where it frequents the borders of rivers and swamps. General plumage color is black, contrasting with the white of the upper wing coverts, the innermost of which are straw-colored.
Secondary feathers are a rich chocolate brown and the under wing coverts are white.
The head is handsomely decorated with a spectacular crown displaying an upright tuft of stiff straw-colored bristles. The white cheek patches are offset by a patch of red above and below the eye and a red throat wattle. The long feathers of the lower neck droop elegantly over the birds breast. The bill, legs and feet are blackish. In flight, the African Crowned Crane has wing movements that appear slow and almost labored, although the bird is actually a strong flier.