General Description
Body grey with red-orange patch on face and behind head. Eyes yellow, legs dark grey-black. Bill grey. Up to 1.4 m tall.
Biology
Brolgas sometimes use thermal air currents when flying. On the ground, they perform dancing displays to one another, which include leaping, stepping and bowing.
Habitat
Freshwater wetlands and swamps.
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
Northern and eastern Australia.
Species Group
Max Size
1.4 m
Diet
Omnivore
Commercial Species
Yes
Global Dispersal
Native to Australia
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Vulnerable
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Least Concern
Author
Wayne Longmore is a Senior Collection manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Author
Rory O'Brien is a Collection Manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Longmore, N. W. & O'Brien, R., 2011, Brolga, Grus rubicunda, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7873
