First record of the Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina, Linnaeus, 1758) in Libya ( 1758 Linnaeus Balearica pavonina) ، التسجيل الأول للكركي المتوَّج الأسود في ليبيا

Abstract

On 7 August 2025, a single adult Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) was observed and photographed in Tripoli, Libya (32.87806°N, 13.13656°E), perched on a domestic water storage tank in a residential area. This represents the first confirmed record of the species in the country. B. pavonina is widely distributed across the Sahel region of Africa but has not previously been documented in Libya. The bird’s presence outside typical wetland or grassland habitat suggests either natural vagrancy, displacement, or escape from captivity. This observation extends the known northern limit of the species range and underscores the need for continued avifaunal monitoring in Libya.

Arabic abstract on pdf.