A close-up image depicts the head and upper body of a grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) in Leskovets, Bulgaria

A close-up image depicts the head and upper body of a grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) in Leskovets, Bulgaria. The bird faces left, with its head slightly angled upwards. Key features include a prominent black, velvety crest atop its head, and a radiating crown of stiff, golden-brown feathers extending behind it. The crane possesses a light blue iris with a dark pupil, encircled by a black area. Below the eye, large, bright pink, fleshy patches are visible on either side of the face, with a smaller, elongated pink wattle present on the throat. Its beak is dark grey and pointed. The neck and visible body plumage are uniformly grey. In the background, to the upper left, a curved section of a grey concrete or metal trough containing murky, greenish-brown water is present. The ground visible beneath the bird is composed of dry, light brown soil with minor debris. No human subjects are present in the frame.