The unmistakable feature of these birds is the elaborate, large, straw-colored crest that covers the top of the head. West African crowned cranes have long, slender necks and long legs.

Males and females are similarly colored; however, the males are slightly larger than the females. West African crowned cranes are a grayish overall color with slightly lighter under parts. Their tails, bills, long legs and toes are black, and they have a red wattle. The crane's beak is short, straight and sharp.

West African crowned cranes prefer the wetland portions of grasslands and open savannas, flooded lowlands and wet croplands.

There is no published longevity record for this species but there are West African crowned cranes in captivity approaching 40 years of age.

West African crowned cranes are monogamous and remain a couple for life unless one mate dies or breeding is unsuccessful. Both the male and female together build the nest, incubate the eggs and care for the young.

The age of sexual maturity for wild West African crowned crane is not known. Birds in captivity are usually capable of breeding at 3 years of age. Egg clutches are typically 2-3 eggs and the young hatch after 28 to 31 days of incubation. The young are precocial and capable of foraging with the parents soon after hatching. They can attain complete independance from the parents between 60 and 100 days after hatching.

West African crowned cranes are diurnal, or active during the daytime. They are found in pairs during breeding season but can form large flocks during other times of the year.

Both visual and vocal displays play prominent roles in the lives of these cranes. Cranes are well known for their elaborate dances. Among crowned cranes, dancing can involve bows, leaps, runs, short flights, jerky bouncing, running and stick tossing. In adult cranes, dancing is thought to strengthen the pairbond and may also stimulate reproduction. Cranes of all ages, paired and unpaired, are known to dance. The function of dancing in young birds is not entirely known but it may help to reduce aggression with other cranes, provide physical exercise or relieve anxiety.

West African crowned cranes have relatively short beaks that are adapted to grasp insects, pluck seeds and graze on vegetation. These cranes feed mainly by pecking at the surface and may stamp their feet to scare up invertebrates to eat. Their long, prehensile hind toes (or hallux) allows them to roost in trees, which they commonly do.