Sandhill Crane Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesSandhill Crane

Adult

Tall, heavy-bodied bird with a long neck and long legs. Drooping feathers form a “bustle” around its back end. Gray overall with some tan body feathers. Note red crown.

Adult

Large bird with broad wings. Flies with its neck stretched out and feet trailing behind.

Adults

Tall, graceful bird with gray plumage, white throat, and red crown patch.

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Immature

Immature birds have a rusty crown and back of the neck. They also have more rusty plumage on their back and wings.

Adult and juvenile

Young can stand and walk shortly after hatching, but adults care for the chicks for up to 10 months.

Adults

Flies with neck and legs extended. Wings are very broad, with wingtips slightly darker than rest of wing.

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Adult

Performs dances to attract mates. Displaying birds stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap into the air.

Adult

Nests in shallow wetlands where it builds a mounded nest out of reeds, sedges, and grasses on the ground, often above standing water.

Flock

Often occurs in flocks, unlike herons. Displaying birds stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap into the air.

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Adult

Adults have a bright red crown and a large dark bill.

Adult

Forages for seeds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and insects in open grasslands, fields, and wetlands.

Flock

During migration, flocks can be extremely large, gathering along broad river valleys. This video has no audio.

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Habitat

Migrates and winters in extremely large flocks, numbering into the tens of thousands. Found in open prairies, grasslands, and wetlands.

Similar SpeciesGreat Blue Heron

Adult (Blue form)

Great Blue Herons have a larger yellow (not dark) bill than Sandhill Cranes. They also have black feathers on their head and lack the red crown patch seen on Sandhill Cranes.

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