North American field guide
Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
Identification
Field notes
102-122 cm (40-48") Locally common. In summer, prairies and marshy tundra; in winter, open marshes and agricultural fields.
Very tall, gray overall, heronlike bird; long, straight neck; long legs; dark red patch on forehead; bustlelike rear; often has rust in plumage from preening with bill containing ferrous mud. Immature is reddish-brown and lacks red forehead. In flight, straight neck, rapid wing upstrokes.
Song: loud, trumpeting, musical rattling "gar-oo-oo".
Watch and learn
Videos
Close-up look at the Sandhill cranes
Credit: Chicago TribuneSandhill Cranes | The Weekly Special
Credit: Journey IndianaWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Sandhill Crane
1 ruleRule 1 8 criteria · confidence 4
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Long-legged wader