Whooping Crane or Sandhill Crane?

Here's how to tell the difference

Whooping Crane

Grus americana

How to recognise a whooping crane?

General appearance

Whooping Cranes are large birds characterized by their striking white plumage, black wingtips visible during flight, and a red crown on their head. They have long, slender necks and legs, with an impressive wingspan of up to 7.5 feet. Their bills are straight and pointed, ideal for foraging in wetland areas.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, making them difficult to distinguish through mere visual observation. However, males are slightly larger than females in terms of body size and weight. Both sexes exhibit the same coloration and distinctive markings.

Juvenile

Juvenile Whooping Cranes have a more varied coloration compared to adults. They display a combination of white and cinnamon-brown feathers. As they mature, their brown feathers are gradually replaced by the pure white plumage seen in adults. Juveniles do not have the red crown that is characteristic of mature birds and develop it as they reach adulthood.

Size

47.2 - 63.0 in/211.6 - 264.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Whooping Crane primarily inhabits wetlands, marshes, and coastal estuaries. It prefers areas with shallow water for feeding and nesting, relying on environments rich in aquatic vegetation and invertebrates.

Additional range

Its current range includes regions from northern Canada to the southern United States, with some wintering in coastal marshes of Texas. Unexpectedly, they may occupy agricultural fields during migration.

Range Map

What do whooping cranes like to eat?

Natural diet

Whooping Cranes have an omnivorous diet consisting mainly of aquatic and terrestrial plants, small mammals, fish, insects, crustaceans, and amphibians. They forage in shallow waters and open fields, utilizing their long bills to probe mud and vegetation.

Bird feeders

Whooping Cranes typically do not visit bird feeders, as their diet relies on natural foraging habitats. However, they may consume grains or seeds if available in agricultural areas, but this is rare in domestic settings.

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Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis

How to recognise a sandhill crane?

General appearance

Sandhill cranes are tall, statuesque birds with grey bodies. Their wingspan ranges from 5-7 feet, boasting long legs and necks. They possess a bright red patch on their forehead, with white cheeks and a sharp pointed bill. Their plumage can sometimes be stained a rusty color from iron-rich muds.

Male vs female

Males and females look alike, making it challenging to distinguish between them based on physical characteristics alone. However, males are slightly larger than their female counterparts.

Juvenile

Juvenile Sandhill cranes bear a resemblance to adults, but their grey is mixed with some brown, and they lack the distinctive red forehead patch. Instead, juveniles possess a hair-like plumage on the top of their heads. This brownish color gradually lightens to gray as they mature.

Size

39.4 - 47.2 in/117.8 - 191.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Sandhill cranes primarily inhabit freshwater wetlands, marshes, and river basins. They prefer open landscapes like prairies, meadows, and farmlands.

Additional range

These birds are widespread throughout North America, Siberia, and Cuba. They are adaptive and can survive in unexpected environments such as Arctic tundra and desert areas.

Range Map

What do sandhill cranes like to eat?

Natural diet

Sandhill cranes are omnivorous and have a diverse diet that includes plants, insects, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. They forage for grains, seeds, berries, and tubers in wetlands and grasslands. Aquatic vegetation, such as algae, and invertebrates like snails and worms, also form a significant part of their diet. The availability of food sources varies seasonally and geographically, influencing their feeding habits.

Bird feeders

Sandhill cranes are not commonly attracted to standard bird feeders. They occasionally visit feeders that offer cracked corn or grains. Since they prefer foraging on the ground, an open ground feeding area is more likely to attract them compared to elevated bird feeders designed for smaller birds. However, due to their size and preference for natural foraging, these visits are relatively uncommon.

What does a sandhill crane sound like?

The Sandhill Crane vocalizes distinct, resonant, trumpet-like calls often described as a loud, rolling, "kar-r-r-r-oo-o-o" sound. This is possible due to long windpipe that coils into the sternum. The calls, usually done in pairs, serve many purposes like maintaining contact among the group, expressing alarm or delight. They have a wide repertoire including guard calls, flight intention signals, or disturbance calls. However, unlike many birds, they do not have true 'songs'.

Call

Audio by Richard E. Webster

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Whooping Crane

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Sandhill Crane

Whooping Crane

Grus americana

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

47.2 - 63.0 in/211.6 - 264.6 oz

There's more to learn about Whooping Crane

View full details

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis

General appearance

Male vs female

Males and females look alike, making it challenging to distinguish between them based on physical characteristics alone. However, males are slightly larger than their female counterparts.

Juvenile

Size

39.4 - 47.2 in/117.8 - 191.5 oz

There's more to learn about Sandhill Crane

View full details

How to tell the Whooping Crane from the Sandhill Crane

Visual differences

The Whooping Crane is larger, with a weight between 6000-7500g and a length of 120-160cm, compared to the Sandhill Crane's 3340-5428g and 100-120cm. Whooping Cranes have striking white plumage with black wingtips and a red crown, while Sandhill Cranes are generally grey with a red forehead patch and white cheeks, occasionally showing rusty stains. Juvenile Whooping Cranes have white and cinnamon-brown feathers, whereas juvenile Sandhill Cranes are grey with some brown and lack the red forehead patch. Both feature long necks and sharp, pointed bills.

Key differences and behavior

Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) and Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) are both striking but distinctly different birds. Visually, Whooping Cranes are larger, with a 7.5-foot wingspan and white plumage accented by black wingtips and a red crown, while Sandhill Cranes are smaller, with a 5-7-foot wingspan and grey bodies, sometimes rust-stained, red forehead patches, and white cheeks. Behaviorally, Whooping Cranes have a loud bugle-like call, and perform elaborate dances for courtship and bonding. Sandhill Cranes also dance and are known for their powerful kicks. Both species inhabit wetlands, but Whooping Cranes predominantly winter along the Gulf Coast, whereas Sandhill Cranes are more widespread across North America. Both have omnivorous diets, but individual foraging habits differ seasonally and geographically.

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