Sandhill Crane vs Red-crowned Crane
Grus canadensis compared with Grus japonensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sandhill Crane | Red-crowned Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Grus canadensis | Grus japonensis |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae | Gruidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | 150.0 cm (59.1 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 250.0 cm (98.4 in) |
| Weight | 3855.0 g (135.98 oz) | 8900.0 g (313.94 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivorous — fish, amphibians, insects, grasses, and waste grain. Forages in wetlands and agricultural fields. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Red-crowned Crane
Freshwater marshes, bogs, and wet grasslands for breeding. Winters in coastal mudflats, estuaries, and rice paddies.
Song & Call Comparison
Sandhill Crane
Red-crowned Crane
Spectacular unison 'bugling' call: a clear, resonant, far-carrying trumpet 'kru-ru-ru' given by paired birds simultaneously. Among the most majestic bird calls in Asia.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sandhill Crane
Red-crowned Crane
Eastern Asia — breeds in northeastern China, southeastern Russia, and Hokkaido, Japan. Winters in Korea and eastern China.
Conservation Status
Sandhill Crane
Red-crowned Crane
How to Tell Them Apart
Sandhill Crane
Red-crowned Crane
White body plumage with black secondary flight feathers and throat. Bare red crown patch. Black face and neck. One of the most elegant crane species.
Long, straight, olive-green bill
About These Birds
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large 80–120 cm grey North American crane with a bare red crown and bushy tail plumes. Wingspan to 185 cm. Breeds across Arctic Canada, Alaska, and northern USA; migrates in vast flocks along central flyways; winters in the southern USA and Mexico.
Red-crowned Crane
The red-crowned crane is one of the rarest crane species and a potent symbol of longevity and fidelity in East Asian culture. Their elaborate unison call and dancing displays have inspired art and folklore for millennia. The resident population on Hokkaido, Japan, recovered from about 33 birds in 1952 to over 1,800 today.