The Sandhill Crane is a large, long-necked,

A pair of Sandhill Cranes, photo taken by Gayle Trivers

long-legged, grey bird often dashed with shades of rust. The adults are grey (as previously stated), with white patches on their cheeks, and a bald red crown. The young are usually different shades of brown and grey. They share many traits with other large birds (such as the Blue Heron, for which it is commonly mistaken) and the Canada Goose, which flies in V-shaped formations like the Sandhill Crane. They are omnivores, feeding on frogs, tadpoles, bugs, and plants. Their call is a shrill, rolling, "garooo-a-a", which is usually repeated a few times. They can usually be spotted in fields which are near marshes or swamps. They are a beautiful, unique bird, often found in groups of three or four, and many people stop along roadsides to watch them.