Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Hooded Crane is a dark gray crane whose adults have a white head and neck. It breeds in Russia and northern China and winters mainly in Japan, with smaller wintering groups in Korea and China. It is an exceptionally rare wild visitor to the United States.

Appearance

Appearance: It stands about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Adults have a white head and neck, dark gray body, and red forehead patch.

Look-alikes

Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis

A Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) is gray with a red crown, but it lacks the Hooded Crane’s white head and neck. Check the head pattern in a clear photo.

Why they get mixed upA Hooded Crane recorded in Nebraska traveled with Sandhill Cranes, though its wild origin was debated.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: East Asian wetlands
farm fields
Range: It breeds in Russia and northern China and winters mainly in Japan, with smaller wintering groups in Korea and China. In the United States, it is an exceptionally rare visitor.
Seasonal presence: It migrates between northern Asian breeding grounds and East Asian wintering areas.

Behavior

Diet: Its foods include wetland plants, insects, and small animals; in managed Asian wintering areas it also eats grain.
Social life: It gathers in family groups and winter flocks.

Life cycle

Breeding season: It breeds in northern Asia, not in the United States.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: VUVulnerableHigh risk of extinction in the wild
Status: It is listed as Endangered under the U.S. .

13 sources