Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis is a mostly North American species that breeds also in extreme northeast Siberia. Accidental eastern China, with reports from Hebei (Beidaihe), Jiangsu (Yancheng), Shanghai, and Lake Poyang in Jiangxi. ID Often in large flocks of Hooded Crane Grus monacha, from which Sandhill are distinguished by their much paler grey plumage. Adults have varying degrees of rusty blotching on upperparts. Extensive bare forecrown is bright red, brightness of forecrown enhanced by paler cheeks. Younger Sandhill generally rustier; head feathered in younger birds. VOICE Powerful trumpeting rattle. — Craig Brelsford
THE CRANES OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com has research on all nine species in the family Gruidae in China. Click any link below:
Siberian Crane Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis
White-naped Crane A. vipio
Sarus Crane A. antigone
Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo
Red-crowned Crane G. japonensis
Common Crane G. grus
Hooded Crane G. monacha
Black-necked Crane G. nigricollis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
