A large North American crane with a long neck and legs. It feeds in wetlands and grasslands and gathers in large flocks during migration and winter.
Adults have gray plumage, bare red skin on the crown, a long neck and legs, and drooping feathers over the rump. Juveniles lack the red crown and have rusty brown on the body.
It searches grasslands and shallow wetlands for seeds, grain, berries, and insects. Families and other birds may gather in very large flocks during migration and winter.
In North America, both mates gather plants for a nest mound, with the female usually arranging the material. Clutches contain 1–3 eggs, and incubation lasts 29–32 days.
In migratory North American families, young stay with their parents through winter and separate the following spring, at about 9–10 months old.
Adults have pale cheeks and black legs; juveniles lack the adults’ pale cheek patch. In flight, the neck and legs are extended.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.