arube570 Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Most of the adult sandhill cranes i see have grey bodies but sometimes I see one like this. Is this a juvenile? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdNrd Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 I think it might be either a juvenile or an immature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Nice picture!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gstacks Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 From AllAboutBirds: "Immature birds have a rust crown and back of the neck. They also have more rusty plumage on their back and wings." https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/media-browser/71547331 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasan Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, BirdNrd said: I think it might be either a juvenile or an immature. This is an adult bird. There are very few if any juvenile birds of any species this time of year- most, including Sandhill Crane, will have at least molted once. The reasoning behind the rust staining is just that- staining. Sandhill Cranes often get dirt and soil on their plumage, hence the reddish coloration. Edited March 18, 2021 by Hasan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLecy Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 This is an adult bird. Sniped by @Hasan "Plumage becomes stained adventitiously for camouflage through application of soil to plumage or an oxidation process (Taverner 1929, Drewien 1973, Nesbitt 1975a, Pyle 2008); results in plumage ranging from drab-clay to cinnamon-rufous (ferric oxide). Stained feathers occur below mid-neck and are particularly apparent among upperwing primary and secondary coverts and upper breast feathers." - BOW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arube570 Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 Thanks for the replies. So it seems this is a something the bird does to itself. I wonder if the stain is permanent once it occurs. Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 7 hours ago, arube570 said: Thanks for the replies. So it seems this is a something the bird does to itself. I wonder if the stain is permanent once it occurs. Allan Since they molt, no. They would have to stain new feathers again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 I think it’s actually called a “ stained “ variation . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 On 3/17/2021 at 9:37 PM, Hasan said: This is an adult bird Absolutely correct. These are first-cycle Sandhills: ML309427371 Sandhill Crane Macaulay Library ML140456141 Sandhill Crane Macaulay Library Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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