Sandhill cranes are very tall, long-legged, solid gray birds with a red crown. They fly with the neck outstretched, gliding and soaring rather than flapping.

They are about 12cm long and more than 90cm tall. They live around marshes and prairies from Siberia, across Alaska and Canada. They can be found in the western and northern United States, and also in Mississippi and Florida.

The sandhill crane winters from California to western Texas and south to central Mexico.

Sandhill cranes fly together in groups of 20 to 100 birds in “V” formation, usually during early afternoon when the air is warmest.