No, sandhill cranes are never completely white. Sandhill cranes are large birds found throughout North America. They are grey in color with some red or pink feathers on their head. While sandhill cranes may have some white feathers, especially on their wings, they do not become all white.
What color are sandhill cranes?
The plumage of sandhill cranes is predominantly grey. Their body feathers and wing feathers are a blue-gray color. Sandhill cranes have bright red skin on their forehead, cheeks, and throat. This red skin is usually decorated with decorative feathers or modified hair-like feathers called bristles. These reddish feathers stand out against the grey and are part of their distinctive appearance.
Sandhill cranes have some white feathers as well, but these are limited. They may have small patches of white on their wings when at rest. When the wings are fully spread during flight, long white stripes running the length of the wings become visible. These white wing stripes are an important identifying mark. But apart from limited white on the wings, sandhill cranes do not have white plumage.
Why are sandhill cranes grey and red?
The grey, blue-gray, and reddish coloration of sandhill cranes provides them with camouflage in their natural wetland habitats. When standing among marsh grasses and reeds, their predominantly grey plumage helps them blend into the landscape, protecting them from predators.
The red skin on their head may also assist with camouflage when their head is tucked back against their grey body. But it also serves an important social function. The red skin changes color based on their physiology, darkening during interactions with other cranes. This helps cranes signal their mood and intent to potential mates or competitors.
Are juvenile sandhill cranes white?
No, juvenile sandhill cranes have plumage similar to adults, though paler in color. Baby sandhill cranes, called colts, hatch covered in brown or cinnamon-colored down. As they grow, grey feathers come in within weeks. By 3 months of age, juvenile sandhill cranes closely resemble adults in coloration.
As juveniles transition to adult plumage, some of their new grey feathers may have light tips that give a speckled appearance. But they lack white feathers even as juveniles. By their first winter, juveniles are almost indistinguishable from mature adults in their species-typical grey, red, and pale white plumage.
Do sandhill cranes change color seasonally?
Sandhill cranes do not dramatically change feather color between seasons. Their plumage remains predominantly grey and pale white year-round. However, some subtle seasonal variation may occur:
- In winter, grey body feathers with pale edges wear down, resulting in a more uniform grey appearance.
- Bristly feathers on the head lengthen in winter, covering more of the red skin.
- Due to fading, the red head color may become more orange-toned in winter.
But despite these minor shifts, sandhill cranes do not undergo a complete molt or dramatic color change between seasons like some other birds. Their distinctive grey, red, and white pattern persists throughout the year.
Are albino sandhill cranes ever seen?
True albino sandhill cranes, with all white plumage and red or pink eyes, are extremely rare. Partial albino sandhill cranes may occasionally be observed with more white patches than normal. But a completely white albino is exceptionally uncommon, likely occurring in 1 in several hundred thousand cranes.
Partial leucistic sandhill cranes, with an abnormal amount of white feathers intermixed with normal plumage, are also seen infrequently. Ornithologists have described individual sandhill cranes with up to 50% white feathers that were likely leucistic.
While fascinating to observe, albino or leucistic cranes likely don’t survive long in the wild. Their abnormal plumage stands out, reducing camouflage from predators. Still, the occasional sighting confirms sandhill cranes do sometimes express altered genes resulting in white feathers.
Why don’t sandhill cranes become white in winter?
Sandhill cranes do not turn white in winter for several reasons:
- Grey and white plumage provides year-round camouflage in varied wetland environments.
- As non-migratory birds in milder climates, sandhill cranes don’t need seasonal adaptations like dramatic molts.
- White winter plumage could increase predation risk in snow-free wetlands.
- Sandhill cranes use plumage colors like red and grey for social signaling that aids breeding.
The sandhill crane’s grey, red, and minimal white plumage serves multiple year-round purposes. For a non-migratory wetland bird, seasonal color changes provide little advantage and could reduce camouflage. So sandhill cranes remain in their signature colors throughout the year.
Do any related crane species turn white?
Some crane species closely related to sandhill cranes do display dramatic seasonal plumage changes, including turning white in winter. Two examples are the Siberian crane and whooping crane.
Siberian Crane
- This endangered crane breeds in the Arctic regions of Russia and Siberia.
- In summer, its plumage is pure white except for black wingtips.
- For winter, it molts into pale grey plumage to provide camouflage on migration and wintering grounds.
Whooping Crane
- This endangered North American crane is snowy white with black wingtips, face, and legs.
- It molts into a cinnamon wash over most feathers for winter camouflage.
- Juveniles are cinnamon-colored their first year before gaining adult white plumage.
These migratory Arctic and sub-Arctic nesting cranes benefit from brighter white summer plumage and camouflaging grey-brown winter plumage. But non-migratory, temperate-dwelling sandhill cranes lack the same need for seasonal color changes.
Conclusion
Sandhill cranes are distinctly grey, red, and minimally white year-round. Their plumage provides camouflage and social signaling without major seasonal shifts. While rare albino or leucistic sandhill cranes may display much more white than normal, they do not represent a typical color variant. Sandhill cranes remain steadfastly grey and red at all times of year.