Young Sandhill Cranes

Cranes are a special kind of bird found all over the world. They are not herons although many people use the term crane as the name for great blue herons. Both herons and cranes have long legs, long necks and long bills but cranes are in an entirely different section of bird classification and are more closely related to rails.

Cranes and herons can be distinguished from one another by the way that they fly: cranes always fly with their necks out straight whereas herons usually tuck their heads back above their folded necks. Cranes very often occur in flocks; herons seldom do unless they happen to congregate in a good feeding place or in their breeding colony.

There are two species of cranes in North America. One is the endangered and very rare whooping crane, and the other is the much more common sandhill crane. I particularly like the plumage of the juvenile sandhill crane. There is a pleasant and subtle pattern of light rust and purplish gray with almost heraldic embellishments in detail. Their faces also have gentle but handsome expressions. In Japan the crane has a special place in their art; it is a symbol of long life. I saw the idea behind this painting as a group of young Japanese lady courtiers delicately making their way behind a screen containing designs of grasses.