Smaller and more delicate than Crane. Front of neck and chest black, with long plumes. Immatures show only faint black markings on neck and head. Upper wing lacks pale patch close to alula, and show little contrast between secondary and primary coverts. Easily mistaken for Crane in flight if black chest is not visible. Identification by call then helpful. Wing beats significantly faster than in Crane.

Recalls Crane but timbre very dry, almost rasping and pitch higher.

Call:

Xeno-canto: map

Birdlife ecology

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Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC-sound:Oscar Campbell, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:yann coatanéa, Licence,Link.