A "cinnamon" Sandhill Crane

One of several brownish adult Sandhill Cranes observed on the
Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory's Sandhill Crane Tours
in the Sulphur Springs Valley in January 2003.
Though young birds typically have extensive tawny to rusty areas in their plumage,
this bird is clearly an adult by the extent and intensity of its red crown patch.

Breeding adult Sandhills daub themselves with mud to provide camouflage on the nest;
remnants of this "paint" are usually apparent on scattered wing coverts even after
the late summer molt (as in the individuals to the left and right of the brown crane).
Though this coloration usually does not extend above the mid-neck region,
the overall brownish plumage of these cranes is apparently due to a failure to molt on schedule.

Photo Copyright 2003 Tom Wood

Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory

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