4 Adult Sandhill Crane (Boyton Marshes RSPB, Suffolk, 3 October 2011).

The widespread crane of North America (and also breeding in north- east Siberia), Sandhill Crane is readily distinguishable in adult plumage from Common and Demoiselle Cranes by the lack of black- andwhite head markings. Outside the breeding season the plumage is mainly grey, with a white lower face and throat and red bare upper face and forehead; breeding birds are extensively stained rusty brown. The flight feathers are a dark neutral grey, with paler shafts in most birds. There are six subspecies, but the one most likely to occur as a vagrant in Europe is the Arctic- breeding nominate A c canadensis, known as Lesser Sandhill Crane; this smallest subspecies is close to Demoiselle Crane in size.