5 Juvenile Common Crane (Lower Saxony, Germany, 24 November 2009).

With the breeding population in Britain spreading, juvenile Common Crane is becoming a more familiar (albeit still very scarce) sight. Juveniles lack the black-and-white head and neck patterns of adults and also the red skin on the crown; instead, the head is a rather pale earth-brown, this colour merging diffusely into the grey of the neck. The bill has a darker tip and the tertial ‘bustle’ is far less extravagant at this age. Juveniles generally remain with their parents until the following spring, but occasionally youngsters become separated or move independently from the family group during autumn.