7 Juvenile Sandhill Crane (New Mexico, USA, 18 December 2007).

On the basis of its wintering location, this juvenile Sandhill Crane could belong to one of three subspecies, including nominate canadensis,

Lesser Sandhill Crane. In terms of plumage it resembles juvenile Common Crane, with a browner head and upper neck merging into the grey lower neck. The bill is darker than that species, however, and the loral area also appears rather dark – juvenile Common Crane tends to look quite plain headed with a dark eye. Note also the browner wings, again unlike Common

Crane of the same age, which is more uniformly grey (though the brown on young Sandhill fades during its first winter).