LITTLE BBOWN CRANE 



275 



The Little Brown and Sandhill cranes are identical in proportions 

 and coloration, differing only in the decidedly greater size of the 

 latter (see measurements) . Neither of them should be confused with 

 any of the herons, to which, especially the Great Blue Heron, they bear 

 some general resemblance. The cranes have no sharply contrasted 

 white or black markings, in the adult their heads are bald (down to the 

 level of the eyes), their necks are held out straight in flight (not drawn 

 in or "crooked"), and their sonorous rolling cries are totally different 

 from the guttural squawks of the herons. 



Writing from Montana, Cameron (1907, p. 251) says: "If un- 

 disturbed the cranes fed in the morning and evening, strongly recall- 

 ing turkeys in general behavior ; their stately manner of walking and 



Fig. 45. Side of bill and head of Little Brown Crane. One-half natural size. 



Note hair-like feathers on forehead and smaller size as 

 compared with Sandhill Crane (fig. 46). 



drooping tertiary plumes causing them to present a striking appear- 

 ance. ' ' 



During the breeding season the Little Brown Crane is confined to 

 northern North America from the vicinity of Hudson Bay to Alaska, 

 where it inhabits the great treeless tundras. It migrates through 

 Canada and the western United States, wintering from California 

 and Texas southward into Mexico. In California this crane is most 

 abundant during the season of migration, but considerable numbers 

 remain through the winter in the San Joaquin Valley and on suitable 

 parts of the coastal slope, of southern California. As judged from the 

 size of migrating flocks each year, there has been some diminution 

 in numbers, though estimates are difficult to make. Formerly the 

 term "thousands" was often applied to the migrating hosts. 



James A. MacDonald, Jr., of Lathrop, San Joaquin County, states 

 (MS) that five flocks of cranes were seen feeding in that vicinity on 

 February 4, 1914. In one flock which flew overhead 149 birds were 



