13 Birds That Look Like Cranes (+Photo Guide)

The Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) is a distinguished bird species found in the family Gruidae, renowned for its majestic presence and elaborate courtship dances.

These long-legged birds stand approximately 4 feet tall with a wingspan of up to 7 feet, marked by gray bodies, white cheeks, pointy dark bills, and an iconic red cap on their heads. Typically, they inhabit grasslands, marshes, and fields across North America, Siberia, and Cuba.

Being omnivorous, Sandhill Cranes thrive on a varied diet consisting of plant material, small mammals, amphibians, and insects. With a lifespan reaching up to 20 years in the wild, they remain one of the most widespread crane species globally.

Great Blue Herons are the largest heron species in North America, is distinguished by its tall stature and unique blue-gray plumage.

Measuring up to 4.5 feet tall with a wingspan of approximately 6.5 feet, the bird features a long, pointed bill, a white head with a black eye stripe extending to slender black plumes, and robust, elongated legs. Its distinctive flight pattern, forming a tight “S” shape with its neck, sets it apart from similar large birds, like cranes.

Inhabiting various wetland habitats, including marshes, lakes, rivers, and coastal regions throughout much of North and Central America, the Great Blue Heron is a wading bird. Often seen poised statue-like at the water’s edge, these birds are expert hunters, spearing fish and capturing small animals with their sharp bills.

The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a large, long-legged wading bird known for its unique spoon-shaped bill and striking pink plumage, from which it derives its name.

The species’ eye-catching coloration ranges from light pink to bright magenta, accentuated by a patch of carmine red on the wing and a greenish tinge on the head and neck. The spoon-shaped bill, broad and flat at the end, is a highly specialized tool for feeding, allowing the bird to sweep through the water and scoop up small aquatic animals.

Residing in marshes, lagoons, and mangroves, the Roseate Spoonbill is found in the Americas, from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. They feed on crustaceans and other small aquatic animals, the carotenoid pigments of which contribute to their vibrant pink color.

The White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is a wading bird notable for its distinctive and colorful appearance. It boasts a long, curved bill, a slender body, and a predominantly dark, glossy plumage that shimmers with iridescent hues of green and purple in the sunlight.

The bird derives its name from the patch of white feathers bordering the bare, red skin on its face, a feature most prominent during the breeding season.

Inhabiting the marshes, wetlands, and fields of the central and western United States, as well as parts of Central and South America, the White-faced Ibis uses its long, curved bill to probe mud and shallow water for various invertebrates and crustaceans. The species tends to nest in colonies, often sharing habitat with other wading birds.

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), also known as the Common Egret, is a large, elegant wading bird recognized for its brilliant white plumage, slender black legs, and long, dagger-like yellow bill.

With a height of up to 3.3 feet and a wingspan of 52 to 67 inches, this bird is amongst the largest of the heron species. Its stately appearance and serene comportment have made it a popular symbol in many cultures and an eye-catching sight in its habitats.

Found across all continents except Antarctica, the Great Egret resides in both fresh and saltwater wetlands, including marshes, ponds, and coastal areas. It feeds mainly on fish, but it also hunts amphibians, small mammals, and invertebrates.

The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small and active wading bird, celebrated for its delicate beauty. It sports an entirely white plumage that appears to glow against its black bill and legs, and striking yellow feet, which often play a crucial role in luring prey during feeding.

The Snowy Egret is further adorned with fine, plume-like feathers on its head, neck, and back during the breeding season, making it one of the more distinctive heron species.

Inhabiting wetland areas across the Americas, the Snowy Egret can be found in marshes, swamps, shorelines, and tidal flats where it feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes insects, crustaceans, and small reptiles.

The Black-Crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized heron species known for its distinct nocturnal habits and characteristic appearance. The bird displays a stocky silhouette, with a black crown and back, contrasting starkly with its light grey wings and white underparts.

Its eyes are large and red, adapted for its night-time activities, and its legs are relatively short for a heron. The bill is sturdy and black, and during the breeding season, two to three long white plumes extend from the back of the head.

Residing in a wide variety of wetland habitats, from freshwater marshes to coastal regions, the Black-Crowned Night-Heron is found across a large global range, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The species primarily feeds on fish and invertebrates, but it is known to be opportunistic and will also eat small mammals, birds, and eggs.

The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), formerly known as the Louisiana Heron, is a slender, medium-sized heron species recognized for its distinctive three-colored plumage.

It exhibits a blue-gray body contrasted by a white belly and a rust-colored neck, which deepens to a maroon shade during the breeding season. The long, pointed yellowish bill turns blue at the base in breeding adults, further accenting its striking appearance.

Native to coastal parts of the southeastern United States, the Tricolored Heron inhabits salt marshes, mangrove swamps, tidal flats, and freshwater wetlands. It feeds on a diet primarily of small fish, utilizing a unique hunting technique where it often runs through shallow water, spreading its wings to create shade and startle prey.

The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a large, long-legged wading bird, notable for its striking contrast of white body plumage with a dark, featherless head and neck. Its wings are expansive and black, making it particularly conspicuous in flight.

The Wood Stork’s long, down-curved bill is specialized for a unique method of feeding called “tactile foraging,” where the bird catches small fish and invertebrates by feeling their movements in the water.

Found in wetland habitats of the southeastern United States, Central America, and South America, the Wood Stork relies heavily on the presence of shallow water bodies for feeding.

The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized heron species recognized for its unusual coloration and lively hunting behavior.

It comes in two distinct color morphs: a dark form that displays a bluish body with a reddish neck and head, and a white form that is entirely white. Its bill is pink at the base, transitioning to black towards the tip, and its legs and feet are bluish-gray.

The Reddish Egret’s habitat stretches along the coastal regions of the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, where it frequents saltwater marshes, lagoons, and shallow bays. It is known for its “dance” when hunting, running in shallow water with wings spread and dipping its head to catch fish.

The Eurasian Spoonbill is a medium-sized, pure white bird with an unusual spoon-shaped bill. Eurasian Spoonbills spend much of their time feeding in the shallow waters of wetlands, lakes, and marshes on fish, frogs, and aquatic insects, which they detect by their sense of touch as they rhythmically sweep their ‘spoon-shaped’ bills from side to side.

The Eurasian Spoonbill is a medium-sized, long-legged wading bird. Its distinctive bill is long, flat, and spoon-shaped at the end. It is mainly white with a yellowish crest and black bill and legs during the breeding season. The immature Spoonbill is dull white with a shorter crest and bill.

The Eurasian Spoonbill’s vocal sounds are generally quiet but can emit low, guttural grunts.

The White Stork is a large, elegant bird notable for its contrasting black and white plumage. These storks forage in grasslands and shallow wetlands, hunting for a range of food items, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and birds.

The White Stork is a tall, long-legged wading bird. Its distinctive bill is long, straight, and pointed, perfectly adapted for hunting. Adults are primarily white with black flight feathers, while the legs and the long bill are bright red. Immature storks resemble adults but have duller plumage and a darker bill.

The vocal sounds of the White Stork are not as prominent, as they are mostly silent. However, they are known for their unique way of communication through “bill-clattering”, a rapid opening and closing of their beak producing a rattle-like sound.

The Greater Flamingo is a large and majestic bird known for its distinctive pink hue. These flamingos often gather in large colonies in shallow water bodies, feeding primarily on small aquatic creatures such as shrimp, mollusks, and algae which contribute to their pink color.

The Greater Flamingo is an incredibly tall, long-legged wading bird. Its signature bill is downward bending, pink with a black tip, and is unique in its filtering capabilities. The plumage ranges from pale pink to a brighter pink, and the intensity depends on the bird’s diet. The legs of the Greater Flamingo are also pink and quite lengthy, contributing to the bird’s tall stature. Young flamingos are grey and white and acquire the pink coloration after about two years.

The vocal sounds of the Greater Flamingo are quite varied, often described as goose-like honking, mumbling, or grunting noises, particularly noticeable in large colonies.

The Limpkin, also known as the “crying bird,” is a distinctive bird due to its unique voice. Found in wetlands, marshes, and swamps, Limpkins are known for their almost exclusive diet of apple snails and freshwater mussels.

The Limpkin is a medium-sized, long-legged bird. It sports a long, down-curved bill which is highly adapted to prying open mollusk shells. The bird’s overall color is a rich brown with white spots and streaks, creating an intricate pattern. Young Limpkins are similar in appearance to adults, but their plumage is a little paler.

The vocal sounds of the Limpkin are striking. They emit a loud, wailing cry, often at dusk or at night, which has earned them the nickname “crying bird.”