A group of Sandhill Cranes spent the winter at a nearby refuge, giving us the chance to see them during their stay.

Notice the rusty tint on some of these cranes’ feathers. Sometimes they stain their gray feathers with iron-rich mud during preening, resulting in this rusty coloration. Though it is not known exactly why this is done, various theories suggest that it may help with camouflage, enhance their appearance during mating season, serve as an alternative to dust bathing, or assist in controlling feather parasites. Regardless of the reason, this splash of color adds an interesting touch to their ash-gray feathers.

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Below are a couple of photos of Sandhill Cranes we spotted flying over the fields near our house.

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“When melodies dance and colors splash, the world becomes a little less gray.” ~Unknown

Credits: https://blog.nature.org/2024/03/20/did-you-know-sandhill-cranes-dye-their-feathers/