Brolga

Identification

The brolga is a tall, upright crane with a small head, long slender beak, and stilt-like legs. Standing 0.7 to 1.4 metres tall with a wingspan of 1.7 to 2.4 metres, it is Australia's heaviest regularly flying bird. Its plumage is silvery-grey with black primary wing feathers, and it features a distinctive orange-red band across its head, face, cheeks, and throat pouch. The legs and feet are greyish-black. Juveniles lack the red head markings and have fully feathered heads. Males and females are indistinguishable except that females are usually slightly smaller.

The brolga can be confused with the sarus crane, but the latter's red colouring extends down the neck, whereas the brolga's is confined to the head. The brolga is also more silvery-grey in colour, has blackish rather than pink legs, and produces lower-pitched calls.