The body of the Black Crowned Crane is mostly black, with white upper and under wing. The head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers. Cheek patches are red and white Legs, toes, and bill are black.

Adults have nearly bare red crowns and lores (area between eye and bill) that are sparsely covered by black hairlike feathers. The rest of the head and the upper part of the neck are black, except for a small white or light gray spot extending backward from the rear and lower edges of each eye. The body is ashy gray. The tail is black.

It is one of the smaller crane species.  Body is silvery bluish gray becoming darker on the upper neck and the lower half of the head and nape. When defending itself it makes a cobra-like look. Blue Cranes have short bills and black legs.

Adult Brolgas have a bare crown covered with greenish gray skin. The face, cheeks, and throat pouch are coral red to bright orange up to about the eye. Eye color is orange to yellowish orange. The body  is light bluish gray.

Demoiselle Cranes are the smallest and second most abundant crane species.  Body  is pale bluish gray.  This crane is one of two species of cranes that do not have patches of bare, red skin on their heads. The head and neck are black. Eyes are reddish-orange, bill is short, and legs and toes are black.

The majority of the body is slate gray.  The forehead is black in contrast to the bare red crown. The chin, throat, and part of the neck are black to dark gray. A white stripe stretches from behind the eyes to the upper back. The legs and toes are black, and the bill is light colored.

The body of the Grey Crowned Crane is mainly gray. The wings are mostly white, but contain feathers with colors ranging from white to brown to gold. The head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers.  Legs and toes are black. The bill is short and dark gray.

Adult crowns are unfeathered, red, and covered with black hairlike bristles. The head and neck are snow white, which extends down the neck. The body is slaty gray.  Eye color is hazel yellow to orange brown, legs and toes are nearly black.

Red-crowned Cranes are the only crane species that have white primary feathers. Adult forehead and crown are covered with bare red skin, and a large white band extends from behind the eyes and meets sharply with the black lower neck. The majority of the body is pure white.

The body is characterized by varying shades of gray.  The forehead and crown are covered with reddish skin. Face, chin, upper throat, and nape are white to pale gray. Adults have a white cheek patch. Legs and toes are black.

This is the tallest crane species standing at six feet tall, with a wingspan of eight feet. Body is light gray. The crown is covered with smooth greenish skin. The rest of the head, throat, and the upper neck are covered with rough orange/red skin.

Adult forehead, face, and sides of the head are bare of feathers and brick-red in color. The body is pure white except for the primaries, which are black. Eye color is reddish or pale yellow and legs and toes are reddish pink.

Wattled Cranes stand six feet tall and weigh fourteen pounds. The back and wings are ashy gray. Wattled Cranes have long bills and black legs and toes.

White-naped Cranes are the only crane species with pinkish legs and a dark gray and white striped neck.

With the exception of black wing tips and a black mustache, the body is snow white. Red skin and sparse, black hair-like feathers cover the bird's crown.