Sarus cranes are known as the tallest of flying birds, standing at about 1.8 m (5.9 feet) tall. They can have a wingspan of up to 2.5 m and weigh between 5 to 12 kg. These cranes have a light gray trunk with darker gray patches near the tips of their wings. The most striking feature is the bright red coloration on their head and the top of their neck, with a white patch at the very top of the head and a small white spot behind the eye. Their beak is usually white to light gray, and their long legs are pale red. Males and females are similar in coloration, though males are generally larger than females. Adults and juveniles can be distinguished by the color of their crown: juveniles under four months old have a solid, dull brick-red crown, while adults have a dark red crown with a bald patch on top.