The Common Crane (Grus grus) has ash-grey plumage, with black or bluish wing feathers. Its upper neck, throat, and head are black. A white stripe starts from its cheeks, extending to the back of its neck. Its long beak is grey with a little redness at the base. On its skullcap (head) is a bright red patch, which varies in size depending on age, sex, and season. Its long legs are black. The gender dimorphism is not very pronounced, with the male being only slightly larger than the female. The species is monogamous and its average lifespan in the wild is 26 years.