Adult gray-crowned cranes are about 1 meter tall and weigh about 3.5 kg. The fur on the body consists mainly of gray. The wings are mainly white but mixed with many other colors. On their head there is an upright tuft of yellow cilia, looking like a crown.

On the forehead there is a patch of jet black hair that is slightly bulging as if wearing a hat, while the sides of the face are milky white. Their throat has a bright red, inflatable sac. The beak is relatively short, usually gray or black. Black legs. Males and females are similar in appearance, with males tending to be slightly larger.

Gray- crowned cranes mainly eat insects and invertebrates, reptiles, and small mammals. Sometimes they can also eat fruits and seeds.

Males often perform dances during mating season to woo females. These dances include movements such as dancing and bowing. They also make quite loud calls, combined with the expansion of bright red sacs on their throats to resonate with the love dance. Their calls are recorded as high-pitched, similar to a car horn.

Their nests are often built in tall vegetation, among wetlands, and are often lined with grass and leaves. This bird usually lays 2-5 eggs in each clutch. Incubation involves both father and mother birds and lasts about 28-31 days. Baby birds are cared for by their parents for a period of 56-100 days.