Sandhill Crane - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

ORDER: Gruiformes
FAMILY: Gruidae (Cranes - 3 Species)
SUB-FAMILY: Gruinae
SPECIES: Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Sandhill Crane
The Sandhill Crane is one of just two crane species native to North America, the other being the Whooping Crane (an endangered species). Sandhill Cranes have been used as foster parents for Whooping Crane eggs and young in reintroduction schemes for that species. Sandhill Cranes mate for life and stay together throughout the year and migrate south as a group with their offspring.
SIZE	The Sandhill Crane is a huge (4-5 feet) tall wetland bird with a wingspan of 6-7 feet.
DESCRIPTION	They have a gray body and red crown (forehead) with a long neck and very long legs. Sexes are similar in appearance, but male is slightly larger.
NESTING	Clutch size is typically is 1-2 eggs, which are incubated within 30 days. Nests are up to 5 feet in diameter and above above normal water level. They are made of grass, plants and other vegetation from the surrounding. Both parents share incubation duties and raise the young.
RANGE	You can find Sandhill Cranes throughout most of North America, nesting from the sub-artic regions of Canada and Alaska, south to the Gulf States.
HABITAT	They habitat freshwater wetlands and quiet shallow marshes and wet meadows, where they won't be disturbed.
DIET	The Sandhill Crane eats a wide variety of plants and animals: snails, crayfish, worms, mice, frogs, snakes, insects, acorns, roots, seeds, fruits and waste grains. They can be seen searching fields following the harvesting of corn, wheat, barley, etc.

INTERESTING FACTS

Bird-Smallest & Bird-Largest

The smallest bird in the world is generally agreed to be the Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) from Cuba, which weighs a mere or 0.056oz (1.6g). The largest living bird is the Ostrich (Struthio camelus), native to Africa This bird stands 9ft (2.74m) high and can weigh as much as 353lb (160kg).

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.




Sandhill Crane

Wyckoff Road Cayuga County, New York


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Carncross Road Wayne County, New York


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Snowy Owl Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes