Crane, Sandhill

Physical Features

Sandhill Cranes are the most abundant of the world's Cranes. They are very large birds that have long legs and necks, long pointed beaks, and wingspans that can extend over six feet. Adults are gray and may be stained reddish with red crowns and white cheek. Juveniles are mottled gray, washed with brown and lack facial markings and may have a bald forehead. During the breeding season, the gray plumage of the adults is often stained brown with mud. A 'bustle', which covers the short tail, is composed of long, drooping inner wing feathers. Sandhill Cranes have a body length of 47.2 in/120cm with a weight range between 119.9-172.8ox/3.4-4.9kg.

Habitat 

Sandhill Cranes live in wet meadows and grasslands, and they feed in grain fields and pastures. Emergent vegetation is a key component of their preferred nesting areas. During migration and in winter they live in more open prairie, agricultural fields, and river valleys. Sandhill Cranes prefer to live in habitats where they have clear views of their surroundings. They breed in open marshes or bogs, and in wet grasslands and meadows. 

They are widely, but intermittently distributed throughout North America, extending into Cuba and far northeastern Siberia. The three migratory subspecies (Lesser, Greater and Canadian) are distributed across a broad breeding range in the northern U.S. and Canada as well as eastern Siberia, with wintering grounds in the southern United States and northern Mexico. The three non-migratory subspecies (Mississippi, Cuban, and Florida) have restricted ranges in the southern United States and Cuba.

Diet

Sandhill Cranes are omnivores and their diet varies depending on their location and the season. They eat insects, rodents, snails, small reptiles and amphibians, small vertebrates, nestling birds, the roots of aquatic plants, tubers, berries, seeds, and grains.

Meat

Sandhill Cranes are one of the tastiest game birds. Their meat tastes like a cross between pheasant and goose.  The meat of the older ones is however on the tough side.

Behavior 

The Sandhill Crane does not breed until it is two to seven years old. Mated pairs stay together year round, and migrate south as a group with their offspring. During the breeding season, Sandhill Cranes paint themselves by preening mud, which serves as camouflage, into their feathers. The courtship rituals of Sandhill cranes are elaborate. Paired birds spread their wings and leap repeatedly into the air while calling. Pairs return to the same nesting territories year after year and sometimes use the same nest repeatedly. The young learn migratory routes from adults.

They build nests in emergent vegetation in shallow water or close to water. Both parents build the nest, which consists of a mound of plant material pulled up from around the site and anchored to surrounding vegetation. The female lays 2 eggs that both parents incubate for 29-32 days. The young leave the nest within a day of hatching and follow their parents out into the marsh. At first, both parents feed the young, but the young quickly learn to feed themselves. The male takes the primary role in defending the nest against possible danger. They remain with their parents for their first nine to ten months.

Chicks fledge at 67-75 days. They can live up to the age of 20 in the wild. Sandhill Cranes produce a deep, rolling trumpet and rattling vocalization.

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