Although the feathers are gray, sometimes they can have a reddish-brown appearance. This is because sandhill cranes preen themselves by rubbing mud on their feathers and mud from iron-rich environments is often red. Sandhill cranes are about three to four feet 0. Sandhill cranes spend most of their lives in freshwater wetlands, including marshes, wet grasslands and river basins.
Three subpopulations of sandhill cranes are migratory: the lesser, greater, and Canadian sandhill cranes. All of these subspecies spend winters in the south and summers at their breeding grounds.
In the early spring, they begin the migration to their breeding grounds. Throughout the spring, the cranes can be seen resting and feeding along rivers and wetlands throughout the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. The largest congregation of sandhill cranes occurs from February to early April along the Platte River in Nebraska.
During the late spring, summer, and early fall, sandhill cranes can be seen at their breeding grounds. Some breed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Others breed in Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Three subpopulations of sandhill cranes are non-migratory.
The Mississippi sandhill crane is found on the southeastern coast of Mississippi. Florida sandhill cranes occur in many inland wetlands of Florida. The Cuban sandhill crane lives exclusively in savannas, wetlands, and grasslands in Cuba. Mississippi and Cuban sandhill cranes are critically endangered.
Sandhill cranes are opportunistic feeders. They will change their diet based on what's available. They most often eat plants and grains, but also dine on invertebrates or even small mammals , amphibians , and reptiles. Sandhill cranes mate for life. When they form a pair bond, it can last for years, until one of the cranes dies.
After a mate passes away, the surviving crane will seek out a new mate. In the early spring, as sandhill cranes are migrating to their breeding grounds, single cranes will start pairing up. The loudest and most noticeable call made by a sandhill crane is during the mating season.
They use their bills to probe the ground for food and to glean seeds and other foods. These birds feed on land or in shallow marshes with vegetation. They eat different foods throughout the year, depending on what is available. Cultivated grains such as corn, wheat and sorghum are a favorite food when they are available. Other foods that sandhill cranes eat include berries, small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles, and amphibians.
When bird predators come near to sandhill cranes, the cranes fly at the predator and kick it with their feet. When other predators approach sandhill cranes, the cranes threaten the predator by spreading their wings and pointing their bill at the predator.
If this doesn't work, they attack the predator, hissing and stabbing with their bills and kicking with their feet. Young and sick sandhill cranes provide food for their predators. Sandhill cranes affect the populations of species that they prey upon. They also host at least 24 different species of parasites. Sandhill cranes feed on insects and rodents that may damage crops. Sandhill cranes are protected under the U. Two subspecies of sandhill cranes, Grus canadensis nesiotes Cuba sandhill crane and Grus canadensis pulla Mississippi sandhill crane , are endangered in the United States.
Populations of this species are not growing very fast because each breeding pair only raises one or two chicks each year. Also, sandhill cranes are hunted in several midwestern states.
Protection of wetland habitats is very important in order for sandhill cranes to survive. Peterson, R. Eastern Birds; A completely new field guide to all the birds of eastern and central North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Tacha, T. Nesbitt, P. Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis. The Birds of North America , Vol. Animal Diversity Web Cybertracker Tools. All rights reserved. Skip directly to main content. Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species. Critter Catalog.
Information Pictures Specimens Classification. Sandhill cranes raise one brood per year. Breeding season In non-migratory populations, egg-laying can happen any time between December and August. Range eggs per season 1 to 3 Average eggs per season 2 AnAge Range time to hatching 29 to 32 days Average time to hatching 30 days Range time to independence 9 to 10 months Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity female 2 to 7 years Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity male 2 to 7 years Sandhill cranes care for their chicks for a long time.
Age at first flight about days. Young remain with parents for months, accompanying them in migration. Leave the nest within a day after hatching, follow parents in marsh. Diet varies widely with location and season. Major food items include insects, roots of aquatic plants; also eat rodents, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes, nestling birds, berries, seeds. May eat large quantities of cultivated grains when available.
Courtship includes elaborate "dance," with birds spreading wings, leaping in air while calling. Nest site is among marsh vegetation in shallow water sometimes up to 3' deep , sometimes on dry ground close to water. Nest built by both sexes is mound of plant material pulled up from around site; nest may be built up from bottom or may be floating, anchored to standing plants. Learn more about these drawings. Sandhill Cranes nesting in north migrate long distances some cross the Bering Straits every spring and fall, en route to and from nesting grounds in Siberia.
Those from the southern part of the main breeding range, in the northern and western parts of the Lower 48 states, migrate shorter distances; in recent years they have shown a trend toward migrating later in fall and earlier in spring, and some are now overwintering farther north than in the past.
Populations nesting in Mississippi, Florida, and Cuba do not migrate. Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too. Audubon is calling for federal leadership and funds to mitigate current disasters and enhance climate resilience in the West. Longstanding Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections will be reinstated and a key process to strengthen the rules now begins.
Climate change is endangering vital wetlands in "America's Salad Bowl". Latin: Ardea herodias. Latin: Grus americana. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats. Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk.
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