Antigone canadensis
The Sandhill Crane, *Antigone canadensis*, is a magnificent, statuesque bird, instantly recognizable by its imposing stature and characteristic bugling call. Standing up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall with a wingspan reaching over 2 meters (6.5 feet), its plumage is primarily slate-gray, often stained rusty-brown by iron-rich mud from foraging. Key field marks include a striking bald patch of red skin on its crown and distinct white cheek patches. Belonging to the family Gruidae, it is one of th...
Primarily inhabits various wetlands, including marshes, wet meadows, bogs, and shallow lakes, often utilizing adjacent open grasslands and agricultural fields for foraging. Found from sea level to mountain valleys.
Omnivorous, their diet includes a wide variety of grains, seeds, roots, tubers, insects, snails, small amphibians, reptiles, and rodents. They primarily forage by walking and probing with their bills or gleaning items from the ground.
Sandhill Cranes are diurnal, spending their days foraging in fields and wetlands, then retreating to shallow water to roost communally overnight, providing safety from predators. They forage by walking slowly, probing the ground with their bills for tubers and invertebrates, and gleaning seeds fr...
The Sandhill Crane exhibits a vast geographic distribution across North America and parts of Siberia. Its breeding range extends from eastern Siberia and Alaska across much of Canada, south through the Great Lakes states, and west through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Northwest. Key breeding...
Least Concern
- Sandhill Cranes are among the oldest known living bird species; ancient crane fossils date back 10 million years, making them living links to prehistoric avian life. - Their iconic 'crane dance' is not just for courtship; it's also used to relieve tension, bond with family members, and can be s...