Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 47.2 in
120 cm - Wingspan
- 78.7 in
200 cm - Weight
- 119.9–172.8 oz
3400–4900 g
Other Names
- Grue Canadienne, Grue de Canada (French)
- Grulla, Grulla Cenicienta, Grulla del Canada (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Sandhill Crane does not breed until it is two to seven years old. It can live up to the age of 20. Mated pairs stay together year round, and migrate south as a group with their offspring.
Habitat
Marsh
Breeds in open marshes or bogs, and in wet grasslands and meadows. Feed in marshes and grain fields.
Food
Omnivore
Mostly grains and seeds, some insects, other invertebrates, and small vertebrates.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Egg Description
- Pale brownish, irregularly marked with darker brown.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered with down and able to walk soon after hatching. Feed themselves within one day.
Nest Description
Large mound of vegetation in water, floating or attached to vegetation.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Probing
Conservation
Least Concern
One of the few crane species in the world that is still common. Mississippi and Cuban populations endangered.
Credits
- Tacha, T. C., S. A. Nesbitt, and P. A. Vohs. 1992. Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 31 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.