Bird
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensisAlso known as Little Brown Crane
Sandhill cranes stand nearly five feet tall and are famed for their booming, trumpet-like bugling calls that carry for miles across open terrain. Couples perform energetic courtship dances year-round, leaping into the air with outstretched wings while tossing grass and sticks. Each spring, hundreds of thousands gather along traditional river stopovers before dispersing to northern breeding grounds.
MigratoryWetlandVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWaste Grains, Insects, Amphibians
Predators
- Coyotes
- Bobcats
- Golden Eagles
ThreatsWetland degradation, power line collisions, and water diversion
HabitatsWetlands, marshes, wet meadows, grasslands, and agricultural fields
Life span20 years
Classification
- OrderGruiformes
- FamilyGruidae
- GenusGrus
- SpeciesAntigone canadensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Maintain distance around nesting birds or young, as their dagger-like beaks can inflict injury if cornered.
Responsible observation
- Listen for calls: Listen for their rolling, rattling bugle call, which carries up to two miles.
- Keep your distance: Keep back from nests and young colts to avoid causing stress or defense displays.
- Time your visit: Visit migration hot spots like the Platte River in early spring to witness massive flocking.
Close Relative (c) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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