Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Sandhill Crane is a tall gray bird with a red crown, seen around wetlands and open fields. Sandhill Cranes gather in large, noisy flocks outside the breeding season, and pairs bow and leap during courtship dances.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults are gray with a red crown and long legs. Young birds are browner and lack the red crown.

Look-alikes

Whooping CraneGrus americana

An adult Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is mostly white, with black wingtips visible in flight. A Sandhill Crane is gray and has no black wingtips.

Great Blue HeronArdea herodias

In flight, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) usually folds its neck into an S shape. A Sandhill Crane flies with its neck straight out.

Why they get mixed upBoth are large, long-legged birds around wetlands.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: wetlands
prairies
farm fields
Range: They breed in Alaska, parts of the northern United States, and Canada; many winter in the southern United States and northern Mexico. Florida also has a resident population.
Preferred conditions: In winter, they often roost in shallow water and forage in nearby open fields.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year
40,240 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: In the United States, they eat seeds and farm grains, along with insects and other small animals.
Social life: Pairs dance by bowing, spreading their wings, and jumping. Large flocks gather outside the breeding season.

Life cycle

Nest: A pair builds a mound of marsh plants in a wetland.
Clutch size: 1–3 eggs
Incubation: 29–32 days

Name and classification

About the name: The smaller Lesser Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis canadensis) breeds far north, while the Florida Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis pratensis) stays in Florida.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

11 sources