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The sandhill crane is one of the most ancient species
in the world today. Recovered sandhill crane fossils
date back more than 2.5 million years!
The beautiful and majestic cranes stand up
to 4 feet tall and have a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet.
Their large bodies are covered in gray feathers with
a red patch that extends from the top of their head
to their pointed bill. A bustle of drooping feathers
covers their back end.
There are six subspecies of sandhill cranes in
North America. With the exception of several
small isolated populations of the birds in Mississippi,
Florida, and Cuba, sandhill cranes are a migratory
species. The crane in the Zoo’s Aviary is of the
nonmigratory Florida subspecies.
The birds are a highly social species and
communicate using a number of distinct
vocalizations. They travel in large, noisy flocks,
sometimes numbering in the thousands. Migrating
flocks are often heard before they are seen and can
be recognized by bugle-like calls that can be heard
up to a distance of 2.5 miles. Unlike some other
migrating species, they fly with their necks
and legs outstretched.
Sandhill cranes mate for life. During an
elaborate courtship ritual, the cranes bow, leap, Above: Distribution of sandhill cranes
bob their heads, and call out to each other. in North America.
The annual migration of flocks of sandhill cranes Source: Gerber, B. D., J. F. Dwyer, S. A.
is described as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles Nesbitt, R. C. Drewien, C. D. Littlefield,
on the planet. In the fall, the three migrating subspe- T. C. Tacha, and P. A. Vohs (2020).
cies leave their Arctic and Subarctic nesting grounds Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis),
version 1.0. In Birds of the World
in Alaska, Canada, and Siberia and fly south to their (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of
wintering grounds. Their destination is the warmer Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
climes of parts of the United States and Mexico. doi.org/10.2173/bow.sancra.01
In the spring, they fly back north, traveling as much
as 400 miles in a single 24-hour period.
The birds fly over most of the United States and
only stop for brief periods of time to rest, socialize,
and forage for food—insects, plants, seeds, berries,
small animals, and leftover grains—in farm fields,
prairies, and open wetlands. An 80-mile stretch
along Nebraska’s Central Platte River hosts an
estimated half-million birds during the spring
migration. Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area
in Indiana is another stopover or staging area
where thousands of cranes congregate at once.

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