Sandhill Crane

     The Sandhill Crane is a relatively large Crane species from North America and extreme north-eastern Siberia. It’s the most abundant crane species on Earth, which is renowned for its spectacular mass migrations.

     Like other crane species, the Sandhill crane has a relatively modest coloration, with grey plumage on the body. The face, the chin and the upper throat are of a lighter color (white or a paler lighter grey). During spring and summer, in regions with mud rich with iron, the Sandhill crane’s plumage acquires a rusty brown hue. It’s due to the bird’s habit of preening the reddish mud into the feathers. This artificial coloration is lost in autumn when the feathers are moulted. The Sandhill crane has a bare patch of red skin, which covers the forehead and the crown, and it has also dark-colored legs and toes.

     There are six commonly recognised subspecies for the Sandhill crane, that differ greatly in size and weight and occupy separate geographical areas. The subspecies can be divided into migratory and non-migratory populations: The ‘Lesser Sandhill Crane’; the ‘Greater Sandhill Crane’; and the ‘Canadian Sandhill Crane’ are migrants. They breed across the northern United States and Canada, as well as north-east Siberia, and winter in the southern United States and northern Mexico. In contrast, the non-migratory populations: The ‘Florida Sandhill Crane’; the ‘Mississippi Sandhill Crane’; and the ‘Cuban Sandhill Crane’, have more restricted distributions within the southern United States, which are essentially defined by their common names.

     The Sandhill crane constructs a nest that contains 1 – 3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 29 – 32 days. The young fledge at around 67 – 75 days, but do not become independent until they are 9 to 10 months old.