Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are majestic, long-legged birds renowned for their striking appearance and captivating behaviors. Standing up to four feet tall with a six-foot wingspan, these cranes boast slate-gray feathers, a distinctive red forehead, and a sharp, pointed bill. Their elegant form is matched by their resonant, trumpeting calls that echo across wetlands and prairies.

Found primarily in North America, sandhill cranes inhabit marshes, grasslands, and agricultural fields. They migrate seasonally between breeding grounds in Canada and the northern U.S. and wintering sites in the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America. The Platte River in Nebraska serves as a critical stopover during spring migration, where hundreds of thousands congregate, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

These omnivorous birds feed on grains, insects, and small vertebrates, foraging with deliberate, graceful steps. Their intricate courtship dances, involving leaps, bows, and synchronized calls, highlight their social behavior, strengthening pair bonds that often last for life.
Sandhill cranes face habitat loss and climate change threats, but conservation efforts have bolstered their populations.

We have at least two mating pairs that visit us each year, staying over the winter months. We give them a wide berth as they are known to be aggressive, and our experience is that they are more likely to charge humans than flee from them. As majestic as they are, their screeching is ear-splitting, which over time becomes an endearing characteristic.