Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

The Sandhill Crane (SACR) is split into two subspecies, Lesser and Greater. The Lesser is about 41” long with a wingspan of 73” and a weight of 7.3 lb. (3350 g). The Greater is about 46”long with a wingspan of 77” and a weight of 10.6 lb (4850 g). The genus name Grus (GROOS) is Latin for crane. The species name canadensis (can-ah-DEN-sis) is Latin for Canada.

The SACR is a tall, gray heronlike bird. It has a dark red patch on the forehead and a black bill. Some of the feathers on the back and wings are rusty-colored from staining as the bird preens with iron-laden mud. The Lesser breeds in the far North and is small, short-billed and short-legged. The Greater breeds from central Canada southward and is larger and up to 50 percent longer-billed.

Sandhill Cranes reach their peak abundance at migratory stopover points. The early gathering on the Platte River in Nebraska is one of the great wildlife spectacles, with over 250,000 birds present at one time. A smaller migration of Sandhill Cranes (Lesser) passes through Eastern Washington by the thousands west of Othello. This has resulted in the Sandhill Crane Festival held annually at Othello in late March.  Go to crane festival for exact dates.

Courtship displays are easily seen during migration and involve graceful jumps off the ground in a dancing manner. The cranes get airborne by running against the wind, and they stay airborne with a heavy, upstroking wingbeat (in other birds the downstroke is more powerful).

In the summer it is found on prairies and tundra in its breeding territory. Their haunting guttural cry “ karoo karoo karoo ” comes from their very long trachea (over a yard in length). In the winter it roosts in shallow water and feeds in agricultural fields.

Their diet varies with location and season. The major foods include insects and roots of aquatic plants, but also rodents, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes. Many eat large quantities of cultivated grains when available.

The nesting site is usually among marsh vegetation in shallow water, sometimes on dry ground close to water. The nest is built by both parents and is a mound of plant material pulled up from around the nest site. The nest may be built from the bottom up, or may float, anchored to standing plants.

Usually two eggs are laid, sometimes 1 and rarely 3. The eggs are usually pale olive to buff, marked with brown or gray. The 29-32 day incubation period is by both sexes with the female predominating by incubating all night and part of the day. The young leave the nest within a day after hatching and follow the parents in the marsh. Both parents feed the young at first, but they soon learn to feed themselves. The age at first flight is about 65-75 days. The young remain with the parents for 9-10 months and stay with them during migration.