Download Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Fact Sheet: Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
Description:
 Length: 4 ft (1.2 m) tall
 Wingspan: 6.56ft (2 m) wide
 Weight: Average between 7-8 lbs(3.34-3.75 kg)
 Physical Description: A large-bodied bird, with an impressive wingspan, long black legs and
a relatively short bill. Sandhill cranes can be distinguished from other large wading birds in
flight by their outstretched neck, and their wing beats, which are a slow downward beat
followed by a quick upward flick.
o Sexual Dimorphism: Males are usually larger than females.
 Coloration: Gray-brown plumage with a white face and a bald red crown. Juveniles are
brown and become gray in their first year.
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Range
o The sandhill crane has a large range extending throughout North America, from
northern Canada, south to northern Mexico. Populations are also found in Cuba and
extreme north-eastern Siberia
o Some populations are migratory and some are resident.
 Northern populations move south during the winter months whereas
southern populations remain near the breeding sites year round.
 Migratory populations leave northern breeding grounds between early
autumn and early winter making an extensive southward journey that can
cover almost 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers).
o During migration, this species forms large flocks, which concentrate in vast numbers
at certain areas during the journey known as staging grounds.
 Habitat
o Found predominantly in freshwater wetlands such as bogs, sedge meadows and
fens, as well as grasslands, pine savanna and cultivated areas.
Diet:
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Omnivorous - the sandhill crane uses its versatile bill to eat plant material, such as tubers,
seeds and berries, as well as small animals, such as insects, worms, snakes and mice.
Chicks primarily eat insects and other invertebrates. This high-protein diet allows for rapid
growth
Adaptations:
 Long legs give a high vantage point that helps them forage for food.
 Versatile bill allows for a diverse diet of both vegetation and animals.
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Sandhill Crane
The Maryland Zoo
Lifespan:
 The lifespan of the sandhill crane has not been well studied.
o Current estimates for wild sandhill cranes are around 20 years or more, although
they may live longer in captivity.
o The oldest sandhill crane on record lived to be at least 36.7 years old. It was first
tagged in 1973 in Wyoming and found in 2010 in New Mexico.
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Known predators include carnivorous mammals and birds of prey, such as the
fox, coyote, wolf, hawk and owl.
 Human importance
o Positive: Helps to control insect and rodent pest populations.
o Negative: This species can be extremely destructive to agriculture- flocks can
remove nearly all planted seeds from the fields on which they descend.
Reproduction:
 Breeding Season:
o Migratory populations arrive at the breeding grounds in the spring and lay eggs from
early April to late May.
o Resident populations usually breed earlier in the year than the migrants, producing
eggs from January up until August.
 Behavior: The sandhill crane is typically a monogamous species, and once formed, breeding
pairs usually mate for life.
o Mating behaviors include vocalizations and elaborate courtship displays.
 Five courtship displays have been identified as part of "dancing," these
displays are the upright wing stretch, horizontal head pump, bow, vertical
leap and vertical toss.
 Breeding pairs may call in duet in order to advertise their occupancy of a
territory
o Nests are constructed from local vegetation, formed into a low mound with a
central cup in which the eggs are deposited.
 Nest sites are usually in marshes, bogs, or swales(low lying wet areas),
though cranes will occasionally nest on dry land
 Incubation: Incubated by both sexes for a period of 29 to 32 days.
 Clutch size: A clutch of 1 to 3 eggs is laid; eggs are oval-shaped and dull brown with reddish
brown markings.
 Maturation:
o The chicks remain with their parents for up to 10 months.
o After leaving their parents, the chicks form nomadic flocks with other sub-adults and
non-breeders. They remain with these flocks until they form breeding pairs and
begin breeding between the ages of 2 and 7 years old.
Social Structure:
 This species produces a range of vocalizations, including:
o A single, loud call to warn or threaten members of their own species
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Sandhill Crane
The Maryland Zoo

o Breeding pair synchronized calls, which strengthen pair bond
o A low, soft call to maintain contact while foraging
While dancing has an important role in courtship, it is performed outside the breeding
season by individuals of all ages, and is thought to aid motor development, counteract
aggression, relieve tension and strengthen the pair bond
Activity:
 Diurnal
 At night they congregate to roost in large marshes.
 Northern populations move south during the winter months whereas southern populations
remain near the breeding sites year round.
Other “fun facts”:
 Sandhill cranes are closely related to the federally endangered whooping crane.
o Sandhills have been used in migration experiments guiding young whooping cranes
to wintering areas in the southern U. S.
 They are the most abundant crane species on Earth.
 When approached by a predator, sandhill cranes fly at the predator, kicking it with their
feet, or they will move toward the predator with their wings spread and their bill pointed at
the predator. If the predator persists, sandhill cranes will attack, hissing, stabbing with their
bills and kicking with their feet.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List
o While the population of this species as a whole is abundant and increasing,
two subspecies, the Mississippi sandhill and the Cuban sandhill crane, are listed as
Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act, and the Florida sandhill crane is
listed as a threatened species by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission.
o These small resident populations have been seriously affected by habitat loss and
degradation, as well as hunting
 Listed on Appendix II of CITES
o Permits limited export of all subspecies except the Mississippi sandhill and the
Cuban sandhill, for which all international trade is prohibited
 Protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act
 Threats:
o Habitat loss and degradation
 There is concern that development around staging and wintering grounds
could have a significant detrimental effect on the migratory population. As
large numbers of migrants concentrate within relatively small areas, they are
particularly vulnerable to threats such as habitat loss and degradation
o Hunting
 Hunting of this species is regulated throughout the USA and Canada, in
accordance with its listing under the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916
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Sandhill Crane
The Maryland Zoo
At the Zoo
The Zoo houses one male sandhill crane named Garrett. He is approximately 18 months old in
December 2015, and probably hatched in the summer of 2014.
Garrett was found in Garrett County in dangerous proximity to highly populated areas such as
highways and parking lots. He exhibited behavior consistent with imprinting on humans, which can
increase risk of injury and reduce a bird’s ability to survive on its own. Due to his imprinted
behavior, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources captured him and he was brought to The
Zoo in September 2015. Animal care staff determined that he would be a good candidate for the
Marsh Aviary exhibit, and he was introduced to the space in early December 2015.
They are not endangered and populations thrive in their natural range, but they are infrequently
seen this far east. According to the Department of Natural Resources however, their range is
gradually spreading east and this past summer one breeding pair nested in Garrett County.
What We Can Do
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Make environmentally responsible lifestyle choices to help conserve habitat – conserve
energy and resources, reduce litter and pollution
o Be especially careful with storm water runoff drains. Do not litter or pour chemicals
down these drains, because they lead directly to the wetlands.
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat. Learn more
about them, spread the word, and consider donating or getting involved.
Appreciate wildlife from a distance that is safe for both you and them. If you see sick or
injured wildlife, contact the appropriate agency to find out what to do. For more
information, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ website at
dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife.
References:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/birds/sandhillcrane.html
http://www.arkive.org/sandhill-crane/grus-canadensis/
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Grus_canadensis/
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/grca/all.html#Lifespan
1/5/2016
Sandhill Crane
The Maryland Zoo