Classification Of Sandhill Cranes

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Taxonomic Classification & Summary:
• Order: Rails – Gruiformes
• Family: Cranes – Gruidae
• Genus: Antigone
• Species: Sandhill Crane – Antigone Canadensis
• Sandhill cranes are found in North America (mostly in Canada and United States)
• There are two known species in North America – the Sandhill crane and the Whooping crane.
• There are five or six subspecies – greater/lesser, Florida, Cuban, Mississippi, and Canadian.

Morphology:
• Sandhill cranes have a long neck and long black legs that are covered with clumps of lite – gray feathers
• Long sharp beck
• Adults have white color cheeks, and a red forehead
• The size of their body ranges from 31.5 inches to 47.2 inches, and their wingspan can reach up to 5ft to 6ft tall.
• Males tend to be larger than females
• Newborn …show more content…

• Often their bodies are covered with mud when they hunt

Habitat/Life History:
• Sandhill cranes are mostly found in prairies, fields. and marshes
• During the migration season, they are often found near open areas, farm fields, and river valleys
• During the mating season, the male would perform various dances to attract a female. If the female is attracted to the male she would then start to dance. Typically, the dance will take up to couple of minutes or several hours before they mate with each other.
• The mating pair will create a nest to place the eggs; Usually there will be 2 eggs
• Hatching may occur within 30 days
• The parents would feed and protect their offspring for 9 – 10 months

Other Information:
• Sandhill crane has the most notable voice which can be heard for several miles
• Young sandhill cranes are called colts
• Sandhill cranes are a monogamous species – “one mate during a breeding

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