Sandhill Crane - FWC

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Buy and Apply
- Recreational
  - Fishing & Hunting
    - How to Order
    - Do I Need a License?
    - Limited Entry/Quota Hunts
  - Public Land Use
  - Accessibility Accommodations
- Commercial
  - Commercial Licenses
    - Commercial Saltwater
    - Commercial Freshwater
    - CLS Online Login
  - Charter Licenses
  - Vessel Pier Licenses
- Wildlife
  - Wildlife Permits
  - Nuisance Wildlife Permits
  - Captive Wildlife Permits
- More ...
  - Application Forms
  - Boating & Navigation
Resolve a Wildlife Conflict
- Wildlife Alert
  - Report a Violation
  - Know the Rules
    - Captive Wildlife
    - Saltwater Recreational Regulations
    - Freshwater Recreational Regulations
    - Hunting Regulations
    - Boating Regulations
    - See All
- Resolve Wildlife Conflict
  - Learn to Unhook Seabirds
  - Living with Wildlife
    - Bear
    - Bats
    - Coyote
    - Alligators and Crocodiles
    - Shorebirds/Seabirds
    - Snakes
    - See All
- Report Issues
  - Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.
    - Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program
    - Report Fish Kills
    - Red Tide Status
    - Report Sightings of Nonnative Species
    - Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees
    - See All
Engaging in Conservation
- Conservation
  - Value of Conservation
  - Living with Wildlife
  - Freshwater Programs
  - Saltwater Programs
  - Terrestrial Programs
  - Stash the trash
  - Special Initiatives
    - Coastal Wildlife
    - State Wildlife Action Plan
    - See All
- Wildlife and Habitats
  - Wildlife Conservation
  - Nonnative Species
  - Species Profiles
    - Alligator
    - Bald Eagle
    - Bear
    - Gopher Tortoise
    - Manatee
    - Panther
    - Sea Turtle
    - See All
- How You Can Conserve
  - Install Wildlife Lighting
  - Exotic Pet Amnesty
  - Habitat Management
    - Working with Private Landowners
    - Invasive Plants
    - Prescribed Fire
    - Management Plans
    - Aquatic Habitat Conservation
    - See All
  - Education
    - Educators
    - Outdoor Skills
    - Learn about Wildlife
    - See All
- Research
  - Freshwater
  - GIS and Mapping
  - Habitat
  - Manatee
  - Red Tide
  - Saltwater
  - Wildlife
  - Publications
  - About
Things To Do
- Fishing
  - Freshwater Fishing
    - Recreational Regulations
    - Commercial Regulations
    - Fish Identification
    - Fishing Education
    - Sites & Forecasts
    - See All
  - Saltwater Fishing
    - Recreational Regulations
    - Commercial Regulations
    - Fish Identification
    - Saltwater Fishing Clinics
    - Provide Comments
    - See All
- Hunting
  - Regulations
    - WMA Brochures
    - Season Dates
    - Hunter Safety
    - Limited Entry Hunts
  - New Hunter
  - Public Shooting Ranges
  - Alligator
  - Deer
  - Dove
  - Turkey
  - Quail
  - Waterfowl
  - Wild Hog
- Wildlife Recreation
  - Wildlife Viewing
    - Where to View Wildlife
    - How to View Wildlife
    - Backyards and Beyond
    - Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
    - See All
  - Recreation on Wild Lands
    - What are WMAS?
    - Explore by name
    - Explore by map
    - What to Do
    - See All
- Boating
  - Regulations
  - Safety & Education
    - Safety Equipment
    - ID Cards
    - Courses
    - See All
  - Boat Ramps & Access
  - Derelict Vessels
  - Stash the trash
  - Wear It Florida
  - Wildlife Alert
Places To Go
- WMAs
  - WMA Brochures
    - Area Opened/Closed Status
  - What are Wildlife Management Areas?
    - Explore By Name
    - Explore the Map
    - See All
- Recreation
  - Where to Go
    - Hunting
    - Fishing
    - Wildlife Viewing
    - Hiking
    - See All
  - Outfitters and Guides
- Public Shooting Ranges
  - Range Safety Rules
  - Safety & Education
  - Map of public shooting ranges
- Go Outdoors Florida!
  - Discover Wildlands
  - Fishing Sites & Forecasts
  - Boating Ramps & Access
  - Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail
  - Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network
  - Calendar of Events
  - Artificial Reefs
About Us
- About
  - Inside FWC
    - Research Institute
    - Hunting and Game Management
    - Freshwater Fisheries Management
    - Law Enforcement
    - Habitat and Species Conservation
    - Marine Fisheries Management
    - See All
- Commission
  - Commission Meetings
  - Commissioners
  - Agency Overview
  - Strategic Planning
  - Rules & Regulations
  - News
    - Sign up for news releases
- Contact
  - Social Media
  - FWC Offices
  - Law Enforcement
  - Wildlife Alert
  - Tell Us What You Think
  - Rule Change Comments
  - Public Records Requests
  - Order Publications
  - Signs
  - Participation at Your Event
- Get Involved
  - Volunteer
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  - Support FWC
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Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis

Species Status Native Imperiled
View All Species

Listing Status

Federal Status: Not Listed
FL Status: State-designated Threatened
FNAI Ranks: G5T2/S2 (Globally: Demonstrably Secure, Sub sp. Imperiled; State: Imperiled )
IUCN Status: Not ranked

Appearance:

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are long-legged, long-necked, gray, heron-like birds with a patch of bald, red skin on top of their head. Cranes fly with necks outstretched like geese, whereas herons fly with necks tucked in on their backs. For positive identification, look for reddish skin on top of the crane's head.

The Florida sandhill crane can reach a height of 47.2 inches (120 centimeters) with a wingspan around 78.7 inches (200 centimeters) (Nesbitt 1996). This species is gray with a long neck and legs, and a bald spot of red skin on the top of its head. The sandhill crane is unique in flight as it can be seen flying with its neck stretched out completely.

Habitat:

Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. The Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis), numbering 4,000 to 5,000, is a non-migratory year-round breeding resident. They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida but nests in the Great Lakes region. Sandhill cranes nest during late winter and spring on mats of vegetation about two feet in diameter and in shallow water.

Florida sandhill cranes inhabit freshwater marshes, prairies, and pastures (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). They occur throughout peninsular Florida north to the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia; however, they are less common at the northernmost and southernmost portions of this range. Florida’s Kissimmee and Desoto prairie regions are home to the state’s most abundant populations (Meine and Archibald 1996).

Behavior:

Two eggs are normally laid. Cranes are monogamous breeders. Within 24 hours of hatching, the young are capable of following their parents away from the nest. Together, they forage for seeds and roots, crop plants such as corn and peanuts, insects, snakes, frogs and occasionally young birds or small mammals.

Cranes are quite omnivorous feeding on seeds, grain, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, crayfish, but do not "fish" like herons.

Resident sandhill cranes are usually seen in very small groups or pairs. In November and December, however, large flocks of northern cranes move in, more than doubling the population in the state and then leave during March and April. The sandhill crane is a close relative to the nearly extinct whooping crane, which is being reintroduced into the state. Young sandhills weigh about twelve pounds, males are larger than females, but external markings are identical. Cranes live to be older than most birds, some reaching 20 years old.

Florida sandhill cranes are a non-migratory species that nests in freshwater ponds and marshes. This species is monogamous (breeds with one mate). Courtship consists of dancing, which features jumping, running, and wing flapping (International Crane Foundation, n.d.). Sandhill crane nests are built by both mates with grass, moss, and sticks. Females lay two eggs that incubate for 32 days. Both male and female participate in incubating the eggs (Nesbitt 1996). The offspring will begin traveling from the nest with their parents just 24-hours after hatching. At ten months old, juveniles are able to leave their parents (Nesbitt 1996). Bonding between pairs begins at two years old.

Learn more about Living with Sandhill Cranes.

Threats

Degradation or direct loss of habitat due to wetland drainage or conversion of prairie for development or agricultural use are the primary threats facing Florida sandhill cranes. The range of the Florida sandhill crane diminished in the southeastern United States during the 20th century, with breeding populations disappearing from coastal Texas, Alabama, and southern Louisiana due to degradation, habitat loss, and overhunting. (Meine and Archibald 1996).

Conservation and Management

The Florida sandhill crane is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State-designated Threatened species byFlorida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

Florida Sandhill Crane Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines

References

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2001. Field guide to the rare animals of Florida. https://www.fnai.org/PDFs/FieldGuides/Antigone_canadensis_pratensis.pdf

International Crane Foundation. (n.d.). Sandhill Cranes. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from Species Field Guide: https://www.savingcranes.org/species-field-guide/sandhill-crane/

Meine, C.D. and G.W. Archibald (Eds.) 1996. Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) in The cranes: status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K. 294 Pp. https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/7024

Nesbitt S.A. 1996. Florida Sandhill Crane. Pages 219–229 in J.A. Rodgers, Jr., H.W. Kale II, and H.T. Smith (Eds.) Rare and endangered biota of Florida, Vol. V: Birds. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

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