The sandhill crane is a big bird. It is 37 inches tall with a wingspan of 80 inches. It may weigh up to 7or 8 pounds. This long legged bird has a long neck and a pointed long bill. It has dark gray plumage, a red crown, and white cheeks. It has dark gray legs that are extended when it is in flight. It also holds its neck straight when it is flying and when it rests, but not like herons.
This bird spends the winter in northern Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. In February they migrate to the Platte River in Nebraska. Their trip is a 600-mile non-stop flight, 12 hours long. With southernly winds the cranes may average 50 miles an hour.
The sandhill crane's habitat is lowland tundra, marshes, shorelines of rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, and grassy slopes. The three nesting habitat requirements are: large areas of shallow water, insulation from human contact, and dry upland nearby. They live 20-25 years in the wild, but longer in captivity.
The sandhill crane’s diet in the wild is roots, tubers, some fruits and young vegetables, small fish, insects, seeds, and small animals. Cranes can find food 5 inches under ground. Sandhill crane parents take their chicks to their food, unlike the herons whose parents get their food for the babies.
Cranes dance! They actually do. They jump, flap their wings, and nod their heads. The mating dance is a great marvel of nature. It is a series of bows and stick tosses, mixed in with hops and leaps. The Arctic is where the cranes mate and lay their eggs. The eggs are buff or olive with brown or lilac specs. The cranes lay eggs in two clusters 2 to 3 days apart. They usually lay 1or 2 eggs.
The sand hill cranes make a loud rattling call.
For more information:
http://mississippisandhillcrane.fws.gov/
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/cranes.html
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/movies.html
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/watchable/cranes.html
http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/notebook/bird/crane.htm
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/birds/cranes/gruscana.htm