Sandhill Cranes

Meet Antigone canadensis - the Sandhill Crane.  A very large, tall, stork-like bird characterized by a long neck, long legs, and very broad wings. The body tapers into short tail and is covered by drooping feathers that form a bustle.  The head is small and the bill is straight and longer than the head.   

Sandhills prefer to live in open habitats.  For years we’ve had a nesting pair that arrives in early spring while the snow is still on the ground and before ice-out.  They hang-out in the grassland behind the house by the big pond and their courtship dance is a hoot to observe.  They’ll raise one or two young – called colts - and by autumn to late fall they begin to congregate in very large flocks before flying-off to their wintering grounds in Texas, New Mexico, Florida and Mexico.  They raise a racket and their bugling calls can be heard from miles away.  

A couple of weeks ago we were surprised and caught off-guard when mom and dad came thru the yard on a Sunday stroll to show-off the young’un….

 click on image for a better look

You can learn much more about this bird here.