Sandhill crane • Grus canadensis • Heiltsuk/Haíɫzaqv - h̓dṃ́gvḷí
Photos by, clockwise from top left: Kira Hoffman, Josh Silberg, Wiebe Nijland, Christian Kelly, Jennifer Walker, and Maria Shallard.
Identification
The sandhill crane has long legs and a distinctive red patch on its head. Its throat, chin and cheeks are generally whitish. Juveniles do not have the red crown patch - their necks and heads range from grey to an orange-brown colour, which mottles their grey bodies as well.
Habitat & Range
This species is not very common on the coast of BC, but small groups can be seen throughout BC in the spring and summer during the northward migration to summer breeding grounds. In the winter months it can be found in the southern United States and Mexico.
Find more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas account here.
Similar Species
The sandhill crane can be confused with the great blue heron (Ardea herodias), another large long-necked bird. The heron lacks the bustle of feathers the sandhill crane has at its rear and also flies with its neck curled in and legs stretched out behind, while the crane stretches its neck out during flight. The heron is also more blue in colour, with a yellow beak and legs, as opposed to the sandhill crane's grey-black beak and legs. The great blue heron is found year-round in Coastal British Columbia.
Intriguing Info
You are likely to hear a sandhill crane before you will see one. They have a distinctive, loud call that travels more than a kilometer, a sort of low trumpet with rattling. Click here to listen to the sandhill crane's call.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/508048-Antigone-canadensis
The sandhill crane has long legs and a distinctive red patch on its head. Its throat, chin and cheeks are generally whitish. Juveniles do not have the red crown patch - their necks and heads range from grey to an orange-brown colour, which mottles their grey bodies as well.
Habitat & Range
This species is not very common on the coast of BC, but small groups can be seen throughout BC in the spring and summer during the northward migration to summer breeding grounds. In the winter months it can be found in the southern United States and Mexico.
Find more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas account here.
Similar Species
The sandhill crane can be confused with the great blue heron (Ardea herodias), another large long-necked bird. The heron lacks the bustle of feathers the sandhill crane has at its rear and also flies with its neck curled in and legs stretched out behind, while the crane stretches its neck out during flight. The heron is also more blue in colour, with a yellow beak and legs, as opposed to the sandhill crane's grey-black beak and legs. The great blue heron is found year-round in Coastal British Columbia.
Intriguing Info
You are likely to hear a sandhill crane before you will see one. They have a distinctive, loud call that travels more than a kilometer, a sort of low trumpet with rattling. Click here to listen to the sandhill crane's call.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/508048-Antigone-canadensis
References
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 01/27/13.
Dunn, J. L. and Alderfer, J. (Eds.). (2006). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (5th Ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. P. 152.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 01/27/13.
Dunn, J. L. and Alderfer, J. (Eds.). (2006). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (5th Ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. P. 152.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2013).