Sandhill Cranes

Description:

Annie Rang Psychical Description: Sandhill Cranes are long-legged with long necks. They are about 3-4 feet tall, with a wingspan as long as 5 feet. They are grey and have white cheeks, and a patch of red on top of their head. If it's a juvenile, they will be a musty brown colour with no red patch or white cheeks. Diet: Sandhill Cranes are omnivores. There diet consists of grains, small invertebrates and small vertebrates. They feed in shallow marshes, where plants grow out of the water.

Habitat:

Species: There are 2 different kinds of Sandhill Crane subspecies that occur in Florida. The Florida Sand Hill Crane lives in FL year-round, and the Greater Sandhill Crane. They migrate down from Michigan into Florida and other southern states (and sometimes northern Mexico) for the winter. Habitat: Sandhill Cranes usually live in small, isolated wetlands, such as marshes, where plants grow out of the water. Breeding: Sandhill Cranes mate for life, they do unison callings and perform dances. Once they create a bond, they become a pair, that can last for years, until one of them dies. After one dies, the surviving mate goes off to find another mate. They build there nests on shallow lakes/marshes and build the nest out of dried up plants. Takes about a month for the eggs to hatch, and two for the babies to become independent.

Notes:

Sandhill Cranes are known for their dancing skills, the stretch their wings and move around as a court ship for females. They mate for life and the babies stay with the parents for at least 8-10 months. Communication: Sandhill Cranes have a very distinct call. The calls vary in length, strength and loudness depending on the intention or situation. Male Sandhill Cranes are generally taller than females, and females vocal callings are more high-pitched then males.