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Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis tabida

Description:

The greater sandhill crane stands about 1.2 meters (3.75 feet) tall with some variation. The bird is generally gray with a red patch of scaly skin on the forehead, dark gray legs and bill. Breeding adults often smear mud into their feathers, however, turning their normally gray plumage a rusty brown.

Habitat:

Wetlands and upland meadows and agricultural fields.

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7 Comments

KatCuff
KatCuff 12 years ago

Niiiice!

Gordon Dietzman
Gordon Dietzman 12 years ago

I had a lot of fun last autumn with migrating sandhill cranes. One morning I was crouching behind some bushes for cover and they were flying out of their night-time roost and coming right overhead, just a meters above my head. Wind in the wings, the calls, a beautiful morning. Kind of wished I could fly with them!

Alice, Exactly. Planes are built so the greatest weight is centered over the wings (engines, fuel tanks, etc.) Birds are built the same way. Think about the fact that they don't have a mammal's heavy teeth and supporting jawbone in their beak. Instead they have a gizzard, which can now be put closer to the wings and the bird's center of gravity. It's pretty amazing stuff.

Charles72
Charles72 12 years ago

Sweet.

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Nice work Gordon!

rutasandinas
rutasandinas 12 years ago

Hermosa huella emplumada gran imagen

ikissedameow
ikissedameow 12 years ago

This photo is stunning! Love it. :)

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Amazing plane-shape!

Gordon Dietzman
Spotted by
Gordon Dietzman

Wisconsin, USA

Spotted on Oct 15, 2010
Submitted on Mar 15, 2012

Spotted for Mission

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