Sandhill Crane - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
N4B, N4N - Apparently Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding
S4B,SNRM - Apparently Secure Breeding, Unranked Migrant
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Size
Total length: 42″ to 48″
Wingspan: 72″ to 84″
Voice
Similar Species
Habitat
Shallow marshes
Ecology
Migration
Late March to early May and early September to early December
Nesting
Diet
Distribution
Occurrence
Uncommon breeder; uncommon to common migrant
Maps
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map
Taxonomy
Class
Aves (Birds)
Order
Gruiformes (Cranes, Rails, and Allies)
Family
Gruidae (Cranes)
Subfamily
Gruinae
Genus
Antigone (Antogone Cranes)
Genus
Sandhill Crane was formerly classified as Grus canadensis. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010 showed the genus Grus to be polyphyletic, not evolutionarily distinct. The species were rearranged into four evolutionarily distinct (monophyletic) genera, and Sandhill Crane was placed in the resurrected genus Antigone.
Subordinate Taxa
Canadian Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis rowani)
Cuban Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis nesiotes)
Florida Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis pratensis)
Greater Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis tabida) ![]()
Lesser Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis canadensis)
Mississippi Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis pulla)
Populations
Minnesota’s Sandhill Cranes are all of the subspecies Greater Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis tabida). There are five populations of the subspecies tabida in North America. They differ morphologically but have not been differentiated taxonomically. Two of the populations are resident in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota DNR, “...cranes in northwest Minnesota belong to the mid-continent population while those in central and east-central Minnesota belong to the eastern population.”
Synonyms
Grus canadensis



























