The sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) is a species of large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird refers to its habitat, such as the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska 's Sandhills on the American Great Plains.

The Sandhill Crane courtship includes elaborate "dance," with birds spreading wings, leaping in air while calling. Nest site is among marsh vegetation in shallow water (sometimes up to 3 ft deep), sometimes on dry ground close to water.

Explore where Sandhill Cranes live throughout the year and discover new places where you might see these magnificent birds. Interactive map with eBird sightings, Important Bird Areas, and national distribution data.

Beyond their impressive migratory feats, Sandhill Cranes are noted for their complex social behaviors and vocalizations. They are known for their elaborate courtship dances, which involve intricate steps and synchronized calls between mated pairs.

View our Sandhill Crane Finder to explore Sandhill Crane distribution and locate cranes near you! AND take a tour through our interactive story map and learn about a few of our favorite locations for viewing cranes in the United States.

Learn facts about the sandhill crane’s habitat, diet, range, life history, and more.

Meet a long-term survivor who shares similarities with the cranes of ten million years ago. Explore the sandhill crane’s wetland world.

Sandhill Cranes are tall, upright birds with a generally grey plumage color. Their red crowns and foreheads are some of their most distinctive features and contrast well with the white lower half of their face. Sandhill Cranes have straight black bills, long black legs, and bright orange eyes.

Sandhill cranes are the most numerous of the world’s crane species. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, their populations have been increasing at an annual rate of five percent per year since the mid-1960s, due to wetland restoration and abundant food on agricultural lands.

Whether stepping singly across a wet meadow or filling the sky by the hundreds and thousands, Sandhill Cranes have an elegance that draws attention. These tall, gray-bodied, crimson-capped birds breed in open wetlands, fields, and prairies across North America.