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Sandhill Crane

Antigone canadensis

Bird · family Gruidae · order Gruiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Sandhill Crane
Photo: Nigel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
43 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
38 years[4]

The Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) is a bird in the crane family, Gruidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2], and it is native to 43 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Sandhill Crane a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5B,N5N, which is Secure for breeding birds and Secure for nonbreeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked 2026-10-30[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Sandhill Crane lives

NatureServe lists the Sandhill Crane as native in 43 US states and territories, including Alaska, Washington, Florida, Texas and New York[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated (gone from the state) in Alabama[11]. State ranks differ from place to place, and the full table is shown on this page[12]. GBIF has the most observation records in Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, but those counts follow where people look and report, not how many cranes live there[13].

Alaska: native, state rank S5BAKMaine: native, state rank SNRMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S1BVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S1B,S3NWAIdaho: native, state rank S3BIDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank S4B,SNRMMNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: native, state rank S4MINew York: native, state rank S1BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S1BMAOregon: native, state rank S3ORNevada: native, state rank S2BNVWyoming: native, state rank S3B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank SNASDIowa: native, state rank S1B,S1NIAIndiana: native, state rank S2B,S1NINOhio: native, state rank S1OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S3BPANew Jersey: native, state rank SNRMNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNCAUtah: native, state rank S3BUTColorado: native, state rank S3B,S4NCONebraska: native, state rank S3NEMissouri: native, state rank S1MOKentucky: native, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S1BWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: native, state rank S1B,S2NMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S3NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S4NKSArkansas: native, state rank SNAARTennessee: native, state rank S3NTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3NSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S2NOKLouisiana: native, state rank S2NLAMississippi: native, state rank S1MSAlabama: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SHB,S2NALGeorgia: native, state rank S2GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (44 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSHB,S2NPossibly Extirpated (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
AlaskaS5BSecure (breeding)
ArizonaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
ColoradoS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
FloridaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaS2Imperiled
IdahoS3BVulnerable (breeding)
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS2B,S1NImperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
IowaS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
KansasS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
MaineSNRNot Ranked
MarylandS1B,S2NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
MichiganS4Apparently Secure
MinnesotaS4B,SNRMApparently Secure (breeding), Not Ranked (migrant)
MississippiS1Critically Imperiled
MissouriS1Critically Imperiled
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS3Vulnerable
NevadaS2BImperiled (breeding)
New JerseySNRMNot Ranked (migrant)
New MexicoS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OhioS1Critically Imperiled
OklahomaS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
OregonS3Vulnerable
PennsylvaniaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
South CarolinaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
South DakotaSNANot Applicable
TennesseeS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
TexasS5Secure
UtahS3BVulnerable (breeding)
VermontS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
WashingtonS1B,S3NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
West VirginiaS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS3B,S5NVulnerable (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this bird, including grassland, tundra, cropland, herbaceous wetland, bog or fen, riparian areas and shallow water[14]. For breeding, it uses open grasslands, marshes and wet meadows, and it nests on the ground or in shallow water[15]. Adults tend to return to the same breeding territory[15]. In the nonbreeding season, cranes sleep at night in shallow water, and an open stretch of shallow water is a key part of good winter habitat[15].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Sandhill Crane eats plant foods such as roots, tubers, seeds, grain and berries, and also small animals such as mice, snakes, earthworms and insects[16]. NatureServe lists adult food habits as carnivore, invertivore, herbivore, granivore and frugivore[17]. Its typical length is 104 cm (41 in)[18]. Both parents take turns sitting on usually 2 eggs for 28 to 30 days[19]. Young cranes begin flying at about 2 months and stay with their parents until the following year[19]. The oldest known wild Sandhill Crane in US and Canadian banding records was at least 38 years 0 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[18] 104 cm (41 in)
Typical adult weight[20] 5.8 kg (13 lb)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 38 years 0 months
Food habits[17] Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[21] non-migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

Adults are diurnal, which means active in daylight[22]. NatureServe describes the species as non-migrant in some populations and long-distance migrant in others[21]. In Alaska, nesting cranes show up at their breeding areas between late April and mid-May, then head out mostly between late August and early October[23]. Migrants reach Texas from October to January and leave Texas mainly from late February to early March[23]. GBIF records peak in March, April and May, which reflects when people look and report[24].

January: 143,676 recordsJanFebruary: 153,210 recordsFebMarch: 265,331 recordsMarApril: 283,476 recordsAprMay: 302,052 recordsMayJune: 140,256 recordsJunJuly: 105,488 recordsJulAugust: 118,132 recordsAugSeptember: 124,814 recordsSepOctober: 143,164 recordsOctNovember: 147,336 recordsNovDecember: 135,416 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January143,676
February153,210
March265,331
April283,476
May302,052
June140,256
July105,488
August118,132
September124,814
October143,164
November147,336
December135,416

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Sandhill Crane as present in 10 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois[13]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Sandhill Crane endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and the IUCN category is Least concern[2][7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1].
Where do Sandhill Cranes live in the US?
NatureServe lists them as native in 43 US states and territories, including Alaska, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin and New York[3]. It ranks the bird as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Alabama[11].
What do Sandhill Cranes eat?
They eat roots, tubers, seeds, grain, berries, small animals, earthworms and insects[16].
How big is a Sandhill Crane?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 104 cm (41 in)[18].
How long do Sandhill Cranes live?
The oldest known wild Sandhill Crane in banding records was at least 38 years 0 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Sandhill Crane is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Sandhill Crane: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Sandhill Crane as native in 43 US states and territories: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Sandhill Crane from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 38 years 0 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) is a bird in the family Gruidae, order Gruiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Sandhill Crane is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Sandhill Crane as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Alabama. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Sandhill Crane (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Sandhill Crane: Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Sandhill Crane: Grassland/herbaceous, Tundra, Cropland/hedgerow, Herbaceous wetland, Bog/fen, Riparian, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on habitat for Sandhill Crane. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Sandhill Crane. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 104 cm (41 in). NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Sandhill Crane. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 5.8 kg (13 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe migration category for Sandhill Crane: non-migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on migration for Sandhill Crane. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Sandhill Crane in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Sandhill Crane as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Nigel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.