Sandhill Cranes are recognized by their tall stature, gray plumage, and striking red crown patch. They can stand up to four feet tall with a wingspan exceeding five feet. Their presence is announced by a loud, rolling, trumpeting call. The species’ annual cycle includes extensive migration, with large numbers gathering at staging points before heading to northern breeding grounds. Reproduction is a slow process, emphasizing the extended period of parental care and the time spent guarding and warming their eggs.
Nesting Habitat and Clutch Size
The reproductive process begins as pairs establish a breeding territory, often returning to the same general area year after year. Sandhill Cranes typically select small, isolated wetlands, marshes, or bogs, preferring areas with standing water and dense emergent vegetation for security. The nest itself is a substantial mound-like platform constructed from the surrounding plant material, such as cattails, sedges, and grasses. Both the male and female contribute to building this structure, which can be 30 to 40 inches wide and helps keep the eggs above the waterline.
The female usually lays a small clutch of one or two eggs, though a maximum of three is possible. Eggs are laid a few days apart, a strategy that results in asynchronous hatching. Incubation begins immediately after the first egg is laid. This low reproductive output is balanced by the species’ long lifespan and intensive parental investment.
The Incubation Timeline
The incubation period typically lasts between 29 and 32 days. The eggs require continuous warmth and protection for proper development. Both the male and female share the incubation duty, a strategy known as bi-parental care. The female generally assumes the role of the night sitter, covering the eggs for approximately 70% of the total incubation time.
During daylight hours, the pair trades places, often switching roles every two hours to allow the off-duty parent to forage. This constant presence maintains a consistent internal egg temperature. Cranes transfer body heat using a specialized area of bare skin on their belly called a brood patch. The adult turns the eggs occasionally, ensuring even heating and proper positioning for hatching.
From Hatchling to Fledgling: Early Crane Life
Once the eggs hatch, the young chicks are known as “colts.” Sandhill Crane colts are precocial, meaning they hatch in an advanced state with their eyes open and covered in down feathers. They leave the nest within 8 to 24 hours, walking and swimming behind their parents shortly thereafter. The parents initially feed the colts, but the chicks quickly learn to forage for themselves.
The colts fledge, or achieve sustained flight, at around 65 to 75 days of age. Despite gaining the ability to fly, the young cranes remain highly dependent on their parents for an exceptionally long period. The family unit stays together, following their parents through the fall migration and into the wintering grounds. This prolonged association often lasts for nine to ten months, until the adults begin a new nesting cycle the following spring.