Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

Nesting and Foraging Habitat are distributed over the NEIGHBORHOOD

Nesting Habitat:
      Any Emergent Wetland
      or Sedge Meadow 
      or Bog

Foraging Habitat:
      Grass 
      or Savanna 
      or Any Cropland

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Sandhill Cranes nest in a variety of wetlands. In southern Michigan they prefer large, deep marshes but also use shallow marshes, sedge meadows, and openings in shrub swamps. In the northern part of the state, bogs are commonly selected. Upland areas are used for foraging. Adults lead their young into agricultural fields and sparsely forested areas in search of a variety of invertebrates and seeds. In autumn, most of the daylight hours are spent feeding and loafing in harvested grain fields, but cranes almost always return to wetlands for the night.

Habitat: Prairies, fields, marshes, tundra. Habitat varies with region, but usually nests around marshes or bogs, either in open grassland or surrounded by forest. Northernmost birds nest on marshy tundra. In migration and winter, often around open prairie, agricultural fields, river valleys.

Diet: Omnivorous. Diet varies widely with location and season. Major food items include insects, roots of aquatic plants; also eats rodents, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes, nestling birds, berries, seeds. May eat large quantities of cultivated grains where available.

Nest: Site is among marsh vegetation in shallow water (sometimes up to 3 feet deep), sometimes on dry ground close to water. Nest is mound of plant material pulled up from around site; nest may be built up from bottom or may float, anchored to standing plants.