Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Grus canadensis (Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International 2021) was previously moved to the genus Antigone (del Hoyo & Collar 2014), having previously been included in Grus (Cramp & Simmons 1977-1994, AERC TAC 2003).
Nominate, rowani and tabida may form a cline, with gradual changes in morphology, and random pairing among them; these three intergrade along limits of their ranges. Subspecies tabida subdivided into five populations, among which morphological differences are noted, but not analysed in taxonomic terms. Subspecies rowani sometimes considered undiagnosable, but probably separable (Johnson, Austin & Shaffer 2005). Validity of pulla has been questioned; based mainly on colour differences from pratensis, but remnant population (in Mississippi) was probably more widespread in the past, and likely to have intergraded with pratensis. Six subspecies recognized.
Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2021. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 6. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v6_Dec21.zip.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
Migratory status |
full migrant |
Forest dependency |
does not normally occur in forest |
Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The population is inferred to number 670,000-830,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2020), which roughly equates to 450,000-550,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification: The species has been undergoing a large, significant increase at an average rate of 5% per year between 1970 and 2019 (Rosenberg et al. 2019; Partners in Flight 2020). The population in North America has increased by >600% over the past three generations (Pardieck et al. 2018). The population in Cuba is stable (Wetlands International 2020).
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sandhill-crane-grus-canadensis on 03/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 03/01/2025.