Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
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).
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S. & Ekstrom, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sandhill-crane-grus-canadensis on 04/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 04/12/2024.