Sandhill cranes engage in dancing, which includes various behaviors such as bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing, as well as wing flapping. Though it is commonly associated with courtship, dancing can occur at any age and season. Dancing is generally believed to be a normal part of motor development for cranes and thwarts aggression, relieves tension, and strengthens the pair bond. Mated pairs of cranes also engage in unison calling, which is a complex and extended series of coordinated calls.
Fun Facts:
- According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the earliest unequivocal Sandhill crane fossil, estimated to be 2.5 million years old, was unearthed in the Macasphalt Shell Pit in Florida
- There are at least 5 subspecies of Sandhill crane, some of which are non-migratory including the Florida Sandhill crane
Conservation Threats:
Least Concern