Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: SACR.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Gruiformes   >   Family Gruidae   >   Genus Antigone   

Status:

Sandhill Cranes were once considered very rare in Maryland, but sightings have increased over the years. Their appearance in Maryland is unusual because there are no major crane flyways along the Eastern Seaboard. In the summer, for several years now, small groups of Sandhills have been spotted in farmlands in Maryland. A successful nesting pair was found in Garrett County in 2022, the first documented nesting in Maryland. Juvenile Sandhill Cranes are called colts.

Where to find:

These tall, graceful birds can be found in a variety of habitats, but are mostly observed in agricultural areas.

There are 172 records in the project database.

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A Sandhill Crane in Elkton, Maryland (7/14/2010). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Three Sandhill Cranes in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/17/2013). Photo by Ryan Johnson. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane near Huntingtown, Calvert Co., Maryland (12/9/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane near Huntingtown, Calvert Co., Maryland (12/9/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/17/2016). Photo by Kurt Schwarz. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/25/2015). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/22/2015). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/16/2018). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/16/2018). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Washington Co., Maryland (3/7/2019). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Sandhill Cranes in Garrett Co., Maryland (11/27/2019). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A wintering flock of 25 Sandhill Cranes in Baltimore Co., Maryland (2/9/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/5/2018). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/16/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Carroll Co., Maryland (12/29/2010). (c) Matt Tillett, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by mtillett via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/28/2021). (c) aaron graham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by aaron_graham via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Sandhill Cranes in Baltimore Co., Maryland (2/9/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/11/2020). (c) jared satchell, all rights reserved. Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/14/2023). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/7/2015). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

Sandhill Cranes over Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/16/2015). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Sandhill Cranes in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/3/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Sandhill Cranes in Harford Co., Maryland (12/14/2017). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane with young in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jugbayjs via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Sandhill Cranes with young in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jugbayjs via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/15/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/15/2020). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Montgomery Co., Maryland (12/20/2020). (c) Dany Sloan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dany Sloan via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane in Harford Co., Maryland (1/3/2021). (c) chestnutsidedwarbler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by chestnutsidedwarbler via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Sandhill Crane in Garrett Co., Maryland (3/7/2009). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane tracks in Howard Co., Maryland (11/30/2014). Photo by David Cummings. (MBP list)

Sandhill Crane feather in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)


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