Bird
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Common Names
Sand Hill Crane
Habitat
Wetlands, grasslands, and river valleys in the Great Plains and intermountain regions
First Observed
1805-05-02
Observed At
Along the Missouri River in present-day Montana
Sandhill cranes were observed multiple times during the expedition, particularly in open grasslands and river valleys. Clark noted “Sand hill cranes, Curloos and fowls common to the plains” in May 1806, and recorded seeing them along with young geese on the Yellowstone River in July 1806. The expedition members also hunted cranes when other game was scarce; Shields and Gibson once returned having “killed a Sandhill Crane only.”
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Sandhill Crane
Apr
11
1805
Clark: April 11, 1805
...gees; Saw great numbers of Gees Brant
& Mallard Some White Cranes Swan & guls, the plains begin to have
a green appearance, the hills on either side are from 5 to ...
Apr
11
1805
Lewis: April 11, 1805
... the taste and has a purgative effect.saw
some large white cranes pass up the river- these are the largest bird of
that genus common to the country through which t...
Jul
29
1805
Lewis: July 29, 1805
...f the United
States. the hunters brought in a living young sandhill crane it has nearly
obtained it's growth but cannot fly; they had pursued it and caught it in
the meado...
Oct
19
1805
Clark: October 19, 1805
...homeley high Cheeks, and but fiew orniments. I Suped on the Crane
which I killed to day.
---
October 19th Saturday 1805 The great chief Yel-lep-pit two other chiefs...
Oct
31
1805
Clark: October 31, 1805
...emense torentsI saw 5 Indians in a canoe belowJo. killed
a Sand hill Crane & we returned by the same rout to camp at the grand
Shute where I found Several Indians, I Smoked....
Nov
3
1805
Clark: November 3, 1805
...wls flying in every direction Such as Swan, geese, Brants,
Cranes, Stalks, white guls, comerants & plevers &c. also great
numbers of Sea Otter in the rivera Canoe ...
Nov
5
1805
Clark: November 5, 1805
...Geese, white & black brant, Ducks &c. on a opposit base,
& Sand hill Crane, they were emensely numerous and their noise horrid.
We Set out at Sun rise & our hunters killed 1...
Nov
16
1805
Clark: November 16, 1805
...t is Low bottom land
our hunters and fowlers killd 2 Deer 1 Crane & 2 ducks, my Servt. York
killed 2 Geese & 8 white, black and Speckle Brants, The White Brant,
wi...
Nov
21
1805
Clark: November 21, 1805
...Inds. In my absence the hunters Kild. 7 Deer, 4 brants
& a Crane.
Great numbers of the dark brant passing Southerley, the white yet
Stationary, no gees & Swan to b...
Nov
30
1805
Lewis: November 30, 1805
... great abundance of fowls, brant, large geese, white
brant sandhill Cranes, common blue crains, cormarants, haulks, ravens,
crows, gulls and a great variety of ducks, the c...
Jan
2
1806
Clark: January 2, 1806
... our
residence here. The large, & Small or whistling Swan, Sand hill crane,
large & Small Gees, brown and white brant, Comorant, Duckanmallard,
canvis back duck, and Severa...
Jan
2
1806
Lewis: January 2, 1806
...ur residence
here. The large, and small or whistling swan, sand hill Crane, large and
small gees, brown and white brant, Cormorant, duckan mallard, Canvisback
duck, and sev...
May
2
1806
Clark: May 2, 1806
...otter along these creeks. Saw two deer at
a distance, also Sand hill Cranes, Curloos and fowls common to the plains.
the Soil appears to improve as we advance on this road. ...
May
25
1806
Clark: May 25, 1806
... in the evening Shields & gibson returned haveing killed a
Sandhill Crane only. they Saw a female bear, & 2 Cubs & Several
deer. they Shot the bear and a deer both of which...
Jul
11
1806
Clark: July 11, 1806
...
down to day, also some Deer and great numbers young gees, Sand hill cranes
&c. &c. Sgt. Pryor left a deer on the shore
