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.”
Recent sightings
Where it’s being seen today
7 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2021–2025. Most recent: 2025-06-06. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
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...
Sep
10
1805
Travelers' Rest near present-day Lolo, MT — Patrick Gass: September 10, 1805
... Some rain fell
in the forenoon, and our hunters killed two cranes on our
way.
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
3
1805
Columbia River tidewater, approaching estuary — Patrick Gass: November 3, 1805
...of Indian lodges:
and saw a great many swans, geese, ducks, cranes, and gulls.
We went 28 miles and encamped on the north side. In the
evening we saw Mount Rainy on ...
Nov
4
1805
Columbia River tidewater, approaching estuary — Patrick Gass: November 4, 1805
...of Indian lodges:
and saw a great many swans, geese, ducks, cranes, and gulls.
We went 28 miles and encamped on the north side. In the
evening we saw Mount Rainy on ...
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
16
1805
Exploring for winter camp site, south shore of Columbia — Patrick Gass: November 16, 1805
...me in but one. They had killed 2 deer, 9
brants, 2 geese, 1 crane, and 3 ducks. The day being clear
we got all our baggage dried, and in good order; and quietly
rest...
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...
