2 Types of Cranes in North Dakota

The Sandhill Crane is gray to rust-colored, standing about 40 to 46 inches tall with long legs and a long neck. Its call is a loud, rolling bugle that carries across wetlands. The Whooping Crane is larger at 52 to 60 inches tall and pure white with black wing tips and a red face mask. The call is a higher-pitched, loud trumpet sound. In flight, the Whooping Crane shows prominent black wing tips, while the Sandhill Crane appears uniformly gray. Size alone is the clearest field mark: if it looks noticeably taller and white, it is likely a Whooping Crane, though these are rare in North Dakota.

Both species use the Missouri River breaks and prairie wetlands as migration stopover sites. The J. Clark Salyer and Lostwood refuges in north-central North Dakota are key gathering areas. Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the badlands also hosts cranes. Sandhill Cranes are far more widespread, appearing in river valleys and grasslands across the state. Whooping Cranes, if present, tend to stay in the same core refuges where Sandhill Cranes congregate. During peak migration months, both species may rest in the same wetland, though spotting a Whooping Crane among hundreds of Sandhill Cranes requires patience and binoculars.

The Sandhill Crane call is a loud, resonant rolling bugle or trill that sounds like 'gar-oo-oo,' audible from miles away. Whooping Cranes produce a higher-pitched, clear trumpet call. If you hear a loud crane call near a refuge or river valley in April or October, it is almost certainly a Sandhill Crane. Many birders find the call of cranes more reliable for identification than sight, especially when birds are distant or in large flocks. Both species are vocal year-round, but calls intensify during migration.

Juvenile Sandhill Cranes lack the red face mask of adults and appear more brownish than the rust-gray of older birds. Young Whooping Cranes are similarly patchy brown or cream-colored. Juveniles travel with their parents and are often harder to spot because they blend into mixed-age flocks. By their second or third year, both species acquire adult plumage. During spring and fall migration, family groups are common, and you may see an adult guiding one or two juveniles through a refuge.

Sandhill Crane: gray to rusty plumage, 40 to 46 inches tall, loud rolling call, common in April, October, November. Whooping Crane: white plumage with black wing tips, red face mask, 52 to 60 inches tall, clear trumpet call, rare. Both have long legs, long necks, and feed by wading in shallow water or walking in fields. When flying, both hold their necks extended and fly in V-formation or loose lines. Use size and color first, then call, to confirm identity.

April is the prime spring migration month for both species, with Sandhill Cranes moving through in large numbers and occasional Whooping Cranes mixed in. October and November peak for fall migration, when wetlands fill with staging flocks. The J. Clark Salyer refuge offers excellent viewing opportunities in these months. Winter crane sightings are rare in North Dakota, as most birds move south. Summer breeding birds are scattered across northern grasslands and wetlands. For the highest chance of seeing cranes, plan a visit to a north-central prairie refuge in April or October.

Whooping Cranes declined to just 15 birds in the 1940s due to habitat loss and hunting. Conservation efforts, including captive breeding and habitat protection, have slowly increased the population to about 500 to 700 today. The species remains on the Endangered Species List. North Dakota refuges protect critical migration habitat, and every Whooping Crane sighting contributes to monitoring the population's recovery. Reporting sightings helps agencies track the species' survival and movement patterns.

Report the sighting immediately to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including the date, time, location, and number of birds. Do not approach the bird, as stress can disrupt migration or feeding. Use binoculars or a spotting scope from a distance. Whooping Cranes are highly sensitive to disturbance during migration, and maintaining distance protects the individual and aids its survival. Each sighting is valuable data for conservation.