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Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Sandhill Crane full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Sandhill Crane was completed on 5.8.2010. This is the third crane I've drawn - the others being the Japanese or Red-Crowned and the Whooping. These birds are amazing, and it's regrettable they don't live in the Bay Area. But being from the Mid-West I was lucky enough to see some of these animals there. The drawing is based on a photo by Patty Bruno.

Information about the Sandhill Crane:

The Sandhill Crane is a large bird native to North America and small areas of Siberia. Their common name comes from the habitat found in areas like the Platte River, which is an important stopover during their migration. They are very large birds with a wingspan of 6-8 feet. They are able to soar and use thermals in the way that birds of prey such as hawks do. This maximizes their flight distance and minimizes the effort and energy spent. These birds prefer open marshes, bogs and wetlands to feed and breed. They eat mostly grains and seeds, but will also feed on insect, small invertebrates and vertebrates.