Antigone canadensis pratensis

(Meyer, 1794)

Vernacular names
English : Florida sandhill crane
French : Grue du Canada

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Gruiformes
Family : Gruidae
Notes : 5 other subspecies known

Identification
The species grows to a size of 120 cm and a weight of 3.7 kg. Plumage nearly entirely grey with clearer head. Black head, bright red crown and forehead. This subspecies is smaller than tabida and darker.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs in south USA, mostly around south Georgia and Florida. It is sedentary, it lives and breeds in a variety of shallow marshes and wetlands. Winters near coasts.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is still relatively common and recovering in places where marshlands are protected and restored. Endangered in Florida and Cuba.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Pairi Daiza (Belgium)

 

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