No, a sandhill crane is not a goose. Sandhill cranes and geese belong to different biological families.
What kind of bird is a sandhill crane?
The sandhill crane is a large bird in the crane family, Gruidae. There are six subspecies of sandhill crane, including the greater sandhill crane, Canadian sandhill crane, lesser sandhill crane, Mississippi sandhill crane, Cuban sandhill crane, and Florida sandhill crane. Sandhill cranes are tall birds with long legs, necks, and beaks adapted for wading through water and feeding on plants, seeds, berries, and small animals.
Sandhill Crane Description
Sandhill cranes have gray feathers on most of their body, with bright red skin on the forehead and lores (area between the beak and eyes) and white cheeks. Their wing feathers are dark gray. Adults stand between 3 and 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of 5 to 7 feet. They weigh between 7 and 14 pounds. Males and females appear identical.
Sandhill cranes make loud, rolling calls that carry for long distances. They are social birds that mate for life and migrate in flocks between their breeding and wintering grounds.
Sandhill Crane Habitat
Sandhill cranes breed in open freshwater wetlands and fields across North America. They nest on the ground near water. During winter, they gather in large flocks in open habitats including marshes, flooded fields, meadows, and agricultural areas.
Sandhill Crane Diet
Sandhill cranes are omnivores, feeding on a diverse diet. They eat insects, spiders, snails, worms, amphibians, reptiles, roots, tubers, seeds, berries, and other plant material. They also feed on grains, corn, and other crops in agricultural fields.
What kind of bird is a goose?
Geese are waterfowl in the family Anatidae. There are several genera and numerous species of geese, including well-known ones like the Canada goose, snow goose, Ross’s goose, greater white-fronted goose, brant goose, and barnacle goose.
Goose Description
Geese are generally medium to large birds with squat bodies, rounded heads, long necks, short tails, and webbed feet. Their bills are generally short and adapted for grazing on vegetation. They are strong fliers with broad, rounded wings. Male and female geese look alike, though males are usually slightly larger.
Geese live in flocks and communicate with loud honking calls. They mate for life. Many species migrate along flyways between breeding and wintering grounds.
Goose Habitat
Geese nest on the ground near water, often on islands or shorelines. They breed across North America in the Arctic, subarctic, temperate, and subtropical zones. During winter they gather on open wetlands, lakes, marshes, fields, and parks.
Goose Diet
Geese are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses, sedges, roots, grains, berries, seeds, and aquatic vegetation. Some will also eat insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
How are sandhill cranes and geese different?
While sandhill cranes and geese occupy some of the same habitats and may be seen together, they belong to different biological families and have a number of key differences:
Taxonomy
- Sandhill cranes belong to the crane family Gruidae.
- Geese belong to the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae.
Size and Appearance
| Trait | Sandhill Crane | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 3-5 ft tall | 1.5-4 ft tall |
| Wingspan | 5-7 ft | 3.5-6 ft |
| Weight | 7-14 lbs | 6-20 lbs |
| Neck | Long | Medium length |
| Legs | Long | Short |
| Bill | Long, pointed | Short, rounded |
| Plumage | Gray with some red | Often white, gray, brown, black |
Diet
- Sandhill cranes are omnivores that eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, plants.
- Geese are herbivores that feed on grasses, sedges, grains.
Behavior
- Sandhill cranes make loud rolling calls.
- Geese make loud honking calls.
- Both mate for life.
- Both migrate in flocks.
Habitat
- Sandhill cranes nest in wetlands.
- Geese nest near water bodies like lakes, ponds.
- Both found in open fields and wetlands during winter.
Conclusion
In summary, sandhill cranes and geese are very different types of birds. While they occupy overlapping habitats, have family-oriented behaviors, and are sometimes seen mingling in fields and marshes, they belong to separate biological families and have distinct anatomy, diets, and characteristics. Hopefully this breakdown clarifies that a sandhill crane is definitively not a goose!
