Sandhill cranes are large birds that are known for their iconic flocking behavior. When sandhill cranes gather together in large groups, this gathering has a specific name. So what exactly is a flock of sandhill cranes called?
A Group of Sandhill Cranes is Called a Symmetry
The proper term for a flock of sandhill cranes is a “symmetry.” This unique name refers to the synchronized and graceful dancing and calling that sandhill cranes engage in together. When they congregate in wetlands and fields, they perform elaborate synchronized dances, punctuated by their loud, trumpeting calls. This creates a beautiful symmetry as the cranes match each other’s movements and vocalizations.
Seeing a symmetry of sandhill cranes in the wild is a breathtaking experience. These tall gray birds can gather in the hundreds and thousands. Their synchronous dancing and calling is a sight to behold.
Origins of the Name “Symmetry”
How did sandhill cranes get this distinctive name for their flocks? It dates back centuries and is connected to their annual migrations.
People have long noticed the sandhill cranes’ large and impressively synchronized flocks during migration. Their appearance resembles a beautiful, living symmetry in motion. This synchronization is believed to be an integral part of their migration as they travel thousands of miles between their wintering and breeding grounds.
The name “symmetry” has been commonly used in reference to sandhill crane flocks since at least the 1700s. Back then, a French naturalist named Mathurin Jacques Brisson used the terms “La Grue du Canada” and “La Grue a’ du Sable” to describe what we now call sandhill cranes in his publications on birds. He referred to their flocks as “les symmetries.”
The term symmetry has remained the accepted term for a flock of sandhill cranes over the centuries up through today. It is an apt description of their stunning synchronized movements and vocalizations when they concentrate in large groups during migration and on their wintering grounds.
Sandhill Crane Description
Sandhill cranes are among the largest birds in North America. They are tall, long-legged birds that reach heights over 4 feet. Their wingspans are around 6 feet across. They have gray plumage with some reddish coloring on the top of their heads. Their feathers are tipped in black. Sandhill cranes have bright red foreheads and white cheeks that stand out from their gray feathers.
These big birds are omnivorous, feeding on plants, seeds, berries, and small animals like mice, snakes, insects and worms. During migration and wintering, they forage in wetlands and grasslands. On their breeding grounds, they nest in open wetlands, bogs, and prairies.
Three Subspecies of Sandhill Cranes
There are actually three different subspecies of sandhill cranes that together cover North America, Cuba, and Eastern Siberia. The three subspecies are:
- Lesser sandhill cranes, the smallest subspecies
- Greater sandhill cranes, the largest and most numerous subspecies
- Canadian sandhill cranes, an intermediate size
While there are differences in size and breeding locations between the subspecies, they all engage in the same synchronized flocking behavior that creates the symmetries.
Behaviors of Sandhill Cranes in the Symmetry
When sandhill cranes come together in these impressively large flocks during migration and wintering, you can observe them engaging in some remarkable behaviors as part of the symmetry:
Dancing
Sandhill cranes are known for their elaborate, synchronized dances. In a symmetry, the cranes stand in rows and all perform jumping, bowing, wing-flapping movements in perfect unison with one another. Their dances seem to strengthen social bonds between the birds.
Calling
The cranes’ loud, rolling bugle calls are a signature sound of their gatherings. In a symmetry, large numbers of cranes all call simultaneously in a synchronized cacophony of sound that carries for miles. Their calls help the cranes come together and bond as a flock during migration.
Roosting
The cranes often sleep together in mass roosts on the edges of wetlands and fields. They synchronize their movements as they settle into shallow water to roost for the night and take flight again in the morning.
Foraging
The cranes forage together in the symmetry for food sources like seeds, berries, tubers and small vertebrates. Often, the entire group will move and forage in unison, walking forward while probing the ground simultaneously.
Territorial Displays
The symmetry also includes synchronized aggressive displays like bowing, spreading wings, and stick-tossing. These coordinated rituals defend territories and bonding pairs during the migration.
Seasonal Symmetries of Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill crane flocks are present seasonally when the birds concentrate in certain staging areas during their annual migration cycles. Here are some of the seasons and locations where you are most likely to see impressive symmetries of sandhill cranes:
Season | Major Gathering Areas |
---|---|
Winter | Southeast U.S. states like Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee |
Spring Migration | Central gathering spots like Nebraska’s Platte River, the Upper Midwest, and southern Ontario |
Fall Migration | Northern U.S. states and Canadian provinces along their migration routes |
Other hotspots to see sandhill crane symmetries throughout the year are New Mexico, Texas, Idaho, Montana and the Rocky Mountain States.
Massive Concentrations Create Dramatic Symmetries
The most dramatic symmetries occur when extremely large numbers of sandhill cranes congregate closely together at prime feeding and roosting grounds. Here are some of the most spectacular gatherings:
- 600,000 cranes in Nebraska’s Platte River Valley
- 100,000 cranes in Tennessee’s Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge
- 80,000 cranes in New Mexico’s Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
- 20,000 cranes in Indiana’s Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area
These mass concentrations result in giant synchronizing flocks performing mesmerizing dances across fields and wetlands. The sight and sound is simply breathtaking.
Threats Facing the Symmetries
While sandhill crane populations remain strong, their impressive symmetries during migration face some concerning threats and conservation challenges:
- Loss of wetland habitats reduces roosting and feeding grounds
- Drought conditions can dry up vital staging wetlands
- Collisions with power lines near wetlands pose a major hazard
- Human disturbance can alter roosting and feeding behaviors
- Lead toxicosis from hunting ammunition ingestion is a problem in some areas
Conservation groups like the International Crane Foundation work to protect wetlands and reduce disturbances to maintain healthy gatherings of sandhill cranes on their migrations.
Witness the Symmetry in Action
Flocks of sandhill cranes coming together in these synchronous, dancing gatherings is one of nature’s most marvelous sights. Observing a symmetry firsthand is an experience that borders on magical. The elegance of their coordinated dance and vocalizations is hypnotizing and unforgettable.
If you want to witness the sandhill cranes’ splendid symmetry yourself, plan a visit to one of their major wintering or migratory stopover areas. Time your trip for peak concentrations in early spring or late fall. Seeing and hearing hundreds or thousands of cranes raising their wings and calls in unison is a breathtaking joy. The sight will leave you in awe of the wonders of synchronized animal behaviors.
Conclusion
When sandhill cranes come together in their synchronously dancing and calling flocks, this gathering has a special designation – a “symmetry.” This name originated centuries ago to describe the symmetrical grace and coordination of these birds when they concentrate in wetlands and fields during migration and winter. Witnessing thousands of sandhill cranes moving, dancing, calling and roosting in such unison truly seems to form a living work of art, deserving of the poetic name “symmetry.” This phenomenon is one of the most compelling wildlife sights in North America. Planning a trip to see a sandhill crane symmetry should be on every bird and nature lover’s bucket list.