# How Fast Is A Sandhill Crane?

> Sandhill Crane top speed is up to about 56 km/h (35 mph) in flight. Sprint vs endurance and what limits pace.

- **Species:** Sandhill Crane (*Antigone canadensis*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Omnivore — grains, insects, amphibians, and small mammals
- **Habitat:** Wetlands and prairies of North America and Siberia
- **Lifespan:** 20–25 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 56 km/h (35 mph) in flight
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sandhill-crane/how-fast-is-a-sandhill-crane/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sandhill-crane/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The sandhill crane is a tall grey wading bird of North America and eastern Siberia, known for its elaborate courtship dancing and bugling calls. It stands with a long neck and legs, reaches about 1.2 m in length, and weighs 3 to 6 kg. An omnivore of wetlands and prairies, it can fly at up to 56 km/h and live 20 to 25 years. The species is listed as Least Concern.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Sandhill Crane profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sandhill-crane/) instead.

## Appearance and identification

The sandhill crane is a large, elegant bird with slate-grey plumage, a long neck, and long dark legs, standing over a metre tall. A patch of bare red skin caps the forehead and crown, one of its most reliable field marks. Adults measure around 1.2 m in length and weigh between 3 and 6 kg, with a wingspan wide enough to make their flight unmistakable. Many birds show a rusty wash on the body, stained by the iron-rich mud they preen into their feathers.

## Help protect the Sandhill Crane

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sandhill-crane/how-fast-is-a-sandhill-crane/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.