Sandhill Crane Pair
1/320s @ f/9.0, ISO 2000, 300mm lens @ 600 mm using 2X TC. (Animals)
In general, males and females are virtually indistinguishable but within a breeding pair, males tend to be larger than females. Mated pairs of cranes engage in "unison calling." The cranes stand close together, calling in a synchronized and complex duet. The female makes two calls for every single call of the male.
The sandhill crane's large wingspan, which is 6–8 feet when fully grown, makes this a very skilled soaring bird similar in style to hawks and eagles. Utilizing thermals to obtain lift, they can stay aloft for many hours, requiring only occasional flapping of their wings and consequently expending little energy.
Taken at the Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in northern Indiana during the fall migration, November 2010.
Uploaded on November 24, 2010