Cuban Sandhill Crane

Endemic: only found in a particular geographical area, such as an island.

Range: the extent of distribution of a species.

Savanna: open grassland with some mature trees.

Prairie: an extensive area of flat or rolling grassland with scarce precipitation.

Marsh: permanent or temporary wetland with grass or reeds.

Omnivorous: animals that eat both animal and vegetable foods.

Habitat: the part of the environment in which an organism or ecological community normally lives.

Poaching: illegal hunting of animals.

More about cranes...

• general crane information
• black-crowned crane
• grey-crowned crane
• red-crowned crane
• white-naped crane
• whooping crane

• Sergei Smirenski - Crane Reseacher

The Largest Bird In Cuba

by Xiomara Galvez Aguilera

The Cuban crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes) is an endemic subspecies of the Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis). Its range includes Russia, Canada, United States and Cuba. Although it carries out some regional migrations, it tends to remain at the same site for many years.

The Cuban subspecies is smaller than the North American Sandhill crane, is diurnal, and sleeps in large groups in shallow waters. It prefers open vegetation, such as dry or wet savannas, prairies, and marshes. It builds an almost circular nest directly on the ground, with pine needles, small sticks and leaves from trees in the savanna. Unlike other cranes, it builds its nests on dry ground. It lays one or two eggs, but produces generally only one young. Both parents take turns incubating the egg. While one is tending the nest, the other keeps watch nearby.

If an intruder approaches, the guard bird tries to fool the intruder. It stoops with its head almost touching the ground, drags the wings, stretches its neck parallel to the ground, and retreats. Only when it is far enough from the nests, it gives an alert call and its mate joins it, making it difficult to find the eggs. The reproductive season starts in late February and lasts until May.

Cuban cranes are omnivorous; they feed on insects, crabs, small reptiles, amphibians, some seeds, fruits, and tender greens.

Even though 11 colonies have been located in Cuban territory, the subspecies remains endangered. This is because, even when it can feed in artificial grasslands and orchards, it can only raise its young in the natural savanna patches that still remain. Economic development in this century has caused habitat changes that have proved detrimental for the subspecies. Such is the case of the drainage of savannas for cultivation of sugarcane, rice, and fruits, and changes from native vegetation to artificial grasslands for cattle. Even though these changes favor feeding, they shrink nesting areas. Additionally, poaching is still a problem in some areas of the country.

Xiomara works for the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture to protect endangered species.