Hello My Old Friend
Hello my old friend! Sandhill Cranes have one of the longest fossil histories of any currently existing bird. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is 2.5 million years old, older by half than the earliest remains of most living species of birds, primarily found from after the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago (from Wikipedia).
Worth Knowing
There are six different subspecies of Sandhill Cranes, each with its own unique characteristics. The Greater Sandhill Crane is the largest subspecies and can grow up to 14 pounds, while the Lesser Sandhill Crane is the smallest, reaching up to 6 pounds. Other subspecies include the Canadian Sandhill Crane, Florida Sandhill Crane, Mississippi Sandhill Crane, and Cuban Sandhill Crane. (Source: Birdfy)
