Colorado’s Sandhill Cranes Have a Wild Mating Ritual

Colorado is known as home to a wide variety of wildlife, most notably animals like Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, bears, mountain lions, and, most recently, gray wolves.

Read More: Wildlife Wonders: Colorado's Mountain Lions, Wolves, And Black Bears |

However, some parts of Colorado serve as home to a fascinating type of bird with a wild, almost rambunctious mating ritual. Keep scrolling to learn about Colorado's Sandhill Cranes.

Where Can You Find Sandhill Cranes in Colorado?

Sandhill Cranes call a number of places in Colorado home each spring and fall when they return from migrating to New Mexico in the winter and the northern United States and southern Canada in the summer, respectively, but they are most prominently found in the San Luis Valley.

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In fact, it's common to find Sandhill Cranes, appropriately, at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, as well as the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.

The cranes are also known to be found in the San Luis Lakes State Wildlife Area, the Rio Grande State Wildlife Area, and along Highway 285 near Mosca.

What is the Mating Ritual of Colorado's Sandhill Cranes Like?

One of the most notable things about Colorado's Sandhill Cranes is the animal's vibrant mating ritual.

When attempting to mate, Sandhill Cranes can be seen jumping up and down, bowing, throwing chunks of grass into the air, and engaging in what can almost only be referred to as dancing.

It should also be noted that Sandhill Cranes mate for life, so they engage in the mating ritual with an already established mate.

Check out more information on these fascinating birds on the official website of the National Park Service.