Mated pair of Sandhill Cranes in flight – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Yesterday I wrote about the split in scrub-jay species and how the Western Scrub-Jays I photograph here in Utah are now Woodhouse’s Scrub Jays. Not only did their common name change but their scientific name changed as well.
Another change that has officially occurred was that Sandhill Cranes were moved from the genus Grus to Antigone in the Fifty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds. Whooping and Common Cranes remain in the genus Grus.
Male Sandhill Crane in a wet meadow – Nikon D810, f13, 1/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Whenever there are changes in common or scientific names it always takes me a bit to get used to the changes so this is another change I will pencil into my field guides. It won’t take long for the authors of the birding apps I use to make the updates and push those changes to my devices.
Changes in the scientific names probably don’t mean much for most people but for many in the birding and bird photography communities knowing the genus and species name is important for life lists and labeling in portfolios. And that goes for subspecies as well.
I’m just glad the common name didn’t change.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Sandhill Crane photos plus facts and information about this species.
The first image presented here was taken in Wayne County, Utah in 2014 and the second was taken in Beaverhead County, Montana in 2015.
Thanks for all of your comments. Sandhill Cranes are among my favorites birds, I absolutely love hearing them and seeing them in flight.
Love your photos, and your attention to nomenclature updates. Danny Lynch
Wonderful images. Thanks again for the technical updates.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. The one of the two cranes in flight is spectacular! And thanks for passing on the information that the Sandhill Crane genus changed. I saw a lot of Sandhill Cranes at the Bird Sanctuary south of Vancouver, British Columbia last summer.
Beautiful, elegant, graceful. Whatever they are called.
Beautiful photos. I would love to find a group of cranes close to an observation area where I could just sit and watch their mating displays. When I see them they are a long ways away and I get tired of holding binoculars to my head to observe.
Linda Laugen: the nearly extinct one was Whooping Crane.
It’s a more interesting latin name anyway! More evocative than “Grus”.
Yeah, glad you’re keeping up with these changes.
PS – I’m with Patty 105% re: the first shot – how does a still capture so much movement and momentum? MM, you are “somethin’ else!” Linda Laugen
I never DID know what these birds looked like – THANK YOU! Were these not nearly extinct at some point?
Best –
Learning As I Go
That first shot is artisically AMAZING!!! A real classic!!!….these are such beautiful, elegant birds…thrilling to see in the wild….
What beautiful graceful birds. I love seeing the birds in flight. Gorgeous photos
Beautiful images, Mia. Good to know someone is keeping up scientifically.