Mating Dance - Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Cranes are elegant dancers. Dancing peaks during mating season but can occur any time of year. Experts do not completely understand the behavior, but it seems to play a role in bonding. Mated sandhill cranes also sing a unison call during courtship. Curiously, young birds also dance—believed to be an important part of their motor development. Humans have admired crane dancing for centuries; many cultures have symbolic rituals that mimic the behavior.