Love Takes Flight: Discover the Lifelong Bond of Sandhill Cranes Nesting in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. – While they might not exchange chocolates or roses, Florida’s sandhill cranes are among the most devoted romantics of the natural world. These elegant, gray birds are known for forming long-lasting pair bonds, often staying together for life. As Valentine’s Day approaches, these cranes are set to embark on their annual season of courtship, characterized by intricate dances, synchronized calls, and the distinctive sight of pairs traversing the skies, as shared by the Brevard Zoo.

Florida is home to two subspecies of these magnificent birds: the non-migratory Florida sandhill crane, a permanent resident, and the greater sandhill crane, which seeks refuge in the state during winter months before journeying north for nesting. Both subspecies are celebrated for their strong pair bonds, with males and females collaborating closely throughout the breeding season.

Their courtship rituals are nothing short of a spectacle deserving of a romantic holiday. The cranes engage in a captivating dance, leaping, bowing, and flapping their wings, all while calling in perfect harmony—a duet designed to fortify their bond. Once they have paired, the cranes work together to construct a nest in open wetland areas, often selecting spots in shallow waters.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the nesting season for sandhill cranes in Florida spans late winter to spring. During this time, both parents share the responsibility of incubating the eggs over the course of about a month. Remarkably, the chicks, known as colts, are capable of following their parents just 24 hours after hatching.

Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about a month, and the chicks, called colts, are capable of following their parents within 24 hours of hatching.

And according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the partnership continues long after the nest is built. Adults raise their young for months, foraging as a family and defending their territory. Florida’s resident cranes are typically seen in pairs or small groups, a reflection of their monogamous nature and long-lived bonds. Some cranes can live 20 years or more, spending much of that time with the same mate.

Around 10 months old, juveniles are able to leave their parents and bonding between pairs begins at two years old.

While their courtship displays may draw attention from curious onlookers, wildlife officials and conservation groups urge residents to give cranes space, especially during nesting season. Habitat loss remains a threat to the species, which relies on wetlands, prairies and open spaces to breed and forage.

Still, for many Floridians, spotting a pair of sandhill cranes strolling through a neighborhood or calling overhead has become a familiar sign of the season — and a reminder that some of nature’s strongest partnerships don’t need a holiday to endure.