You’re Not Suppsed To Be Here! Rare Crane In Wyoming

Has a rare Russian crane, named the Common Crane, come to Wyoming?

Maybe.

This bird is seen in North America maybe once or twice a year at most.

According to Wyoming Game and Fish, the Cowboy State is a popular spot for the Sandhill Crane, a common crane species that migrates through the state. The Common Crane often travels with the Sandhill flocks. 

The video below shows a young man claiming that this big bird has been seen in the Cowboy State.

The common crane breeds in Europe and across the Palearctic to Siberia.

By far, the largest breeding populations can be found in Russia, Finland, and Sweden.

It is a rare breeder in southern and western Europe, with larger numbers breeding in the central and eastern parts of the continent.

How did this bird finally find Wyoming?

Let's face it, most of us would look at that bird and think, okay, it's a crane.

You would have to be into birding to know the difference.

The Common Crane looks a lot like the Sandhill Crane.

There are a few subtle differences.

Wyoming bird watcher pages on social media have been buzzing about these sightings for several days.

If they are, in fact, Common Cranes (and they do seem to look like it) How did they find their way to North America?

Why did it take them so long to get to Wyoming?

They were most likely here long before they were first spotted and recorded.

There are many other types of birds that you might not expect to see in Wyoming, but visit here often.

White pelicans are common.

So are seagulls.

Several different types of tall cranes stop in the Cowboy State. They are all just passing through.