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Whooping Crane

Grus americana ORDER: GRUIFORMES FAMILY: GRUIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered

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The tallest bird in North America, the Whooping Crane was once at the brink of extinction. It is making a steady recovery thanks to intensive management efforts in Canada and the United States, and as of December 2004, 468 Whooping Cranes existed in the wild and in captivity.

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Appearance

Heronlike
Heronlike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Very large bird.
  • Long neck.
  • Long Legs.
  • White body.
  • Black wingtips.
  • Red forehead and cheek.
  • Tufted feathers over rump.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult, but largely cinnamon-toned, with some white, and without red on head and face.

Range Map Help

Whooping Crane Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Whooping Crane

    Adult
    • Part of reintroduced population
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Florida

Similar Species

  • Sandhill Crane has gray and rust-colored plumage, not white, with gray primaries, and red only on crown.
  • American White Pelican similarly colored, but has black extending along length of wings, and short legs that do not extend beyond the body in flight.
  • Snow Goose is smaller, and does not have long bill and long legs extending far behind body in flight.
  • Some herons and egrets are white, but are smaller, have completely white wings, and fly with folded necks.