Whooping Crane
Grus americana
Endangered
The Whooping Crane is the tallest bird in North America and one of the world's most endangered. With only about 800 left in the wild, every single one is precious!
These magnificent white birds nearly went extinct in the 1940s when only 21 remained. Thanks to conservation efforts, including teaching young cranes to migrate by following ultralight aircraft, their numbers are slowly growing.
Size
The tallest bird in North America - up to 5 feet!
Very Large (>60 cm)
Wingspan: 230 cm
Weight: 7500 g
Colors
white
red
black
Habitat
wetland
Diet
fishinsectsberries
Fun Facts
- ✨There were only 21 whooping cranes left in 1941!
- ✨Scientists dressed as cranes to teach chicks without them bonding to humans.
- ✨They're named for their loud 'whooping' call.
- ✨Whooping cranes mate for life, which can be 20+ years!
Conservation Status
Endangered
This bird is in trouble. There aren't many left in the wild, and we need to work hard to save them before it's too late.
Population trend: increasing 📈