Whooping Crane - North America's Tallest Bird

The Whooping Crane, the tallest North American Bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound.

 In 2003, there were about 153 pairs of whooping cranes

The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild.

An adult whooping crane is white with a red crown and a long, dark, pointed bill. Immature whooping cranes are cinnamon brown.

While in flight, their long necks are kept straight and their long dark legs trail behind. Adult whooping cranes' black wing tips are visible during flight

The species can stand up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) and have a wingspan of 2.3 meters (7.5 feet). Males weigh on average 7.3 kg (16 lb), while females weigh 6.2 kg (14 lb) on average

The body length averages about 132 cm (52 in)

These birds forage while walking in shallow water or in fields, sometimes probing with their bills.

They are omnivorous and more inclined to animal material than most other cranes