Photo: Sasata / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Endangered

Cranes & Rails

Whooping Crane

Grus americana

Whooping Crane (Grus americana) — Cranes & Rails of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of Manitoba Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Ontario Birds of Quebec Birds of Saskatchewan Birds of Yukon Territory Birds of Alabama

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The Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is a member of the Gruidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 5.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Gruiformes
Family Gruidae Cranes
Genus Grus
Species americana

Where it lives

Central Canada and central USA

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 5.8 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Gruidae
Order: Gruiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Not Evaluated

Brolga

Antigone rubicunda

Vulnerable

Red-crowned Crane

Grus japonensis

Not Evaluated

White-naped Crane

Antigone vipio

Not Evaluated

Sarus Crane

Antigone antigone

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Whooping Crane is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Whooping Crane is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is a member of the Gruidae family, within the order Gruiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA c Canada and c USA.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.8 kg, with a wing length of about 60.6 cm and a tail of around 20.9 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6,122 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Songs & calls

Whooping Crane — Call

Recorded by Sue Riffe Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Whooping Crane?

The Whooping Crane is a very large bird that weighs around 5.8 kg.

Where does the Whooping Crane live?

The Whooping Crane is found across North America with a range covering NA c Canada and c USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Whooping Crane belong to?

The Whooping Crane (Grus americana) belongs to the Gruidae family, in the order Gruiformes.

What does the Whooping Crane eat?

The Whooping Crane is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Whooping Crane migrate?

The Whooping Crane is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Whooping Crane endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Whooping Crane make?

1 real field recording of the Whooping Crane — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Whooping Crane's range?

The Whooping Crane has a mapped global range of about 6,122 km².