Whooping crane Grus americana

Identification Tips:

• Length: 45 inches Wingspan: 90 inches
• Very large, long-legged, long-necked bird
• Long, pointed bill
• Holds neck straight both at rest and in flight, not tucking it in like herons do
• Dark legs extended in flight
• Long, fluffy tertials droop down over tail and primaries
• Black primaries
• Rare and local-breeds in NW Canada and winters in coastal Texas, reintroductions attempted in NW United States and Florida

Adult:

• Red crown
• Black at base of bill extending onto cheek
• Entirely white plumage

Juvenile:

• White body with scattered brown feathers
• Pale brown head and neck

Similar species:

With its huge size and white plumage, the Whooping Crane is unmistakeable at close range. In flight, similarly white egrets tuck their necks in an "S" curve while flying and lack the black primaries. Sandhill Crane is similar in shape but is gray overall.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.