Grus
americana
(Whooping
Crane)
Physical
Description:
50-52" (125-131 cm). The
tallest North American bird; very rare. White with black wing tips. Long straight
neck topped by a red face caused by an exposed patch of red skin on crown
and along jaw. Feet and
legs dark. Immatures are washed with rust color, especially about the head.
Similar Species- American White Pelican, Snow Goose, Sandhill Crane
Song:
Gives
a musical, trumpet-like ker-loo, ker-loo.
Distribution:
Formerly
found over much of central and eastern North America; present range is much
reduced. Breeds in south-central MacKenzie River District and adjacent northern
Alberta. Winters on Gulf Coast of Texas. Introduced in Idaho in Grays Lake National
Wildlife Refuge; Idaho population winters in central New Mexico in Bosque del
Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Diet:
During summer, feeds on insects, crustaceans,
and berries. Winter diet includes grains, acorns, wolfberry fruit, insects,
crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. One study found radio-marked
migrants fed primarily in variety of croplands.
Ecology:
Nests in dense, emergent vegetation in
freshwater marshes, wet prairies, and along lake margins. Constructs mound nest
of marsh vegetation; nest rises 20-48 cm above water level. Population has exhibited
10-yr periodicity. Mated pairs and families establish and defend winter territories
on coastal marshes in Texas. Breeding territories are very large, averaging
770 ha. Idaho population was re-established through translocation (cross-fostered
eggs) to sandhill cranes at Gray's Lake. High mortality (especially juveniles)
due to shootings, collisions, and bad weather. No successful breeding occurred
in experimental population in Idaho.
Reproduction:
Breeding begins in early May. Pair mates
for life. Both sexes, in turn, incubate 2 eggs (sometimes 1-3),
for 33-34 days. Nestlings are precocial, are tended by both adults,
fledge when no less than 10 wk old, remain with parents until following year
(dissociate after arrival on breeding grounds), and reach sexual maturity at
4-6 yr.
Conservation:
| Element Code: | ABNMK01030 |
| U.S. ESA Status: | LEXN |
| Status: | Protected nongame species |
| Global Rank: | G1 |
| State Rank: | SE |
| National Rank: | N1N |
Important State References:
Carlson, G.E. and C.H. Trost. 1992. Sex
determination of the whooping crane by analysis of vocalizations. Condor 94:532-536.