How to Read Your Bird's Leg Band Whooping Crane

How to identify Whooping Cranes and other big white or gray birds.

First let's written report the differences and similarities with Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes. This is of import because hunting of Sandhill Cranes is immune in some areas. In certain conditions, particularly in early morning or tardily afternoon or on cloudy days, hunters accept mistaken Whooping Cranes for Sandhills. Misidentification tin can upshot in serious problems. So, at present is your opportunity to learn more about these endangered birds and help protect them.

Whooping Cranes are bright white except for the blackness primary feathers at the ends of their wings and a crimson cap on their heads. The black wing tips can just be seen when they are flying. They wing with their necks straight out and legs trailing straight backside their tail feathers. They have a long beak.

KNP_31HWhooping Crane developed pair with juvenile. Note that the black wing tips cannot be seen while they are standing. The juvenile whooper is cinnamon color until new white feathers grow in nigh one year of historic period.

KNP_36HAdult Whooping Crane with two juveniles flying. Some people go confused when they observe the adults and juveniles together believing the cinnamon colored juveniles to be another species.

sandhill crane

Sandhill Cranes are gray with a small ruby cap on their heads. They are near iii/4 the size of whooping cranes. They fly with their necks straight out and legs trailing straight backside their tail feathers. They accept a long beak.

Whoopers 2-ad-1-juv-and-3-sandhills. photo by-Peggy-Diaz

Two developed Whooping Cranes (white), a juvenile Whooping Crane (cinnamon) and two Sandhill Cranes (gray) together in field. Whoopers and Sandhill cranes occasionally travel and feed together.

leanne sliva img_6107One adult Whooping Crane (white) flight with seven Sandhill cranes. When the two species are together they are more easily identified correctly.

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There are several other species of birds that at a distance appear similar to Whooping Cranes. Review the following cheque list to assistance yous in identification. And so scroll down to see the several bird species that tin can be mistaken for Whooping Cranes. Finally take the identification test at the end.

Whooping Crane Identification
Click paradigm to enlarge.     Courtesy Laura Erickson

 Check Listing

HEIGHT — Whooping Cranes stand nearly 5 feet tall. They will be the tallest bird yous see.
Color — adult birds take bodies that are pure white except for a red patch on the caput, a black "mustache" and black wig tips. Juvenile birds will have rusty or cinnamon colored feathers with the white.
WINGS — the wingtips (primary feathers) are black in Whooping Cranes, but blackness does not extend all the manner along the wing edge to the trunk. Wingspan is 7-i/2 feet. The black can be observed merely when the whoopers are flying or stretching their wings.
FLIGHT — Whooping Cranes wing with long necks and long legs fully extended. Wing beats are slow and steady.
FLOCK — Whooping Cranes commonly travel and feed in small groups — from one to 8 birds. They may sometimes travel with Sandhill Cranes, but never as a large flock of Whooping Cranes.
VOICE — whoopers are known for their loud, bugling call. In flying they may produce a deep trill, like to Sandhill cranes.
WHEN — Whooping Cranes normally start their migration from Canada in tardily September. Their migration is ii,500 miles and may require several weeks. They unremarkably arrive on the Texas declension in mid-October and migrate dorsum to Canada to nest past late April.

Whooper Identification
Whooping Crane pair with juvenile. Click image to enlarge.

Whooping Crane Expect-alikes

American White Pelicans tin look like Whooping Cranes in flight especially at a distance. They take a big wing-span (9 feet), and the long bill can give the appearance of a long neck in flight. Dissimilar the Whooping Crane, their legs do not extend beyond the tail in flight, and the black on the wings extends all the manner to the body. They oftentimes circle and soar in large groups.

Click prototype to overstate. Courtesy Alan D. Wilson.

Great Egrets are common wetland birds. Their long legs extend beyond the body in flight, simply the long neck is usually tucked in flying. Their all-white wings have a iv-1/2 feet wingspan.

Click prototype to overstate. Courtesy Michael L. Baird.

Sandhill Cranes are related to Whooping Cranes, but are smaller (four feet in height; 6-one/2 feet wingspan). Color is grayness, with slightly darker wingtips. They tin can be found in large flocks.

Click image to enlarge. Courtesy Steve Emmons.

Like Whooping Cranes,Snow Geese are white with black wingtips, but their legs exercise not extend beyond the trunk during flying. Wingspan is 4-1/2 feet. Their beak is short. They are often institute in big flocks.

Click prototype to enlarge. Courtesy Cephas.

American White Ibis have long necks and legs that are extended in flight, simply they have a long, curved beak. The wings take only a pocket-sized patch of black on the wingtips and reach simply 3 anxiety in wingspan.

Click paradigm to enlarge. Courtesy Mike Fisher.

Wood Storks have long necks and legs that are extended in flight; nonetheless, the black on the wings extends all the mode to the body. Black may as well be visible on the neck and the tail. Their wingspan is five-1/2 feet. They flap slowly, glide, and soar.

Click epitome to enlarge. Courtesy Hans Stieglitz.

*Photos courtesy of Texas Parks and Wild fauna Department's Whooper Sentinel and the photographers identified.*

Photo Gallery
Black-and-White Birds: Which Are Cranes?
Images copyright Journeying North. All Rights Reserved.
Photograph: Laura Erickson Photo: Laura Erickson Photo: Laura Erickson
Photograph: Laura Erickson Photo: Laura Erickson Photograph: Laura Erickson
Photo: Laura Erickson Photo: Laura Erickson Photo: Laura Erickson
Photograph: Laura Erickson Photograph: Laura Erickson Photograph: Laura Erickson

To identify the birds, click on each photo to overstate.

QUIZ! Whooper or Non?

Have you figured out how to identify a whooper? Test your knowledge! Find i or more than pictures that y'all think testify Whooping Cranes. Click on the picture to encounter if you are correct!

At present that you are more knowledgeable nigh identifying Whooping Cranes, we demand your help. If you are certain that you have spotted a Whooping Crane, delight written report it. Your information, along with that submitted by others helps the states to keep tabs on the Whoopers.

– Ship a report to Texas Whooper Watch. First, read How to Written report Sightings. Then yous tin call Texas or transport them an email at: tracker@tpwd.texas.gov

Friends of the Wild Whoopers appreciates the cooperation of Laura Erickson, several photographers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in developing this identification document. Hopefully it will serve to help protect endangered Whooping Cranes and birds that resemble them. Delight let your friends and associates know nearly this identification guide.

***** FOTWW'southward mission is to help preserve and protect the Aransas/Wood Buffalo
population of wild whooping cranes and their habitat
. *****

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Source: https://www.friendsofthewildwhoopers.org/whooper-indentification/

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