Whooping Crane: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Cranes, Flamingos and Herons · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. The whooping crane is North America's tallest bird, with an estimated life expectancy of 22-30+ years in the wild.
2. A whooping crane's loud calls can be heard several kilometers away. Pairs call as a duet after waking, after courtship and to guard their territory.
3. Researchers can build a 'voiceprint' of an individual crane, or a pair, from recorded calls and compare it over time.
4. In Texas, blue crabs are a key winter food. In two winters, they gave the cranes up to 90 percent of their energy.
5. Whooping crane parents often feed their young for 6-8 months, and the family bond ends after about 1 year.

The quiz

1. What is the whooping crane among North American birds?

• The heaviest
• The fastest
• The tallest (correct)
• The smallest

The whooping crane is North America's tallest bird.

2. How far can a whooping crane's calls carry?

• A few hundred meters
• Several kilometers (correct)
• About one kilometer
• Only a few meters

Their loud calls can be heard several kilometers away.

3. What can researchers build from recorded whooping crane calls?

• A voiceprint of an individual crane (correct)
• A map of nests
• A family tree
• A weather forecast

Recorded calls let researchers build a voiceprint of an individual crane.

4. What did blue crabs make up to 90 percent of in two winters?

• The cranes' nesting material
• The crabs' own diet
• The marsh's plant cover
• The cranes' energy intake (correct)

In two winters, blue crabs gave the cranes up to 90 percent of their energy.

5. After about how long does the bond between parents and young end?

• About 1 month
• About 1 year (correct)
• About 3 months
• About 3 years

The family bond ends after about 1 year.

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