Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

Meet Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

Snowy white Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) are among the rarest and most majestic birds of North America. Read here about their remarkable survival story and the important role that Audubon Zoo and Audubon Nature Institute have played in restoring this species to the wild.

Whooping Crane Fast Facts

  • Conservation Status: Endangered – very high risk of extinction
  • Habitat/Range: prairie and costal wetlands of North America
  • Diet: Omnivore: crustaceans, insects, fish, frogs, reptiles, berries, seeds, plant tubers
  • Size: Up to 5 ft tall; 6-7.5 ft wingspan; 13-17 lbs.
  • Lifespan: 22–30 years in the wild; up to 40 years in human care
  • Fun Fact: A whooping crane's bugling call can be heard more than two miles away.
Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

See Us at the Zoo

See Audubon Zoo’s pair of Whooping Cranes in their very own habitat near the Zoo’s front entrance. A rare chance to admire a rare beauty!

Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

 

Lifelong Commitment

Whooping cranes bond for life and live in pairs.

whooping crane at Audubon Zoo

 

Kiowa & Sioux

The Zoo's whooping cranes have been together since 2002.

Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

 

Rare Beauties

Whooping cranes are the rarest cranes in the world.

Whooping Crane Habitat & Range

Whooping Cranes are elegant wetlands specialists that have historically migrated between the northern prairie marshes and southern coastal marshes of North America. They now occupy only a fraction of their historic range, but these beautiful birds are on the comeback trail.

Learn More About Whooping Crane Habitat & Range

 

Historic vs. Current Range
Historically, whooping cranes migrated from north central Canada, through the central U.S., to the southeastern U.S. and northern Mexico. Today, only four populations of whooping cranes remain – two migratory and two non-migratory – and they utilize only a tiny fraction of their vast former range.

Habitat
Migratory flocks of whooping cranes spend summers in the prairie wetlands of the U.S. and Canada. They travel south for the winter to coastal brackish wetlands of the southeastern U.S. Non-migratory flocks remain year-round in their respective locations – one in coastal Louisiana and another in central Florida. Regardless of where they are, whooping cranes prefer open areas near water with plenty of vegetation, where they can spot predators easily and find food and protective cover.

Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

Whooping Crane Behavior

Whooping Cranes are graceful and powerful wading birds known for their spectacular courtship dances, synchronized calls, and steely-eyed willingness to defend their territory and young. 

Learn More About Whooping Crane Behavior

 

See Me, Hear Me
Whooping cranes are not shy. They vocalize frequently, confront any predator that dares to approach, and reinforce their commitment to each other in spectacular fashion. These tall, red-capped North American natives forage during the day, rest on the ground at night, and soar in flight.

Whoop, Whoop
Whooping cranes are well known for their loud “whoop whoop” call, but this is only one of many vocalizations that they use to communicate. Pairs call in unison or share duets to reinforce their bond. They may purr softly to each other to offer reassurance. They will whoop loudly to maintain contact across long distances. When a predator is near, they sound the alarm with a sharp, single call. . 

Family Life
Whooping cranes are monogamous birds that form life-long pairs around three years of age. They will reinforce their pair-bonds often through courtship rituals such as walking in unison, calling in unison, and dancing. Pairs breed once a year. Both parent birds work together to build a nest on a mound of vegetation, often surrounded by water. The female usually lays two eggs per clutch. Whooping crane chicks fledge at about 3 months of age but spend 10-11 months in their parents’ care. Both parents will feed and protect the chicks.

 

Whooping Cranes at Audubon Zoo

Whooping Crane Conservation

Once on the brink of extinction, Whooping Cranes are now a symbol of conservation success.  They are still endangered, but their numbers are rising, and their comeback is a testament to concerted and creative conservation efforts in both the United States and Canada. 

Learn More About Whooping Crane Conservation

 

Threats
Whooping cranes nearly went extinct during the 20th century due mainly to over-hunting, human disturbance, and habitat loss. These birds are generally safe from hunting and egg collection now, but loss of critical wetlands habitat persists, as do other threats.

Conservation Efforts
Whooping cranes came as close to extinction as any species can, with only 15 adults living in the wild by 1941. Slowly but surely, though, their numbers have climbed into the hundreds. Their steady comeback, while still in its early stages, can be attributed to a host of essential and interconnected factors: government protection, international cooperation, wetlands restoration and management, successful breeding in human care, and creative reintroduction efforts that have even included the use of small, white planes to teach young cranes how to migrate! Audubon Zoo was the first zoo in the world to successfully breed whooping cranes. Audubon Nature Institute has worked closely for decades with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries and other partners to advance the conservation of whooping cranes and to develop a self-sustaining population here in Louisiana. Audubon Zoo currently participates in the SAFE Whooping Crane program, the AZA’s signature conservation program for this species. Learn more at the AZA’s official SAFE page: AZA SAFE.

Whooping Crane FAQs

Updated November 2025

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